Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-19

which are known to be opposed to bearing
arms, from attending private and genera
musters.
ARTICLE IX-DISQUALIFICATIONS
The Convention now proceeded to arti-
Gle TX. Sections l and were adopted,
as follows:
Section /. Whereas ministers of the
gospel are, by their profession, dedicated
to God and the care of souls, and ought
not to be diverted from the great duties OF
their functions therefore, no minister OF
the gospel or priest, of any denomination
whatever, shall be eligible to a seat in
either house of the Legislature.
Sec. 3. No person who denies the being
of God, or future state of reward and
punishment, shall hold any office in the
civil department of this State.
The Convention then took recess.
Afternoon Session.
The Convention met at ppm.
Section 8 of article TX was read, as
follows:
Sec. 3. Any person, who shall, after
the adoption of this Constitution, fight a
duel, or knowingly be the bearer of a
challenge to fight duel, or send or &C
cept challenge for that purpose, or be an
alder or abettor in fighting duel, shall
be deprived of the right to hold any office
of honor or profit in this State, and shall
be punished otherwise, in such manner as
the Legislature may prescribe.
Mr.. Porter, of Henry, proposed to
amend SO as to make the section apply
exclusively to this State, and not to eiti-
zens of the State who may fight duel
outside the State.
After considerable discussion the
amendment was rejected by vote of 40
to 16, and the section was adopted.
ARTICLE x-OATHs, BRIBING OF ELECTORS.
The Convention now took up article
X, and sections !, 2 and were adopted
as follows:
Section /. Every person who shall be
chosen or appointed to any office of trust
or profit under this Constitution, or any
law in pursuance thereof, shall, before
entering upon the duties thereof, take an
oath to support the Constitution OF this
State, and of the United States, and an
oath of Office.
Sec. 2. Each member of the Senate
and House of Representatives shall, be-
fore they proceed to business, take an
oath or affirmation to support the Consti-
tuition of this State, and of the United
States, and also the following oath: 81,
do sOlemnly swear Cor affirm
that. as member of this General Assem-
bly,, l will, in all appointments, vote
without favor, affection, Partially, or
prejudice; and that will not propose or
assent to any bill, vote or resolution which
shall appear to me injurious to the peo-
pie, or consent to any act or thing what
ever. that shall have tendency to lessen
or abridge their rights and privileges, as
declared by the Constitution of this State. "
Sec. 3. Any elector who shall receive
any gift or reward for his vote, in meat,
drink, money or otherwise, shall suffer
such punishment as the laws shall direct.
And any person who shall directly or IN
directly give, promise or bestow any such
reward to be elected, shall thereby be
rendered incapable, for six years, to serve
in the office for which Ire was elected,
and be subject to such further punish
ment as the Legislature shall direct.
NEW COUNTIES.
The report of the Committee on New
Counties and County Lines was taken up.
The first paragraph reads as follows:
Sec. 4. New counties may be estab-
lished by the Legislature, to consist of
not less than tl0O hundred and fifty
SQUARE miles, and which shall contain a
population of four hundred and fifty
qualified voters. No line of such county
shall approach the courthouse of any
old county, from which it may be
taken, nearer than twelve miles. No
part of a county shall be taken off to
form a new county, or a part thereof,
without the consent of a majority of
the qualified voters in such part taken off.
And in all cases where an old county may
be reduced for the purpose of forming a
new one, the seat or justice in said coun-
ty shall not be removed without the con-
currence of two-thirds of both branches
of the Legislature, nor shall said old
county be reduced to less than six hundred
and twenty-five square miles: provided,
however, that the following exceptions be
made to the foregoing provisions, viz:
New counties may be established by the
present or any succeeding Legislature, out
of the following territory, tO-wit:
''Out of that portion of Obion county
which lies west of low water mark OF
Reel Foot Lake
An amendment by Mr.. Mabry, fixing
he number of square miles of new
counties at 275 was adopted.
Amendment of Mr.. Kennedy, fixing
the number of qualified voters at 700
instead of $50, was adopted.
Mr. Mabry's amendment, striking on
'twelve miles" and inserting ''cleyeT
miles" was adopted.
AmendmClt requiring two-thlrds yot
of the fraction of a county desiring tt
detach itself from an old county, wa
| adopted.
Pending action on the remainder OF tn
paragraph, the Convention then adjOurne
| till Q A. NJ tomorrow.
TNote.-Mr. Samples resolution, intro
duced on Friday, providing that the Bibl
should not be prohibited from the com
mon schools, should have read Old an
New Testaments, instead of simply Oh
| Testament.