The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-01-21
THE CONVENTION.
Minority Report Of the Committee on
on Elections and Elective Franchise,

We, the undersigned members of the
Committee OH Elective Franchise, beg
leave to submit the following report:
/ We cannot concur with the majority
of the committee in drawing black line
across the word white i'm the Constitu-
ton of Tennessee, and i'm this action re-
fusing to submit the question of negro
suffrage to be acted upon as a separate
proposition by the people. We hold
that the negro race is the lowest order OF
human beingS-incapable,f I'm themselves,
ola virtuous, intelligent or free govern
ment, and for the truth of this we APP
peal to history and challenge the world
to show single exception. We hold
that the inferiority of the negro to the
white man in race. color and capacity fQ'
permanent. well ordered governmeId,i
has been fixed by Him who docta IN
things well, and whose natural or
ed law has never been violated y. any
humane government withoHC disaster
and confusion. The prou6 eastman VI,
olated this natural law when, instead OF
recognizing IN the body polite the dis
| .inction which God had made between
him and tl,c Aztec, the Indian and the
NEGRO. he made them politically equal.
and swift destruction came upon him,
| inasmnch that his pure blood cannot now
be traced in the Mongrel miscegenating
horde. who, by never ceasing revolution
and civil strife. desolate the rich and
| beautiful lands of Mexico. We hold that
! the elective franchise is the highest
| GROWING right which can be held by
free man. The which, when man shall
be legally entitled to enjoy these, doth
necessarily follow those incidents: the
right to sit on juries, to hold Office. (what
is more terrible to contemplated the
right to social equality and interinar-
riage. We hold that this Constitution
should not be moved by fear of arbitrary
power to shut their eyes TO the light of
experience. and falling in with the IA
naticism of the hour, deny the truth, and
blindly rush in defiance of the natural
law of God to the confusion of our race,
and destruction of the Government our
fathers left us.
We hold tina: the people of Tennessee
have the RIGHT to consider this tremen-
dous question for themselves as a sepa-
rate. dis met proposition, as the people
of New York. Ohio, Michigan. Minneso-
ia. Colorado. Kansas, Missouri and Con-
necticut have lately done; and having
considered it in all its bearings, to decide
it for themselves. free from the incum-
brance of any other question; and that
any attempt by this Convention to pre-
vent fair expression of Their will, by
refusing to allow the people to vote upon
it as a separate question. will be a gross
violation of the rights of the people and
of the principles of republican and dem
ocratic government. Especially so in
this case, because no expression of the
will ofthe people, or general discussion
upon it, was had pending the election in
large majority of the districts repre-
sented by delegates in this Convention,
and i I a great many the question was
not even mentioned. and deliberate dis
cussion was impossible in the briet time
between the call of the Convention and
election OF delegates.
Therefore, in behalf of the people of
Tennessee, and in view of the fact that
no convention of any State in the United
States has refused to submit this question
as separate proposition back to the
people. and following the precedent Of
the States above mentioned. and in order
that due discussion and delibeTation, and
the light of events which may transpire
between the adjournment OF this Con-
ventiOn and the time fixed for the vote
OF the people may be had: having also
the utmost confidence that when said
subject has been fully discussed, delibe-
rated upon and weighed, the people will
do right, it is recommended that this
Convention adopt the following, (to-wit)
That OH the e. day of -, A. ID.
IS. the polls sl.all be opened at the re-
spective voting places in each county i'll
this State by the proper officers, and
those who are in favor of extending the
right of suffrage to the negro equally
with the white man, shall have printed
or written on their ballots NEGRO Suf-
!rage," and those who are opposed to the
negro's being allowed equally with the
white man the right of the elective fran
chise, shall have written or printed on
their ballots white Suffrage" and in
| case a majority of the qualified electors
vote in said election negro suffrage, t. en-
| the word white, in the first line of article
/ 4, section of the Constitution of Ten
nessce shall be stricken out. But if 4
majority of sale electors shall vote white
| suffrage, then said section shall read as
follows: Every free white man of the
age of twenty -one years. being a citizen
of the United States, and citizen of
- county wherein he may offer his vote
Npnths next preceding the date of
\. shall be entitled to vote for
OF the General Assembly and
officers for the county or dis
ich he resides"
MY str5mitteti.
JAMES FENTREss,
WNI. III. WILLIAMSON,
III. IL. BATE,
w. CUMMINGS.
On motion of Mr.. Nicholson. the report
twas ordered laid on fhc table with the
majority. with directions to have it
printed.
Hon. A. O.P. NICHOLSON, Chairman of
! the Committee on Elections and Rights
of Suffrage, made a majority report to
Me Constitutional Convention, on Tues
v last, taking strong ground in favor
giving the ballot to the negro, and
ainst submitting this question to a
parate vote ofthe people. We append
Ir NICHoLsoN's report
The Committee on Elections and the
Rights of Suffrage, have considered the
Several propositions referred to them on
the subject of the elective franchise, and
4 have instructed me 10 submit the follow
| ing report:
/. \ majority of the committee lee
ommend that the elective franchise shall
not be withdrawn from the colored
men, but that they shall be Sc
cured in the continued exercise thereof.
, \ majority of the committee have
rejected the proposition to submit the
question of suffrage by colored persons
as an independent proposition, separate
and apart from all others.
5. \ majority of the committee rec
ommend that the payment of such poll
taxes as may be assessed by law, shall
be made condition precedent TO the
exercise of the elective franchise.
1. \ majority Of the committee recon-
mend that the General Assembly be
empowered to pass laws for requiring
voters to vote in the election precincts
in which they may reside, and to secare
the freedom of elections and the purity
of the ballot box.
For the purpose of carrying out the
conclusions of the committee, a majority
of them recommend that the following
be adopted by the Convention, in lieu
of section |, article 4, OF the present Con-
stitution, viz:
Article 1, Section l. Every man of
the age of2l years, being citizen of the
United States and a citizen of the county
wherein he may offer his vote SIX
months next preceding the day of cleo
ton shall be entitled to vote for men,
bers of the General Assembly, and other
civil officers for the county or district in
which he resides, and there shall be no
qualification attached to the right of suf-
! tranc except that each voter shall give