Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-09
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.


| Report Of Minority House Committee.
Mr.. Speaker--The undersigned men,
bers of the Committee on the Judiciary,
| differing in opinion with the other mem.
bers in relation to House bill No lis, enti-
tied An Act to authorize the people to call
a Constitutional Convention, which was re-
| ferred to said committee, beg leave to sub :
NIT the following report:
| 1t has become a trite saying that that
people are best governed who are least gov
erned; and again, that in frequent changes
| of the laws of people uncertainty, insta-
| bility and mistrust are beg0tten.
In looking back through the history of
our State we find the first Constitution of
Tennessee to have been adopted in the year
| A. ID. 1896, and tina. this stood the organic
| law of the State with no amendment until
the year A. d. 1884.
| In the year A. d. 1884 second consti-
tuition for Tennessee was made and adopt
ed, and this stood the wear and tear of
years, and with but one amendment in A.
D. 1853, served and protected the changing
political conditions of The State until A. d.
1865, when the schedule of the 22d of Feb
ruary of that year changed the constitution
of 1884.
With the changes of A. D. 1866, we
seem to have entered upon an ers of
change, for in A. u. 1870 another constitu-
ton is adopted, and now with scarce three
years test thereof we are called upon to
provide for annulling that and making a
new law in its stead.
We believe such frequent changes of our
organic law attended as is always the case
with changes of peace aud place holders to
be productive only by bad effect upon the
people Of the State
1t is conceded that in the constitution of
1870 there are many good features, and as
in all government there must be compro-
mise and concession-this, in fac, being the
basis upon which all society is organized
and as it is impossible to foretell who may
compose the convention of 1874, if one
should &c called, or to know what views and
interests may control that assemblage, or
whether anything 80 good-to say nothing
fimproyemeDt-will be agreed on by that
body; and as concessions and compromises
will be made by its members, we cannot
see the good to come from the passage of
said bill.
Again, we submit that the cost of the ex-
pertinent is too dear a luxury for Tennes-
see, in her impoverished and tax
ridden condition, to indulge in, when
every amendment to the constitution
that has been urged as need
can be secured under the provisions of sec.
8, art. XII of our present Constitution with
out any of said cost, and that, too, within
six months of as soon as is proposed by
said bill. The cost of said convention can
not be less than $4,000.
Our State is now cut off from all entapg.
ling alliances with corporations, aud her
credit is hedged about with many safe
guards. We enjoy an immunity from these
corruptiug influences which has not been
felt for many long year before. The
question comes sternly up before us, had
we not better Shear those ills we have than
fly to others we know not off" And in
these views We respectfully submit that, in
case some amendment is needed, and no
one can or will pretend that our present
Constitution is perfect, it would be far more
easily, juss SO surely, and with no cost what
ever be accomplished by the passage of
House Bill No. POI entitled "An act to
provide for submitting to the people certain
amendments to the Constitution under sec.
of Art. XI. Of the Constitution" and
which we believe contains every change
that we have heard urged as necessitating
a Convention.
HOLMES CUMMINs,
i A IROJSnAJE