The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-07-06
For the Citizen.l
Amendments to the State Con
stitutiOn.

by the constitution of Tennessee for
changing the organic law The
Legislature has the right to pass an
act, submitting to the people the
question of calling a convention to
alter, reform or abolish the consti
tuition. If the Legislature submits
the question, the people vote upon
the proposition, and if a majority
of all the votes cast are in favor of
calling a convention, then delegates
are chosen with full powers to alter,
reform or abolish the existing con
stitution. If amendments are de
sired, the constitution prescribes a
SIMPLER and less expensive method.
The Legislature, when it is desired
to amend the constitution, proposes
the amendments by joint resolution.
The proposed amendments passed
by the General Assembly in which
they originate are then submitted
to the next succeeding Legislature,
and if they are agreed to by two
thirds of all the members elected to
each House, then they are submit
ted to the qualified voters of the
State for their ratification or reiec-
ton. If majority of the citizens
of the State qualified to vote for
representatives, vote in favor of
such amendments, then they be-
come part of the constitution.
The last General Assembly, by a
joint resolution, proposed twenty
amendments to the State constitu-
ton. 1t was thought by that body
that certain changes, if effected,
would result in general good, and
remedy those evils which it was be-
lieved grew out, in part, of the new
principles migrated in the constitu-
tion of 1870. An enlightened pub
lie sentiment had likewise indicated
to the Legislature many of the
changes embraced in the proposed
amendments. With a view to effect
the desired changes, and to make
our organic law more in harmony
with what was deemed conducive
to the general interests of the peo-
pie, to make the burdens of govern
ment more equal, to increase the
sources of revenue, to retrench ex-
penses, to prolong the tenure of
Office and thereby reduce expense
and save the State from the fire
quent and morbid excitement Incl
dent to popular elections, to author
ize the enactment of laws applica
ble to different counties, so as to
SUIT their condition and circum
stances, to foster and encourage
home manufactures, and to modify
our civil and criminal iudicature,
are some of the reasons which act
uated the Legislature in proposing
the amendments. A portion of that
body favored the calling of a con-
vention for the purpose of making
such alterations in the constitution
as were deemed necessary, but to
this there were objections. A con
vention would entail upon the State
an expense, perhaps, of not less
than twenty-five thousand dollars
in the aggregate. To justify such
an expenditure of money, when a
general revision of the constitution
was not demanded or desired, would
have been improper, unnecessary
and inexpedient. But, aside from
| the consideration of expense, it is
conceived that changing or altering
the constitution by way of amend
ment possesses many features pref
cradle to that of a convention.
When convention makes or revises
the constitution, the delegates be-
ing clothed with sovereign power
can act Independently Of the people
an opportunity is not afforded tC
discuss it's merits before it has beer
finally acted upon and submitted by
the convention. 1t is submitted a!
a whole for their ratification or re
lection. To discuss its provisions
section by section, and to accep
some and reject others, is out o
the question. The constitution o
1870 was submitted as a whole, ant
however obnoxious certain of 1T
provisions might have been, tn
people were compelled to accep
| the bad in order to get the good, o
to reject the whole, and fall bacI
upon the former CONSTITUTION. Bu
when the constitution is cha1ge'
bv way of amendment, the peopl
take defnitive action upon eac
amendment. They may ratify
part and reject a part. By thi
mode the people are enlightened a
10 the nature of the changes sougt
, 60 be effected in the fundaments
law; they are enabled by a full 81
:, preston and interchange Of opinio
4 to arrive at correct conclusions
to the necessity of amendments. 1
eaeetuate this. the frameFg Of OF
constitution have wisely provide
It that one legislature shall propoi
y the amendments, the next succee'
= ing one shall, if they are agreed t
; submit them 10 the people; and thi
the proposed amendments shstl
published for the information
the voters six months before Il
next General Assembly is chose
S, The reasons of these provisions a
obvious. The voters of the Sta
s. not knowing what amendments a
to be proposed by the legislatut
Is could 'not, IF course, indicate
their Senators and Reprsseptetiy
IS their wishes as to whether t
he amendments should be agreed
and submitted. But it is the leg
= lature next 10 be chosen, sitter
amendments are proposed, which
to submit them 10 the people
,.;on 30 that an oDDOr