Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-17

Henderson, Hill of Warren, Hill of Gil
son, House of Davidson, Robertson an
Montgomery, Ivie, Jones of Lincoln
Jones of Giles, Kennedy, McDouga
Meeks, Morris, Shelton, Staley, Stephens
Thompson of Davidson, Thompson 0
Maury, Waters, Warner.-34
Noes essrs. Allen, Brandon, Bran
son, Britton, Brooks, Byrne, Glowing
Coffin, Cummings, Cypert, Deadericb
Dibbrell, Fentress, Finley, Gibbs, Gibson
Heiskell, Key, kirkpatrick, Kyle, Mabry
McNabb, Martin, Netherland, Nicholson
Parker, Porter of Haywood, Sample
Seay, Shepard, Taylor, Williamson
Wright-34.
THE LIQUOR QUESTION.
The Convention refused to reconside
the vote rejecting the proposition of Mr.
Gaut, comforting the power upon the Leg
islature to give the cities, towns, countie
and civil districts the right of prohibitin!
the sale of intoxicating liquors by two
thirds vote.
THE FRANCHISE.
The motion of Mr.. Kirkpatrick, t
take from the table his motion, entered
yesterday, to reconsider the vote adopting
sectionn l of article w., in regard to thu
franchise, was sustained.
Mr.. Thompson, of Davidson, said that
he had voted against taking the amend
ment from the table, but he was satisfied
it was now the intention of the COnven.
ton to undo its action in making payment
of a poil-tax a prerequisite to the cleo
tive franchise. The circumstances under
which that amendment had been adopted
had changed. 1t was expected then that
the poll-tax would be locally expended
where it was paid. In common with
most of the delegates from Middle and
West Tennessee he had voted for the pre-
payment of the poll-tax as a means to
ear mark the voter. If it was now the
intention of the Convention to repeal that
provision, he would vote with the ma
jority, but only on condition that an
amendment should be adopted making it
constitutional requirement that every
man should vote at his own precinct and
in the presence of neighbors to whom he
is known, so that it would not be possible
for horde of strange imposters toappear
and disappear at every election.
Mr.. Thompson, of Maury, was not in
favor of allowing any man to vote unless
he had paid all his taxes. He thought
the Convention would be doing wrong
if it did not require every man to pay the
miserable pittance of pol-tax.
Mr.. Doherty said he was for striking
out the poll-tax qualification to vote. He
had received a great many letters urg-
ing that this action be taken. He was
afraid that if this was not done the
amended Constitution would be voted
down, and h. desired TO make compro-
mise.
Mr.. Heiskell said the adoption Of the
franchise proposition which was reported
to this Convention four or five weeks ago,
was itself compromise, and as great a
one as he could make. If the Convention
proposed to admit the negro population,
without any restriction, to the ballOt-bOx,
he should go for having the whole ques-
ton opened up. Let them go back and
do the work all over again,
The vote adopting section l of article
" was reconsidered by the following
vote:
Aye8-Messrs. Arledge, Blizzard, Bran
don, Branson, Britton, Brooks, Brown,
of Henry, Carroll, Gibson and Madison,
Carter, Chowning, Coffin, Cummings,
Cypert, Deaderick, Finley, Gibbs, Gibson,
Henderson, Hill of Warren, Hill of Glib,
son, Ivie, Jones of Lincoln, Key, Kirk
patrick, Kyle. McDougal, McNabb, Mar
tin, MeeEs, Morris, Netherland, Parker,
Sample, Staley, Taylor, Waters, Warner
WilliamsOn-37.
NoeS-Messrs. Allen, Bate, Baxter,
Brown of Davidson, Burkett, Burton,
ByrnG, Davenport, Dibbrell, DOherty,
Dromgoole, Fielder, Gardner, Garner,
Gaut, Gordon, Heiskell, House of vii
hanson, House of Davidson, Robertson
and Montgomery, Jones, of Giles, Kenne-
dy, Mabry, Nicholson, Porter of Hay,
wood, Seay, Shepard, Shelton, Stephens,
Thompson of Davidson, Thompson OF
Maury, Turner, Wright-32
Mr.. Fentress offeredth the following in lieu
of the section:
The following persons shall be entitled
to the exercise of the elective franchise il
this State:
l. Every free white man of the age Of
twenty-One years, being a citizen of the
United States, and a resident of the State
for twelve months, and of the county
wherein he may offer his vote six months
next preceding the day of election.
2. And if at any time hereafter The
right of the States to declare who shall
not be voters is legally surrendered to the
Government of the United States, ther
such other persons as the United State,
Government shall declare entitled to eXer
else the elective franchise in Tennessee
shall by virtue of the same be so entitled
but no further or otherwise.
Provided, that the General Assembly
shall have power to enact laws requirin!
voters to vote in election precincts il
which they may reside, and laws to secur,
the freedom of elections and purity of tn
ballOt-box.
All male persons of the State shall b
subject to military duty within such age
as may be prescribed by law, but no on
shall be subject to poll tax who is nc
legally entitled to vote in this State.
The above was laid on the table by th
following vote.
Ayes-Messrs. Allen, Baxter, Blizzard
| Brandon, Branson, Britton, Brook
Brown, of Davidson, Burkett, Burton
Byrne, Chowning, Coffin, Cypert, Dead,
rick, Dibrell, Doherty, Dromgoole, FielC
er, Finley, Gardner, Garner, Gaut, Glib
Gibson, Henderson, Hill, of Warren, Hi
of Gibson, Houser of Williamson, Uous,
of Davidson, Robertson and MontgoUer!
Ivie, Jones, of Lincoln, Kennedy, Ke!
Kirk patrick, Kyle, Mabry, McDouga
Martin, Meeks, Morris, Netherland, Mel
olson, Parker, Porter, of Haywood, San
pie, Seay, Staley, Thompson, of DaviC
son, Thompson, of Maury, Turner, w
tiers, Warner and Wright-56.
Noes-Messrs. Arledge, Brown (
Henry, Carroll, Gibson and Madison, Ca
ter, Cummings, Davenport, Fentres
Gordon, Heiskell, Jones of Giles, SheI
ard, Stephens, Taylor, Williamson
Mr.. Jones, of Giles, now raised tn
point of order, that when vote to recO
slider a proposition has once been laid G
the table, no motion thereafter to reco
slider the same can be in order, and rel
from authorities in support of his prop
| sitiOn.
The chair ruled the point of order W.
taken, and that the present action on Il
franchise section went for nothing.
Mr. Jones, of Lincoln, appealed fro
the decision of the chair. The chair W
sustained by large majority.
Mr.. jones, of Lincoln, now annOunct
that with thepayment of poll tax as a pl
requisite to voting, he could neither si
the amended Constitution nor support
by his vote. He said he had received
remuneration for his service as a delegat
nor should he accept any; but from Il