Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-23
AMENDING THE STATE CONSTR.
TUITION.


For some time past, and for various
reasons, it has been urged in many
quarters that the constitution of 1870
needs amendment In some important
particulars. 1t has been insisted that,
under the $1,000 exemption clause we
can never have fair and equitable as
sessment law. That clause exempts
the bulk Of personal property in the
State, because not one-tenth of the
people own 4 thousand dollars in per-
sonalty. Practically this works for the
benefit of the poorer masses, and We do
not see how oil personal prosperity is to
be taxed without an assessment law
much more inquisitorial than the pres
ent one. However, the constitution of
1870 provides two modes by which it
may be amended. Section 3 of Article
XI. provides:
ANY amendment or amendments to
this Constitution may be proposed in
the Senate or House of Representa-
tives; and if the same shall be agreed
to by a majority of all the members
elected to each Of the two Houses, such
proposed amendment or amendments
shall be entered on their journals, with
the yeas and nays thereon, and refer
red to the General Assembly then next
to be chosen; and shall be published six
months previous to the time of making
such choice; and if in the General As
sembly then next chosen as aforesaid,
such proposed amendment or amend
ments shall be agreed to by twO-thirds
of all the members elected to each
House, then it shall be the duty of the
General Assembly to submit to such
proposed amendment or amendments
to the people, in such manner, and at
such times, as the General Assembly
shall prescribe. And if the people
shall approve and ratlfy such amend
ment or amendments, by a majority of
all the citizens of the State voting for
Representatives voting in their favor,
such amendment or amendments shall
become a part of this Constitution.
| When any amendment or amendments
to the Constitution shall be proposed,
in pursuance of the foregoing pro-
visions, the same shall at each of the
said sessions, be read three times ON
three several days, in each House. The
Legislature shall not propose amend
ments to the Constitution oftener than
once in six years.
While the Legislature cannot pro-
pose to amend oftener than once in six
years, it may propose any number of
amendments at one time. The provis-
ion for final submission to the people
seems to authorize distinct elections on
different amendments when desirable,
the language above being ''in such
manner and at such times as the Cen
eral Assembly shall prescribe" There
is hut one clause in the above that
prevents the present Legislature from
being convoked in special session to
suggest amendments to be acted on by
the new Legislature next January and
submitted to the people few months
later. We refer to the clause requir-
ing six months publication previous to
the election Of the second Legislature.
There is, however, a speedier mode
Of action provided in the same Section
, Of Article XI, which proceeds as fol-
| lows:
The Legislature shall have the right,
at any time by law, to submit to the
people the question of calling a Con-
vention to alter, reform or aboli.h this
Constitution, and when upon such sub
mission, majority of all the votes
cast shall be in favor of said PROPOSE
ton, then delegates shall be chosen,
and the Convention shall assemble in
such mode and manner rs shall be pre-
! scribed.
This mode of amending the Consti-
tuition is more costly, but more expedi-
tious. The act calling the Convention
of lS70was passed Nov. IS, 1869, the
election took place Dec. Is, and the
| Convention met Jan. 10, 1870. The
expenses of the body were S27,572.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, with its
twenty miles of railroads, expects to
place an addition of $500. 900. on its as