Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-05-21
Atl'fFUu.[ Y
CenstitutiHMkl Convention,

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Time were looked upon as adven.
lures aud great care was taken in
laying the foundation upon which
to buildthem.
This organic law was made
supreme in powers that were we'll
defined, thus placing restrictions
on the people witch forbade any
causes Of anarchical tendencies.
There being no chef ruler the re.
straining powers were vested in
the constitution and happily so
for US, liberty loving Americans,
who want to see and know our
rights and privileges at all times
This constitution of 1896 soon be.
came regarded unjust in it's man.
dates and it was said that it had
been passed in the interest of the
rich land holders. Under it the
people only voted for the Nom.
bers of the General Assembly and
they elected the members of the
county court and this body then
elected all the county officers; so
by this system the rich and in.
fiuential by lobbying in the Legis-
lative Hall controlled the whole
election machinery and thwarted
the will of the people. When
common folks became strong en-.
ough, this matter was adjusted,
and resulted in the constitution
that was adopted in 1884, which
is the constitution we have today
aside from few changes made in
1870, most of which related to the
abolition of slavery.
The need of the constitutional
convention is suggested by the
fact, that our present organic law
is over GO years behind the time
or was adopted for the use of an
infant State, not that of an infu
entail common wealth like Ten
nessee is today. 1t was not pos
sible for every person to read the
newspapers and keep up with cur
rent events, but must gather theil
knowledge of them by coming al
most in contact with them. l
was from this consideration tha
our present jury system was estab
lished which under the presen
construction almost prohibits in
telligent and reading people from
serving on trial juries and place
this branch of our courts in tn
hands of the more ignorant an,
less important. Our county cour
system was established in a da,
when each section of the count r
stood greatly in need of a repres
entative. The country was nev
and every section needed like a,
sistance and our system was G.
, tablished that such might be ha(
The state voted less than 6O,OO
and owing to sparseness such
thing at that time was a necessity
!, Now that we have a develope,
: country a change is an absolut
necessity. The state now vote
about $4,000 and is well advant
ed in every way. So much 81
that the country affairs should b
y in the hands of the best and MOI
Il intelligent citizens which is nj
u the case, oftentimes now.
u A board of supervisors in co
. nection with County Chairma
J, composed of men who keep
% breast of the times would be mo
70 able to represent and protect IL
W respective counties interests. U
!. der the present constitution Il
~ producing masses are made to SUI
10 port too many State and Coun
y officers, the result of which plac
Is heavy taxes upon the people al
70 renders them unable to suppo
10 public schools and othor instit
le lions, which is one great dra'
10 back to the state. The mon
IL that should 60 to schools goes
'n favored politicians.
ru We are for a constitution I'll
will do away with these an
quated institutions and that W
place us on easy terms to compt
to with our sister states whose tax
~ are not so large and whose scho'
far out strip ours.