Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-12

referred TO their appropriate committees
And il we add another committee to the
4 resolutions of the gentleman from Mont
gomery, then everything will be proper
and right; then each committee will have
exclusive care of propositions belonging
to its department But confess am
rather in favor of the resolution of the
gentleman from Maury.
Mr. House of Williamson.<-The reso-
lutions of the gentleman from Nontgom-
cry ought to be adopted, or submitted as
an amendment.
Mr.. Nicholson.-Ih have accepted them.
Mr.. Heiskell.-J move to amend by
striking out and appropriately inserting a
proposition that each committee confine
its action to suGh portions of the Consti-
tuition as may be expressly referred to
them by the House.
The President. the gentleman
from Shelby reduce his proposition to
writing?
Mr.. Jones, of Lincoln-Af l conpre-
bend the resolutions of the gentleman
from Montgomery, (Mr. Kennedy and
the resolution of the gentleman from
,Maury, (Mr. Nicholson, they are in fact
the same; only those Of the gentleman
from Montgomery are little more eX-
| plicit. The gentleman from Shelby, (Mr.
Heskell, } wishes to have the committees
restricted SO that their inquiries shall be
confined to the subjects distinctly referred
to them. That can be done by resolution
for example, by requiring the Commit
tee on the Executive Department to con-
fine its Enquiries TO subjects connected
with that department-and SO of
all the rest. And if any gentlemen have a
specific matter, it can be referred by spe
| cial resolution. And when these different
subjects in the aggregate. shall be referred
to the Committees, it viii nos preclude
any gentleman from offering his propo-
sition for revision or amendment of any
part of the Constitution. | think the
resolutions are carefully and well pre-
pared, and will not probably be bettered
much by amendment
Mr.. Heiskell's amendment was then
ant up and read by the Secretary:
That the standing committees of THIS
Convention shall be as follows: On the
Judicial Department, Legislative Depart
ment, Declaration of Rights, Elections
and Right of Suffrage, Taxation and Mis-
cellareous Provisions.
That the committees shall take into con-
sideratiOn such resolutions as shall be sub
mitted to them by the Convention under
the rules of the House.
Mr.. Brown, of DaVidson-I am well
satisfied that the proposition Offered by
the gentleman from Montgomery (Nh.
Kennedy is consistent with the dispatch
of business The original proposition
submitted by the gentleman from Mont
gomey, (Mr.' Kennedy provides for a
number of committees, and that each
committee shall take the different depart
meats of government under its charge
apd care, and report what amendments
may be proper The resolution now offer
ed proposes to restrict the committees
to the subjects which may be
referred TO them. Now, Mr.. Presi
dent, | think that committees of
eleven delegates-such committees as will
be appointed by the President of this Con-
ventiOn, will be men able to reach the
necessities of the hour with more efleC-
tivgnesS and certainty than could be done
by any one mind. These men can survey
the whole field upon every subject they
may have in charge, and can eviscerate
what perhaps would not occur to myself
or any other individual member. l wish
to take the members of this Convention
eleven minds together in Classes-and
make them so many working machines.
And if l see anything which think re-
quires action, and have it submitted to
them, it is their business to explore the
field and report upon it. The first thing
we have in view is to revise the COnstitu
ton. The suggestions which Imay make
may help something. If they are not
adopted, they may lead to profitable
suggestions from other minds. Twill say
am in favor of brief and economical
session. | wish to ecOnOmiZe the per
diem of s.. 90 per day.. which this Con
ventiOn is to cost. But while depre-
cate 4 long session, am interested to see
that even the least item of revision shall
be arranged fairly and squarely, but
prudently and firmly. have more con-
fidence in the conclusions to which eleven
men, selected here for the purpose, can
come to upon the subject of the Judicia-
ry, or the subject of taxation, or the
subject of the franchise, than can have
in my own Judgment upon these matters;
for they can scan every section of every
article, even every word by itself.
How long will it take eleven
men operating in one department
of labor here to give us back reports in
response to our demands? 1t seems to
me that the appropriate object of commit
tees of this sort, is not only to respond TO
propositions Offered here, but to reinforce
these propositions by their own inVestiga-
| tons. 1t is altogether proper that we
| should consider these subjects fairly and
| deliberately, so that we may escape that
| condition of things which made the con-
ventionof 1884 long and tedious session.
This is the mission upon which We all
| come here, not that We may leave our
own footprints behind us, but so 60 work
| upon every subject of revision here as will
promote the prosperity, advance the inter
ests and rebound to the glory Of this
| Commonwealth, and set it OncemOrc upon
| its feet. I know that the State is sadly
encountered with obligations, but they
are such as can be met, whether we sit
here one or two months. The State will
! 90 forward. She will outride the storm.
And if we adopt the resolutions of the
gentleman from Montgomery, and find
that we have taken a wrong start after a
| day or two, we can rctrace orir steps.
| Mr.. Fulkerson-It seems TO me if these
ideas are correct, there cannot be a good
prospect for an economical session. For
l think that we must have in the minds
of the members here at least seYenty-five
constitutions
Nj Warner hoped the gentleman would
ind less number than that.
Mr.. Hill proposed to amend the amend
ment by inserting a requisition that each
of said committees report in full upon the
subjects referred to them respectively, on
or before the Goth day of thismonth. He
said: 1t is suggested that several dozen
constitutions are already written here.
have no doubt that every member
has in his mind some amendment which
he desires and will be ready to submit.
But think that there are one ortwo points
TO be considered besides sending this con-
stitution TO the people. The March cleo
ton, in my opinion, would be theapprOpri-
ate time. Because it VIII be an occasion
to call the people out. For the want of
this, you see what a small vote was given
for the delegates to this Convention. II
was very desirable and many were anX-
ious to have a large vote; and we see the
result. If VIC can get this work com,
pleted and before the people at
Che March election, Then everybody
mind will be called TO it. In the midst