Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-15
THE CONVENTION.
FIFTH DAY.

Prayer by the Rev. DR.. BEDFORD.
The journals of yesterday, and the re
mainder of Wednesdays were read an
authenticated.
WAYNE COUNTY DELEGATE.
0nmotionof Mr.. Jones, of Lincoln, Mr.
r. II. Cypert, delegate from the county O
Wayne, who appeared in the hall thi
morning. was invited to present his ere
dentials and qualify: whereupon,
Mr.. Cypert came forward and received
the oath of delegate at the hand of ESQ
Cassetty.
| PROPOSITIONS TO AMEND.
The President-Until the pleasure Of
the Convention shall be otherwise deter
mined, when the roll is called delegates
having anything to offer will please rise
and announce whether it is a petition.
memorial or resolution. If it is a petit
ton, let the delegate briefly announce its
contents. If resolution, it will be read
and he will have five minutes to make an
explanation.
CONGRESSIONAL.
By Mr.. Blackburn:
Whereas, All power being inherent in
the people, as guaranteed by the Constitu-
ton of Tennessee, as well as the Consti-
tuition of the United States, set forth in
the first article of the Bill of Rights of
each, therefore be it
Resolved, That it is the duty of this
Convention to see that no law shall be
passed calculated to destroy, impair or
diminish the representation of this State
in the Congress of the United States
Resolved, That this Convention, de-
irving its power from the people, will not
make, pass, alter, change or amend the
fundamental law of the State so as to di-
minish the power of this State in the Con-
gress of the United States.
Resolved, That these resolutions be re-
ferred TO the Committee on the Constitu-
ton.
POWER FROM TIE PEOPLE.
BY Mr.. Britton:
Resolved, That as all power is inherent
IN the people, and as governments were
instituted for their mutual protection and
security, il is therefore eminently proper
that all the Offices created by the Consti-
tuition in the various coordinate branches
of the State Government should be elected
by, and derive their power from, the
people.
BIENNIAL ELECTIONS.
Mr.. Carter submitted the following
Article II, section Z. The first election
for Senators and Representatives shall be
held on the first Tuesday in November,
1870, and forever thereafter elections for
members of the General Assembly shall
be held once in two years, on the first
Tuesday in November; said elections shah
terminate the same day.
Section s. The first session of the
General Assembly shall commence on the
first Monday in January, 1871; and for
ever thereafter the General Assembly shall
meet on the first Monday in January next
ensuing the election.
Mr.. Cartcr-The entire object of il is
this: As the law now stands, we have
great political contest every year. BY the
proposed change we will have but one
half the number. desire to state that
this proposition is not made for the pur-
pose of getting rid of the present Execu-
tive or the present Legislature.
The President-WithOut objection, the
paper will bereferredtO the. Committee on
Franchise and Elections.
Mr.. Jones Of Lincoln may be wrong,
but it seems to me, that it would be more
appropriate to refer it to the Committee
on the Legislative Department.
The Presidcnt-If we have any use for
a committee on elections, it occurs TO the
chair that the resolution should go to that
committee.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
BY Mr.. Davenport:
Resolved, That the appropriate com
mittee be instructed to inquire and report
upon the cxpCdiency and practicability of
establishing natural and permanent
boundaries TO govern and control the
representation in the General Assembly of
the State, instead of the two-thirds ratio,
as provided for in section >, article XI of
the present Constitution.
LOCAL AND PRIVATE LAWS
BY Mr. DOherty:
Whereas, Much of the valuable time
of the Legislature is appropriated in the
passage of local and private laws, TO the
hindrance of the public interest;
Resolved, That the Committee on the
Legislative Department be requested to
examine and report whether or not it
would be to the interest of the State to
divest the Legislature of the power of
enacting private acts and that power be
vested in such court or courts as shall be
designated by law
FRANCHISE AND ELECTIONS.
Resolved, That every male person, re
gardless of color, if qualified, having ar
rived at the age that may hereafter be pre-
scribed by Jaw, shall be eligible to any Of
fee to which he may be elected by a
popular vote of the qualified voters of
the county or district where he resides.
Resolved, That every male person of
the age of twenty-One, regardless of race
or color, not convicted of infamous
crime, being a citizen of the United
States and of the State of Tennessee
twelve months, and of the county where
he may offer his vote three months pre-
ccding the day of election, shall be emit
tied to vote for members Of the General
Assembly and all other civil officers for
the county or district where he resides.
Referred to Committee on Franchise.
HABEAs CORPUS.
BY Mr.. Fentress:
Resolved, That the Committee on the
Bill of Rights be requested to report
whether section fifteen of the Bill of
Rights should not be so amended as to
provide that the writ of hGJcuS corpus
shall not be suspended or denied in any
case.
Referred to The Committee on Bill of
Rights.
POWERS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
BY Mr. Fielder
Whereas, The powers of the State Gov
eminent are composed of three cO-ordi-
nate branches, viz: The legislative, exec
utive and judicial; therefore,
BE it resolved That the Legislative
Committee be requested TO inquire wheth-
CT or not any amendment to the
present Constitution is necessary
to keep them separate and dis
tinct, so that one may not infringe
upon the other, and, if so, report the
same TO this body.
REMOVING JUDGES FROM OFFICE.
BY Mr. Gibson:
Article -, section -. The number of
law circuits shall never exceed one for
every IS, 600 inhabitants, and the number
of Chancery divisions shall not exceed
one for every 100, 600 inhabitants, but in
establishing circuits and divisions, terrific
nv and population shall be eQualized, that
the laborS of the several Judges and the
several Chanccllors shall he equalizcd as
nearly as possible.
Section -. The judicial officer shall
not he a candidate before the people for
,,,,, thor tb,, n iu1ipial o{licn dircotl,y