Adams be allowed two hundred and twenty-five dollars for enrolling the amended Constitution on parchment. On motion of Mr. KENNEDY, the Convention took a recess one hour. FILLING OFFICES. Upon reassembling, Mr. NICHOLSON offered the following as an independent section: "No county office created by the Legislature shall be filled otherwise than by the people or the County Court." On motion of Mr. NICHOLSON, the rules were suspended and the section unanimously adopted. EXPENDITURES. Mr. GARNER offered the following resolution: Resolved, That Messrs. Roberts & Purvis, publishers of the Republican Banner, and Messrs. J. O. Griffith & Co., publishers of the Union and American, be paid the sum of $102 60 each for furnishing to the Convention eighty copies per day of said papers from January 10th, 1870, to February 23rd, 1870. On motion of Mr. GARNER, the rules were suspended and the resolution adopted. THANKS. Mr. NICHOLSON offered the following resolution: Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of this Convention are tendered to the Hon. John C. Brown for the courtesy, promptness, impartiality and ability with which he has discharged the duties of presiding officer. Which was unanimously adopted. The President made a suitable acknowledgment of the compliments contained in the resolution. Mr. PORTER, of Henry, offered the following resolution : Resolved, That the thanks of the Convention be hereby tendered to T. E. S. Russwurm, Secretary, Thos. W. Jones, Assistant Secretary, W. S. Kyle, Second Assistant Secretary, L. G. Stewart, Doorkeeper, John E. Bennett, Assistant Doorkeeper, H. N. C. Davis, Messenger, and Henry Pearl, Porter, for the faithful manner in which their duties have been performed. Which was unanimously adopted. DELIVERY OF CONSTITUTION TO THE GOVERNOR. Mr. BROWN, of Davidson, offered the following resolution: Resolved, That when this Convention shall have adjourned sine die the members will proceed in a body to the Capitol, bearing with them the Constitution, enrolled on parchment, and deposit the same with the Governor of the State. That they will embrace the opportunity thus afforded to call upon the Governor and the two Houses of the General Assembly with a view of tendering our respects and renewing the assurances of regard. Which was adopted. Thereupon the President appointed Messrs. HOUSE, of Williamson, GARDNER and KYLE, to wait on the Governor and the General Assembly, and to notify them of the intended visit. The Convention resumed the reading of the amended Constitution. ORDINANCE. 1st. Be it ordained by the Convention, That it shall be the duty of the several officers of the State authorized by law to hold elections for members of the General Assembly and other officers, to open and hold an election at the places of holding elections in their respective counties, on the fourth Saturday in March, 1870, for the purpose of receiving the votes of such qualified voters as may desire to vote for the ratification or rejection of the Constitution recommended by this Convention. And the qualification of voters in said election shall be the same as that required in the election of delegates to this Convention. 2d. It shall be the duty of said returning officers, in each county in this State, to enroll the name of each voter on the poll-books prepared for said election, and shall deposit each ballot in the ballotboxes respectively. Each voter, who wishes to ratify the new Constitution, shall have written or printed on his ticket the words "New Constitution," or words of like import, and each voter, who wishes to vote against the ratification of the new Constitution, shall have written or printed on his ticket the words "Old Constitution," or words of like import. 3d. The election shall be held, and the judges and clerks shall be appointed, as in case of the election of the members of the General Assembly; and the returning officers, in the presence of the judges or inspectors, shall count the votes given for the "New Constitution," and those given for the "Old Constitution," of which they shall keep a correct estimate in said poll-books. They shall deposit the original poll-books of said election with the Clerks of the County Courts in the respective counties, and shall, within five days after the election, make out accurate statements of the number of votes in their respective counties for and against the new Constitution, and immediately forward by mail a copy of said certificates to the Governor, and one to the Speaker of the Senate. So soon as the poll-books are deposited with the County Court Clerks, they shall certify to the President of the Convention an accurate statement of the number of votes for and against the "New Constitution," as appears in said poll-books. And if any of said returning officers shall fail to make the returns herein provided for within the time required, the Governor shall be authorized to send special messengers for the result of the votes in those counties where officers have so failed to make returns. 4th. Upon the receipt of said returns, it shall be the duty of the Governor, Speaker of the Senate, and President of this Convention, or any two of them, to compare the votes cast in said election, and if it shall appear that a majority of all the votes cast for and against the new Constitution, was for the "New Constitution," it shall be the duty of the Governor, Speaker of the Senate, and President of this Convention, or any two of them, to append a certificate of the result to the Constitution, from which time the Constitution shall be ordained and established as the Constitution of Tennessee, and the Governor shall forthwith make proclamation of the fact that the Constitution has been ordained and established. 5th. The Governor of the State is requested to issue his proclamation as to the election on the 4th Saturday in March, 1870, herein provided for. EXPLANATION. Mr. FENTRESS presented the following explanation, before affixing his name to the Constitution: I sign my name to this Constitution merely to attest its genuineness, and to certify that it has been adopted by a majority of this Convention. As there have been words incorporated in it urging or recommending that the people of Tennessee adopt it, I feel it due to my people and myself so make this explanation. For my position I refer to my record on the Journal. Time will disclose and posterity realize which of us is right. If the majority who have adopted this Constitution are right, and my fears unfounded, I will rejoice that their superior wisdom controlled our action. If the minority is right, and history shall declare that the action of the majority has tended to hasten our people into anarchy, or a consolidated despotism, a clear conscience shall be my reward. Mr. CARTER, before signing the Constitution, gave the reasons in substance as above. ABSENT MEMBERS TO SIGN AT PLEASURE. Mr. HOUSE, of Williamson, offered the following resolution: Resolved, That those members of the Convention who have not signed the Constitution, and who are absent from sickness or other cause, be permitted to sign the Constitution at their pleasure. Which was adopted by the Convention. The Convention then adjourned sine die. Attest: JOHN C. BROWN, President. T. E. S. RUSSWURM, Secretary. |