Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-28

= The journal was read and approved.
TINE OF SPEAKING.
Mr.. Britton called up his resolution
providing for an amendment of the rule
u SO that members be confined to perio
= of fifteen minutes in their speeches befo1
the Convention, unless permission b
granted by the House.
9 NJ. Britton said that they had met her
for the purpose of serving the country
, He supposed that all the members ha
made up their minds on the proposition
to come before them, and he thought 1t
! waste of time to make long speeches
. | Every hour spent in debate cost the tax
, payers of the State about 800. Every
, | little speech of only fifteen minutes cos
the taxpayers twenty-five or thirty dol
lars.
Mr.. Brooks thought that full time should
be given to debate, because of the impor
lance of questions which should come
up. He moved to amend by making the
time thirty minutes.
Mr.. Jones, of Giles, moved to lay the
resolution and amendment on the table.
The yeas and nays were called for and or
dered, resulting in yeas 80, nays SO. The
| dLlCnulllCuL w do CJOOtSNs
Mr.. Stephens urged the Convention to
vote down the resolution. There were
men here of experience and ability, of
whose wisdom they desired to avail them
selves He did not want any hastily con-
structed edifce on the part of the Con-
vention.
Mr.. Warner was in favor of the resolu-
ton; condensation of argument was what
they wanted. The resolution did not pre-
vent the Convention from extending the
time 20 old and experienced members
whom they desired to hear.
| Mr.. Jones, of Lincoln, thought what
ever rule was adopted ought to be lived
up to by old as well as young Let
no distinction be made. He moved to
amend by making the time twenty-five
| minutes
Mr. Britton accepted the amendment
Mr.. Hill, of Warren, moved to amend
by fixing the time at fifteen minutes, as
in the original resolution.
Mr.. Gordon was not in favor of re-
stricting debate. He thought they ought
| to afford to each member fair Oppor-
| tunity to express his views on the impUr-
tant questions which would come before
| them.
Mr.. Gibbs moved an indefinite postpne-
ment of the question
Mr.. Hill, of Warren, didn't want to sit
here forever hearing speeches. They had
submitted all the questions to appropriate
| committees, and now what was the use of
| having them discussed eternally. He
didn't expect all the talk would affect q
vote. He wanted the work Of the Con-
ventiOn finished in time for the people to
vote upon it at the March election. His
people wanted but little done and they
wanted it done speedily. He would stay
here as long as gentlemen desired, and
hear their speeches after the Convention
should adjourn.
Mr.. Fentress desired to ask of the Presi-
dent, in all humility, if the Congress of
the United States had fixed the time
which they should spend in debate. If
this were an accomplished fact, he did
not wish TO run contrary TO the powers
that be-
The previous question was moved by
Mr.. Heiskell, and the resolutions and
amendments were postponed indefinitely.
ADJOURNMENT.
0Ir. Garner offered q resolution prOvid-
ing for night sessions, and fixing the day
of adjournment on the 18th of February.
Laid over under the rules
OFFICES VACATED.
Mr.. Gibson submitted the following
resolution:
Whereas, Il is grayely proposed to va
cate and create large number of Offices
upon the ratification of this Constitution;
and whereas, the people may well have
serious doubts as to whether these offices
and vacancies are created by an Uninter-
ested disposition to benefit them and not
the members of this Convention; and
whereas, 1t is highly proper that this Con-
ventiOn should show the people that dele
gates have not voted to create these Offices
and vacancies in order to fill them them
selves, but that they are prompted by the
purest and most disintcrested patriotism;
therefore, be it
Resolved, And incorporated in the
schedule, that no delegate in this Conven-
ton shall be eligible to fill anyvacancy in
the first term of any office created by this
Constitution.
NEW COUNTY.
Mr.. Wright presented a memorial from
sundry citizens of Carroll county against
taking any portion Of said county to form
a new county or counties.
WITHDRAWAL.
Mr.. Staley withdrew his amendment
which he offered TO the majority report
| of the Committee on Franchise.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
Mr.. Stephens asked leave of absence for
the member from DeKalb till Monday
next Mr.. Joseph Blackburn, whom he
stated was under recognIzance in an i'm
pOrtant State case, and should have been
at court on Tuesday.
Mr.. Baxter was not in favor of granting
leave of absence just on the eve of the
decision of the great question.
Mr.. Jones, of Lincoln, was also opposed
| to granting leave of absence to any mem
| Der just now.
The President stated that last night the
gentleman from DeKalb had came to him
and stated that he was under recognizance
to appear as a witness In a murder case.
He (the Presidency had told him that he
could safely go, as the Convention would,
| without doubt, grant him leave.
| Mr.. Brown, of Davidson, thought there
were many circumstances which might
call a member away from the Convention.
| He was in favor of granting leave.
Mr.. Gordon did not think any man was
bound down to the Convention as a slave.
Such an idea was contrary to his ideas Of
liberty.
The motion to grant leave Of absence
was carried by a considerable majority.
THE MILITIA.
Nj. Martin, on the part of the special
committee on calling out the militia, made
the following report:
The committee appointed to amend Ar
ticle III in such manner as 10 limit the
| power to call out the militia, have had the
matter under consideration, and have in
structed me to report the following addi-
ton to said Article to be styled section 18:
The militia shall only be called into
service in case of rebellion or invasion,
and then only when the General Assembly
shall declare, by law, the public safety
requires it.
MIR. Bate did not want the Governor
restricted as the committee proposed.
Let him act independent of the Legisla-
ture.
Mr.. Burton was in favor of the report
of the Committee He thought the Legis-
lature could be convened promptly, and
he could conceive no circumstances where
it would be necessary for the Governor to
call out the militia without acting in con-
junction with them.
| The ayes and uavs were called and or