The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-01-07
The Public Debt OF Tennessee
Editor Home Journal.
The Constitution Of 1884 contained
the following provision:

Editor Home Journal. =
The Constitution Of 1884 contained
the following provision:
"a well regulated system OF internal
Improvement IL calculated TO develop the
resources OF the State and promote the
happiness: and prosperity OF her citizens;
therefore IT ought TO be encouraged by
the General Assembly."--Art. XI, sec. o.
This vague provision affords the
only shadow Of constitutional warrant
for the largest portion Of our public
lebt.
In a former communication, speak.
ing ofthc provision in question, we in.
CURED, --'' What does the word en-.
couragel meanw TO this question
there ctnie no reply. The wise men
Of tennessee were silent. And moth
ing was beard save the voice Of the
bondholder singing the old song of
the lalth and honor and credit Of the
State. BIT while we were in Nash
vile n short time since, We took ad-
vantage OF the opportunity to examine
the proceedings Of the Convention OF
1884 to see il we could discover VIVA,
meaning the Convention itself attach
ed to the word.
Ex-Governor William Blount, of
Montgomery county, appears to have
been the author Of the provision we
are now considering, Certain resolu.
tons were submitted by him in rela-
ton to internal improvements, but
these resolutions we were unable to
find. His speech, however, on the 22d
Of July, enables us to form ali idea of
their nature. In this speech Mr.. Blount
said:
sour means and materials for The adj
vancement Of such a system are abundant
and ut hand, in every quarter OF the State,
so much 50 that they emily ask the hand
Of art and industry to take them up and
apply them to the most valuable and use
ful purposes; but If the fact were so, that
we lacked the means. the opening of books
OF subscription by the proper authority to
ensurc safety to men of capital resident
in other States and in large cities. and
men who feel desire to engage In the
enterprises of the west, Tennessee being
the central point for active operations
The means would thus be afforded, and for
that reason we should have such railroads
and improved navigation in all directions
authorized to be made. inasmuch rs those
means would be quickly affOrdc ! by stock
holders in incorporated companies, and
they afforded too with little or no cost to
the State
The resolutions offered by Mr..
Blount were referred To the Committee
on Internal improvements. or this
Committee Mr.. Blount was Chairman,
and, in their report,
"TllG Committee recommends thai the
Legislature shall have power and authori-
ty to grant charters OF incorporation to
such companies as MAJ form themselves
into associations for the purpose of under
taking and carrying OF internal improve
mehts either on land or water, in any part
70 the State, loith their 0ton capital. either
in hand, or such as they may obtain by
opening books Transcription for the pur-
pose OF raising or increasing their capital !;
secondly, that the Legislature be also au-
thorized to provide that the State may. at
its discretion, subscribe for some definite
number Of shares with said com or
companies and thirdly, that Il provision
be Incorporated In the Constitution that
State and county internal improvement 10y
land and water shall forever be encour-
aged by the Government of this State"
Here were three suggestions. The
first two were ignored, but the sub
stance Of the other was adopted, as
will he seen by reference to Art. XI,
sec. 0 before quoted. Now, what is
the explanation of this action of the
Convention? The Proceedings throw
no light on this point. and therefore we
are left to conjecture.
AS to the first suggestion of the
Committee that the Legislature he au-
thorized to charter companies to op.
crate with their capital, which Mr..
Biount had declared to be amply SUI
ficient TO accomplish the purposes in
vicw-perhaps the Convention thought
that this was comprchended in the
general powers of government and
needed no constitutional warrant.
AS to the second suggestion Of the
Committee-that the Legislature he
authorized to subscribe tor some def.
mite number Of shares with said com
lany or companies-the convention
probably concluded that it would he
impolitic to adopt such a provision.
The Constitution of 1876, which they
had assembled to revise and amend,
had delegated, generally, to the Leg,
~islative department, only the powers
necessary for the Legislature Of u free
Sla,e."-Art. l, sec. 0-,and it is rea-
sonable to presume that the Conven
ton of 1884 did not wish to confer
upon the Legislative department any.
thing more than the necessary powers
OF government.
AS to the third suggestion of The
Commlttee-tliat a provision he incor
porated in the Constitution that State
and county internal Improvement by
land and water shall forever be cncour.
aged by the government of this State
we have seen that this suggestion was
substantially adopted. And we have
reason to suppose that it was adopted
US s mere matter of form, out Of re-
spect for the Chairman of the Co .nmit.
tee. William Blount was President of
the Constitutional Convention of 1896.
an ex Governor of the State of Ten.
nessee, and was doubtless lui! of years
and honors when he occupied a seat
IN the Convention of 1891. The Con-