Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-14

are to be sent to the committeeman with
cut reading, it does seem to me that sucl
a course would be to cut down the right
of freemen. The object is that the entir
House may understand what is desired BY
the people.
Mr.. Garner-Mr. President, l have
resolution to offer in lieu:
| Resolved, That csmmittee of sever
be appointed to be called the Commute,
on Petitions, Memorials and Grievances
to whom all petitions and memorials pre-
sented to this body shall be referred with
out reading or debate.
Mr.. Gibson-I move to amend The
amendment, by substituting rule that pC
petition or memorial containing language
disrespectful to this body or any act OF
the general Government, shall be read if
objected to. The people of the
State have "a right to be heard
here, provided they address us
in language respectful to ourselves, and
other branches of the government.
Mr.. Baxter-The rule must be sus-
! pended or debate cannot proceed.
/ The President-The gentleman is right.
MIR. Warner would have the operation
of the rule, which requires the secretary 70
call the roll for the introduction of propo-
sitions.
Mr.. Garner hoped the Convention
would suspend the rule, that we may
| settle the question whether petitions and
memorials shall be read on presentation.
| apprehend that the Convention is as
ready now to act on the question as it can
be at shy other time.
Mr.. Fulkerson moved Intellectually to
lay the motion to suspend on the table.
The rules were then suspended.
Mr.. Porter, of Haywood-Mr. Presi-
dent, move that the resolution and the
amendments be referred to the Committee
on Rules 90.
Mr.. Warner again desired the operation
of the rule foH calling the roll for resO-
Jutions
The President-The rule is being exc
cuted. The fnst name has been called.
The chair will hold that is unparliamenta-
ny to present papers disrespectful to the
body or the general Government.
Mr.. Allen said as the author of the
letter he had presented is friend
of this body, he could not think
that that gentleman, or any of
his constituents requesting him to write,
could have meant any disrepect to this
body or the Government of the United
States. r-.
b. sUSDRY PROPOSITIONS.
The following resolutions and PROPOSE
lions to amend the Constitution were now
introduced, under the rule for the rOll-call
of members, which severally lie over one
day without debate.
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
BY Mr.. Allen, of Smith Resolved,
That the Committee OIL Corporations be
instructed to report an amendment to the
Constitution which will forever guarantee
to the cities and other incorporated towns
in this State, the right to elect their own
municipal officers, including officers of
police.
FINANCE, ETC.
By Mr.. Arledge: -.-....
Resolved, That the Committees on Fl
nance, Internal Improvement and Corpo-
rations report such change in the Consti-
tuition as will prohibit any further issuance
of State bonds.
EDUCATIONAL.
By bIr. Baxter:
Resolved, That article XI, section 10,
be amended as follows: after the words
Literature and science, "and to provide
a liberal free school system which will
afford educational advantage to every
child in the State"
THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION.
BY MIR. Britton:
Resolved, That we are admonished by
the embarrassing condition of our own
internal affairs, as well as the threatening
aspect of the surroundings that it is a
matter of the highest importance, to make
the work of this Convention harmonious,
and as expeditions as possible, doing full
Justice to ourselves and looking well to
the interests of the people of the whole
State, white and colOred, present and fu-
ture
Resolved, That in the opinion of this
Convention, our present Constitution
isa model Constitution, well adapted to
the times for which it was intended, and
wisely balancing the independent powers
of the coordinate branches of the State
Government, and was the work of wise,
patriotic and good men.
Resolved, That this Convention, with
high reverence for the work of a noble
and patriotic ancestry, and fully appreci-
ating the importance and responsibility of
the position in which we have been placed,
will proceed to the work assigned us, aided
by the reports of standing committees,
and special committees as may hereafter
be appointed, by reading the present Con-
stitution in full convention, article by ar
ucle, and section by section, and in this
way making such amendments, as we
proceed, as time and experience have
shown TO be necessary, with as little dis
turbance as possible of the symmetery and
harmony of our present Constitution, but
guided alone by the necessities arising ont
of the changed condition of our affairs.
LIMITING THE LEGISLATURE.
BY Mr.. Brooks
Resolved, That. the Constitution be 50
amended as to limit the Legislature to one
thousand dollars as appropriation for in
ternal improvements by the State, and all
appropriations over one thousand dol
lars shall be void until ratified by a major
ity of the qualified voters of the State of
Tennessee.
BILL OF RIGHTS.
By Mr.. Burton
Resolved, That it be referred to the
Committee on the Bill of Rights to re-
port upon the propriety Of the following
amendment thereof, to-wit:
That no person shall be held to answer
for capital crime above the grade of
petit larceny, unless on a presentment or
Indictment of a grand jury, except in
cases of impeachment and military trials,
otherwise provided for in the Constitution.
The Legislature shall pass no laws making
the stealing of more than $50 personally
petit larceny.
Resolved, That article VI, section 2
of the Constitution, be amended so as to
read as follows: The Supreme Court
shall be composed of five Judges, one of
whom shall reside in, and be elected by
the qualified voters of each of the three
grand divisions of the State, the remain
ing two to be nominated by the Governor
from the State at large, and confirmed by
the Senate
THE COURTS. .
By Mr.. Dibrell-Resolved, That the
Judiciary Committee be requested to in
quire into and report the propriety of
| amending the Constitution, so as to adopt
i the two term system OF the Circuit Courts,
and of reducing the number of Chancery
Divisions to eight. The Chancellors and
Judges, as well as Clerks of said courts,
to be elected by the qualified voters of
| .La;- roe,>ocf;va oOunfioc ciroI,ifc or iii