Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-01-25

award" to the bondholders the amount. II
anything, which they are willing and able
to pay as equitable and just;
Be II further enacted, that the Governor of
the State is authorized and directed to cause
a vote TO be taken by the people of the state
for the purpose aforesaid and will Issue his
proclamation, 10 be published in ncwSpa-
per IN each county wherea paperis printed.
addressed TO any lawful officer, directing
and commanding that they open and hold
a popular election by the legal voters of the
State AT such places as are prescribed by law
for the holding of such elections, and Judges
and clerks shall be appointed in like man
ner, ana such election TO be held first Tues
BE it further enacted, that the people at
such election, a. s'arbiteTs." shall vote upon
the matters in dispute as follows:
That Is to say, that each voter wishing to
write upon his ticket, "Fifly Cents"
Every voter who is willing to pay the
/ Londholder thirty three and one-thil d cents,
as compromise, shall write some Third, 2
or equivalent figures or words, on his ticket.
Everysvoter who is unwilling to pay the
bondholder anything, snail write Nothing"
OH his ticket.
And the returning officers at said elections
! in the presence OF the judges and clerks of
the election, shall count th5 votes given for
FIFTY Cents - "One-third" and "Nothing.''
and shall keep q correct poll-boolS thereof.
They shall deposit the original polls OF said
election with the Clerks of the County
Courts of the several counties, ana shall also
within i've days after such elections make
ont an accurate statement of the number OF
votes in their respective counties for tsFifty
Gents" "One-thirdH and t1Nothing," and
Immediately thereafter forward one COPY of
such statement to the Governor and one
copy to the Secretary of State, and if a copy
of such statement is not received by the Sec
rotary or Governor from each county within
twenty days, the Governor is authorized to
send q special messenger for the vote such
county from which no returns have zen
received. And upon receipt of such returns
it shall be the duty of she Governor, Comp
troller and Secretary of state to compare the
vote upon the issues aforesaid and make n
statement OF the result.
And If a majority of all the votes cast shall
be for Fifty Cents, then 1t shall be taken
and held as the act and decree of the people
! in their sovereign capacity awarding pay
ment to the hOndholders according to the
terms and conditions of the pending propo-
/ sition, and the General Assembly shall levy
taxes aud provide means TO meet the pay
ments.
But if the proposition of Fifty Cents''
| fails to receive majority of all the votes
! polled at such election, then it shall be con-
| sidered n decree Of the people against the
| payment of so much as that amount.
And in like manner, If a majority of all
I the votes cast shall b. for "One-tIird," then
| it shall be considered the decree of the peo-
| pie for the payment of that proportion OF
| the State debt in the shortest time possible.
And if n majority OF all the votOs cast at
/ such election shall be for"NoUhing," it shall
! he taken rs the opinion and decree of the
/ people that the bonds issued to railroads are
| Illegal and should be abolished yet still re-
| serving the question as to the propriety and
| duty OF the State to provide for the payment
/ of the State debt proper, which, in October,
| 1859, amounted to the sum of 50, S44, &c.
! And in the event that neither OF the two
I last named propositions shall obtain a ma
| jorty of all the votes cast at such election,
| then it shall be the duty of the General AS
Sembly next convened in due course or
| extraordinary session to adopt in substance
| SO much of the two last named propositions
! as shall appear TO them most in accord with
| the wishes of the people, and to provide
means for the payment thereof within the
next twelve years.