TEN 



7C7 



el-etion in Tenr. !, % t accordance with the 



old code of the State is not now a possibility. 



It is scarcely necessary to add that if any election 

 shall be held, and any votes shall be cast in'th 

 of Tennessee for President and Vice-Prcsident of the 

 United States, it will belong, not to the military 

 agents, nor yet to the Executive department, but ex- 

 clusively to another department of the Government 

 to determine whether they are entitled to be counted, 

 in conformity with the Co:^titutiou and laws of the 

 Uuited St:. 



Except it be to give protection against violence, I 

 decline to interfere in auv way with any Presidential 

 election. " ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



Subsequently, on October 2 9t: . : ; mp- 



bel], Peyton, and Lellyett, made a reply to the 



President's letter, which concludes I.. 



After consultation with our friends, therefore, ia 

 different parts of the State, aud having communi- 

 cated with nearly all of our colleagues, we respect- 

 fully announce to the people of Tennessee that in 

 view of what is set forth above in view of the fact 

 that our people are overawed by military power, the 

 laws set aside and violated with impunity and in 

 view of the fact that we have appealed in vain to the 

 President, whose duty it is "to see that the laws be 

 faithfully executed," "and that those who act by his 

 authority shall hold sacred the liberties of the people ; 

 in view of these things we announce that the McClel- 

 lan Electoral Ticket In Tennessee is withdrawn. 



An election -was held on Xovcmber 8th, bnt 

 the vote of the State was not counted in the 

 returns of the Electoral College by Cong: 



The Convention which assembled in Septem- 

 ber and nominated an electoral ticket also 

 appointed a State Executive Committee. This 

 Committee issued a call in December, inviting 

 the people of T<. meet in Xasbville in 



Convention on January 9, 1805, to nominate a 

 ticket, which it was generally understood would 

 consist of one hundred names of persons to 

 compose a second convention. It was intend- 



ud body should revise the E 

 Constitution and submit their work to the peo- 

 ple for approval. 



The Convention thus invited by the Commit- 

 tee assembled at Xashville on January Pt~... 

 was organized by the election of Col. S. K. 

 Rodgers, President : Col W. B. Wilson, Col. W. 

 K. Hall, and Gen. A. C. Gillem, Vice-Presidents. 

 On taking the chair the President made some 

 explanation "he Convention. 



He said: 



I: _:i to nominate delegates to a State 



.utional Convention, to reform the Stat 

 eminent. We were now at a dead lock ; something 

 must be done to set the wheels of the Government 

 in motion. The State has been rcdistricted by a 

 bogus Legislature, which could not be recognized 

 without recognizing secession. The convention of 

 delegates to oe chosen could redistrict the State ; 

 and^ve should have one as speedily as compatible 

 with the public interest. The work was a great and 

 important one ; and he hoped there would be har- 

 mony among delegates. We must have civil gov- 

 ernment. The army cannot altogether put down 

 guerrillas; but witli the aid of civil government, 

 with a Governor and judiciary, all could be 

 effected. Besides, we must have representatives in 

 the National Congress ; and to do this we must 

 adapt the State "Constitution to existing circum- 

 stances, and have a legislature. 



A repor 



tials was laid on t:. ,.ving 



;tion adoj : 



Btsohed, That all delegates who give an active 

 support to the Union < : ; ever volun- 



tarily borne arms against the Government ; and who 

 have never voluntarily given aid and comfort to the 

 enemy, be entitled to scats in this Convention. 



On Tuesday, January 10th, ;i com- 



mittee was appointed, to whom all resolutions 

 referred. Th. occupied i: 



-is of voting in the Convention, 

 and resolutions were adopted giving on- 

 to each county, and one in addition for 

 one hundred, or fraction over fifty Union 



in 1861. Great opposition was made to 

 of voting by delegates from Middle 

 and West Tennessee, where the Confederate 

 force interfered with the election. 



On the third day (Wednesday), in order to 

 avoid dissatisfaction, this basis of voting was 

 reconsidered and withdrawn. The convention 

 was then occupied with speeches on general 

 topics, awaiting the report of the bi> 

 committee, which was presented during the 

 afternoon. There was both a majority and 

 minority report on the amendments proposed 

 to the Constitution. There was no serious dis- 

 agreement between both reports, but they 

 differed in opinion on the power of the conven- 

 tion to act on the subject. The majority re- 

 port urged action on these grounds : 



The first Article and the first Section of the 

 Declaration of Eights in the Constitution of the 

 State of Tennessee^ declares: "Thatall power is in- 

 herent in the people, and all governments are 

 founded on their authority, and instituted for their 

 peace, safety, and happiness ; and for the advance- 

 ment of these ends they have at all times an in- 

 alienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or 

 abolish the government in such manner as they may 

 think propel-." Therefore, a portion of the citizens 

 of the State of Tennessee and of the United - 

 of America, in convention assembled, do propound 

 the following alterations and amendments to the 

 constitution, which, when ratified by thr; sover- 

 eign loyal people, shall be and constitute a part 

 of the permanent Constitution of the State of Ten- 

 nessee. 



The minority report was made by only one 

 member of the busing - ". K. 



Hood, of Hamilton County. Ti. 



Whilst agreeing with the majority cf the com- 

 mittee in most of the amendments proposed, and not 

 desiring to divide the Union people of T<_ 

 any premature discussion of them, yet we cannot, 

 -:ent with our ideas of the motives for which 

 this convention was called, and bv anthority of 

 which it is now assembled, agree with them in their 

 opinion that the powers conferred on this body 

 justify it in adopting any amendments to the or- 

 ganic law of the State." The following among 

 others are the reasons which induces us to adopt 

 this course : 



1. The call under which this body is assembled, 

 does not authorize any such action. In fact, the 

 specific object is there stated, being only ad- 

 in its character, and looking to the assembling 

 hereafter of a duly elected and qualified b<> . 



full power to make all necs- 

 sarv^amendi 



