Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-22

ment. 1t was the resolution of Mr.
Sample with reference to hymenial con-
tracts. The committee instructed him to
ask that they be discharged from the fur
ther consideration of that resolution, and
that it be referred to the Committee on
| Miscellaneous Affairs.
The motion was agreed 10.
TERM OF OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.
Mr.. Turner moved The reconsideration
of the vote of yesterday, by which Mr.
House, of Montgomery's, substitute for
the 4th section of the third article of the
Constitution was adopted changing the
term of office of the Governor from two
to four years.
The motion was agreed to, and the
question required again upon the proposed
amendment to the Constitution offered by
Mr.. House
The amendment was then read by the
Secretary
Mr.. Turner said that after looking over
this amendment again he found that it
would necessitate several other changes.
We would have to provide for the election
of Lieutenant Governor, and believing
that as few changes as possible should be
made in the present Constitution, he was
now induced to vote against it. Besides
this fixing of the Governors term at four
years would not do away with the
expense of any election; because
once in two years we shall still
have an election for members of
the Legislature. He had favored
the proposition at first, because he thought
it would operate in some way upon the
legislation of the State. He still be-
lieved that there should be some restric-
ton upon that department. But now he
believed that to elect the Governor for a
term of two years and then place in his
hands limited veto, would accomplish
all that ought to be desired in that direc-
ton.
Mr.. Porter, of Haywood, could see no
reason why they should annul to-day
what was the deliberate action of the
body yesterday.
The proposition was fully discussed,
and he could not see why they should
stultify themselves in this way.
After some debate on a question of |
order, by Mr.. Jones of Lincoln, Mr.. |
Porter of Haywood aud others
Mr.. Heiskell made an Intellectual mo-
ton to lay the motion to reconsider on |
the table, which was decided by yeas go,
nays A.
The question recurring upon the mo-
ton to reconsider, it was agreed to; and
the question required upon the adoption |
of the substitute offered by Mr.. House, |
of Montgomery, as follows:
"The Governor shall hold his Office for |
the term of four years, and until his sue |
cessor shall be elected and qualified, and |
shall not be eligible to more than. four
years in any period of eight years"
Mr.. House, of Montgomery, stated that |
though the extension of the term of the |
Governor to four years, might prevent
the frequent recurrence of his election, |
this was one of the least of the reasons |
which he had for offering the amend
ment. He considered that the Gov
ernOr should hold his Office long
enough to become acquainted with its
affairs, that the office should be made
more permanent; that it would add to its
dignity and Importance, tone and strength
and authority and power; that it would
make the Governor the head of the State,
and give him time to familiarize himself
with the affairs of State, so that he might
be well prepared from time to time to give
to the Legislature such information as
they could rely upon.
Mr.. Burton having voted for the
amendment extending the time of
the Governors Office from two TO
four years, was still in favor
of that amendment. He was induced to
vote for the reconsideration on account of
the office of Lieutenant Governor, and
because it might involve the extension of
the terms of Senators to four years. He |
would ask the gentleman from Sumner |
whether that was not the case.
Mr.. TVrer supposed the case of the |
death six months after his in
then the Speaker of the
Senate takes his plaCe-an executive Off
Ger now, but only elected by the people
for two years, and without any reference |
to the office of Governor. The people |
had no voice in that matter
at all. This would involve a
change in the Constitution, creating
the Office of Lieutenant Governor for four |
years, or the Office of Speaker of the |
Senate for four years.
Mr. Burton said it still occurred to him |
that there was no force in this objection;
because, whenever a vacancy occurs in |
the office of Governor his place is filled |
by the Speaker of the Senate. He would |
still stick TO the four years term.
Mr.. Jones of Lincoln, suggested that if |
the Governor should die, the Office for the |
first two years would be supplied by the |
Speaker of the Senate whose term of Of
fee would certainly expire with his Sen
atorial term of two years. And if that |
term expired before the end of the four
years, the next President of the Senate |
would succeed. But the gentleman from |
Mr.. House,, desired this |
term that the Governor might |
have opportunity to qualify himself, |
whilst he Mr.. Jones thought he odght |
III some measure to be qualified before his |
election. But suppose he is not; under
this present Constitution he is elected for |
two years, and eligible for six years; |
whilst under the proposed provision he |
would be eligible to but four years in any |
period of eight years. Now, if a man
makes a good Governor perhaps there |
would be but little difficulty in re-electing |
him; and if he is a bad Governor, two |
years is long enough for him to be in of |
fee. Under the circumstances, therefore, |
he thought it better to adhere to the pres
ent Constitution.
Mr.. Blizzard demanded the previous |
question.
Mr. Brown, of Davidson, indicated his |
desire to offer an amendment providing
for the election of a Lieutenant Governor,
who should be elected for four years; |
who should be ex-officiO President of the |
Senate; and, in case of the death of the |
Governor, should succeed to his official
functions.
Mr.. Blizzard withdrew the demand for
the previous question, and demanded the |
yeas and nays on the main question. And
under the operation of this demand the |
yeas and nays were taken, resulting-yeas,
20; nays, 43-as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Bate, Baxter, Brandon, |
Brown, of Davidson, Burton, Byrne,
Campbell, Deaderick, Doherty, Drom-
goole. Fentress, Fulkerson, Glib |
son. HeiskeI. House, of Williamson,
House, of Davidson, Robertson and Mont
gomery, Jones, of Giles, Kennedy, Key,
Kyle, Mabry, McNabb, Nicholson, Porter,
of Haywood, Porter, of Henry, Shelton,
Staley, Thompson, of Davidson, William
son and Wright-29.
Nays-Messrs. Allen, Arledge, Black
burn, BLIZZARD, Branson, Britton, Brooks,
Burkett, Carter, Chowning, Coffin,
Cummings, Cypert, Davenport, Dib-
brell, Fielder, Finley, Gardner,
Garner, Gaut, Gibbs, Gordon, Henderson,