Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-09
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.

On the fifth of this month Governor
Senter proclaimed that the new Colsti-
tuition, as submitted to the people, had
been ratified by them at the ballot-box
by majority of sixty-fonr thousand two
hundred and fifty-six votes. The fourth
ordinance of the Convention requires
this which states that upon the receipt
of the election returns II shall be the
duty of the Governor Speaker of the
Senate and President Of the Convention,
or any two of them, to com
pare the votes which were cast in said
election, and if it shall appear that a
majority Of all the votes east for and
against the new Constitution were for
the New Constitution" i shall be the
duty of the. Governor, Speaker Of the
Senate and President of the Convention,
or any two of them, TO appeal TO the
Constitution certificate Of the result Of
the votes, from which time the ConstitH-
ton shall be established as the Constitu-
tion OF Tennessee, ARd the Governor
shall make proclamation Of the result.
Governor Senter and John c. brosp,
President Of the Convention, were the
two who did the work of comparing the
vote and certifying to the sane. and
upon which the Governors proclamation
was made Every officer holding over
under this Constitution Is required,
within t,veuty days after its ratification,
10 take an oath to support the same;
and the failure to do so will vacate his
Office. This has reference to the Cover
nor of the State and the members of the
General Assembly, and all officers elected
ut the general election Of last March and
before the regular election 30 be held on
the first Thursday in August Rext.
Besides ,hese elections under the new
organic law. there will be one held on
the second Thursday in November next
for Governor and members of the Gene
raj Assembly, and for meIaheFs of Con-
gress. Itappears that we are 90 have 81
overflow Of elections this year in our
State, and il the people have heretofore
been deprived Of voting, the opportunity
is now afforded them to crafty the
desire to the fullest extent. SO much
political excitement cannot be regarded
as conducive to a healthnl and peaceful
state of public mind but the Convention
having fixed it, it is beyond eur control.
We will nov acquiesce in all the require
ments Of the new law, as every right
thinking, good citizen should How TO
harmonize the conflicting interests Of in
dividuals and parties must be our next
thought, so as to derive from this cohsti-
tufional charter the greatest amount of
good. The Legislature which is 70 meet
to-day At Nashville, will commence the
work % legisIating the inanimate parts
Of this fundamental law into life and
action, which is pOFerless until that body
directs the Executive oaicerin the mode
and manner ofcarrying il Oat The first
question that shall come upforlegislatiye
requirement is that sf voting. Every
male person Of the age OF twenty-one
years, being q citizen of the United
States and resident Of this State for
Twelve months. and Of the county where
II he may offer MS rote fer six months
nexs preceding the dag % eieetipR."
shall be entitled to exercise the
privilege Of the elective franchise,
coupled with the qualification that each
roter shall give to ske judges Of eleetion,