New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-28
TENNESSEE.
THE CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE CONSTITU-
TIONAL COMMEMORATIVE COLORED PEOPLE
AND THEIR FUTURE.
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

AND THEIR FUTURE.
lFROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS
NASHVILLE, Feb. 2.-The Constitutional
Convention closed its labors yesterday and adjourned
sine de- brief review of what has been done may not
prove ont of place The principal amendments to the
Constitution follows:
Making universal the franchise with prepayment Of
State pOltaX required; turning out the present Judiciary
and providing for the election by the people Of judicial
officers from magistrate up; Increasing the number Of
supreme judges from three TO i've; requiring resi-
dence OF year in the District before person can be-
come eligible 10 the position OF Judge limiting the Legs
lture to IS DAYS for regular and 20 days FOR called
session; taking from the Legislature the power to pass
laws OF incorporation, ana proNlduS tnat lHe9rpo-
IatiOns shall be formed under genera! law;
overcome by majority vote Of all the members elected
to either House providing that no Convention General
tine Constitution Of the United States unless such Con-
ventOn General Assembly shall have been elected
state from becoming stakeholder with others IN any
company or corporation, or Of loanng or giving IT'S
credit furthermore, OF becoming the owner in whole
SHAH be issued Under the internal pToVement acts to
any railroad which at the time Of application for such
bonds shall be in default OF payment of interest those
already issued eXempting for sale under legal process
homestead to the value Of in the hands of each head
OF family placing all property real. personal,
OF personal property in the hands OF each taxpayer
the direct products Of the soil in the hands Of the pro-
Queer or his Immediate Vehdee, ana such pu9lc ana
corporation property and such ass held and used purely
FOR charitable, religious or educational purposes as the
Legislature may from tline 70 tme exempt requiring
twohrds Of counties or towns TO loan the public
a
conventional rate OF interest not 10 exceed ~ per cent
apprOpratng the derived from the tax on polls
70 educational purposes exclusively providing Tor the
formation of counties by the Legislature, To contain
less than 275 square miles and not less than zoo quail
the Legislature shall be filed otherwise than by tho
County Court or the people by regular election; feqI
for white and cOored children providing that person
shall be required in time OF peace TO do any pubic
rest requiring every white man arrested Tor CRIME TO be
tried by white jury
-.
signed the Constitution and promised to support it, But
one month will elapse before the Constitution as
amended viii be submitted TO the people
AN IDLE LEGISLATURE.
The LEGISLATURES stll in session, but will adjourn in
couple Of weeks at the longest There is TO be an ad
journed session in May next for the purpose OF making
new apporonment of representation Of the State, aud
transacng such other unfinished business as may come
up. Probably no more INDECENT or inefficient body OF
soons sat at State Capitol than the General AS
sembly OF the state of Tennessee. The members are
ignorant Of legislative business and for all the goodhey
have done the State might have gone home
more than two months ago. great many small cOrpo
ration bills have been passed. the neglect of other and
more important matters.
Serious charges have been recently made against secre
tary Of State Fletcher He Is accused Of having disposed
Of the land scrip belonging to Tennessee something like
two years ago. in such loose to cost the state
$4,000 $4,000. committee has been appointed by
the Legislature TO investigate the charges made and
have been empowered continue their operations after
the adjournment of the General Assembly
TREEDMES's CONVENTION.
The coored people OF the State have Just held
ton az Nashville for the purpose Of comparing
the subject OF schools progress IN agriculture and the
general condition OF the large number Of dele
gates were present and the deliberations were
esng Some Of the ablest colOred men have counseed
their people devote less time to mere politics. and to
otend more 10 their advancement in education TO the
ACQUISITION of property and the making Of homes. The
Meeting promises TO have beneficial effect, and the fu
ture Of the freedmen in this state looks much brighter
.l.... "a u ON time since.