Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-14


ture may also, vest such jurisdiction as
may be deemed necessary in corporation
courts. h.
Sec. 2. The Supreme Court shall be
composed of three Judges, one of whom
shall reside in each of the Grand Divisions
of the State of Tennessee; shall annually
hold one term in each of said Divisions,
and shall have jurisdiction of only such
causes as may be transferred TO the same
from the appellate courts.
Sec. 3 The Appellate Courts shall be
composed of two Judges each, who shall
be selected from and reside in each of the
Grand Divisions of the State, and hold
one term each year; and all appeals from
any order, judgment or decree of the
County, Circuit or Chancery Court, shall
be heard and decided by the Appellate
Court, whose judgment shall be final, I'M
less there shall be division ofopinion be-
tween said judges, or errors certified by
one of the Judges to the Supreme Court,
in either of which events, said cause shalls
be removed and tried by the Supreme
Court.
. Sec. 4. The Judges of the Supreme
Court shall be nominated by the Governor
and confirmed by two-thEds vote of the
Senate, and hold their office for twelve
years. The Judges of the Appellate
Courts and the Chancellors, shall hold
their Office for ten years, and be elected
by the Legislature in joint convention.
The Judges of the Circuit Courts shall hold
their office for eight years, and be elected
by the Legislature in joint convention.
On motion of Mr.. McDougal, Gen.
John H. Meeks, delegate for the county
of McNairy, appearing this morning in
the hall, came forward, subscribed the
oath of his Office, and took his seat.
The President announced the order for
the presentation of petitions.
Mr.. Allen, said he had letter adj
dressed to himself, which he desired to
present to the Convention. He would
say by way of explanation, that the au-
thor of it was a member of the Conven-
ton of 1865, and it refers TO what he
thinks should be the action of this Con-
vention -...
Pending the reading of the paper bg
the Secretary
Mr. Heiskell objected to the reading of
any document containing dlsrespectful
illusions to the action OF. the General Gov
crnmcnt. He considered it unparlia-
mentary and out Of order; that no letter
of such character ought TO be presented
here, and moved that its further reading
be dispensed with.
Mr. Allen had submitted the letter for
this reason: The writer was a member
of the Convention of 1866, and identified
with the interests of the State and the
interests of this bOdy-a man of character
who made some reputatiOnin that Conven-
ton, and was specially requested by his
constituents TO write him (Mr. A upon
what he might regard as the appropriate
work of this Convention.
Mr. Heiskell disclaimed any intention of
disrcspect toward the writer, but objected
simply to the disrespectful illusions of the
letter to the Government of the United
States as supplementary and out of or
der. No such illusions should be made
here, and we ought not to act here with
reference TO anything said outside of this
hall.
Mr. Allen then withdrew the letter.
Mr. Brown, of Davidson-Since the
question had been raised, said, he couldnot
see why we should object to the reading.
1t makes no difference if cannot agree
with the gentleman as to what we have to
do. Surely, Mr.. President every man in
the State has a right to exercise a sound
discretion as TO statements of what he
thinks should be our duty.
Mr.. Gibson rose to a point of order.
There is nothing before the House.
i nsv,,rn hn int
said: For the present, the chair will rule,
that no paper purporting TO be a petition
or memorial, unless it is in the form of a
petition or memorial, will be received. A
letter addressed to delegate is not a peti-
ton or memorial to this body.
5Ir. Warner-If not out of order, /
would ask the President if the Chair could
not take the responsibility of ruling that
all petitions should come to this body
through q committee, which shall deter
mine whether they be read or not And
if the committee deny its reading the
member interested might appeal to the
House. q
Mr.. Jones, of Lincoln-There might
be rule that all petitions and memorials
be referred to committee without read
ing.
The President-The Convention can
not deny the right of petition. But |
suppose it might make an order that they
be referred.
Mr.. Jones, of Giles-Does not our
rules require that all papers shall be read z
l can see no evil growing out of the
prompt reading of all petitions and me-
morials-that every person and all classes
of persons may be heard here in this way.
The President-The Chair simply rules
for the present that petitions and memo
rails can take any direction which the
Convention may adopt at any time.
Mr.. Brown, of Davidson-Do | under
| stand that if l receive petition from my
constituents, and presentit, that petition is
Chen entitled to be read, unless it is moved
and ordered to be referred without read
ing?
The President-It passes to the COM
mittee, unless otherwise directed by the
| Convention.
MI. Brown of Dayidson-My expert
ence is that, when a petition is offered by
a member il is his right TO have it read,
as 3 matter of course. 1t has an inherent
right TO be read, unless otherwise ordered
by the Convention, This is a demand
which the citizen can make of deliber-
alive body. When petition is announced,
its substance is stated, or it may be read.
1t seems TO me that the rule indicated
would be a little grating in its operation,
if the petition must first undergo the
! inspection of committee. There is a
little suspicion about it. am satisfied
that we ought to settle point Of such
dClicaCy as this
Mr., Turner submitted a resolution for 8
rule, that petitions and memorials shall be
received, read and referred without de-
bate He said: would state with refer
ence to the ruling, that il trenches on the
great right of the people 10 instruct theii
representatives. The people have no 9th.
or way of getting their instructions before
their delegate than bypstition, and if they