Smith and Summer JOHN J. WHITE, ROBERt Allen and Isaac WALTON. Wilson-BURCHETT DOUGLASS and Robert M. BURTON. Lincoln and Giles-JAMES FULTON, A. A. KINCANNON AND THOS. C. PORTER. Davidson-FRANCIS B. FOGG AND ROBERT WEAKLEY. Maury-TERRY H. CAHAL AND ROBERT L. COBBS. Robertson-RICHARD CHEATHAM. Montgomery-WILLIE BLOUNT. Dickson, Stewart and Humphreys—JAMES GRAY AND JOHN MONT GOMERY. Hickman, Wayne and Lawrence-BOLING GORDON AND Henry SHARP. Henry-PETER KENDALL. Henderson-JOHN PURDY. Perry, Hardin and M'Nairy-JAMES SCOTT AND MACLIN CROSS. Madison-ADAM HUNTSMAN. Hardeman-JULIUS C. N. ROBERTSON. Fayette-WEST HUMPHREYS. Shelby-ADAM R. ALEXANDer. Gibson and Dyer-NELSON J. HESS. Haywood and Tipton-WILLIAM H. LOVING. The whole number of Delegates being present, on motion of Mr. ROADMAN, MR BLOUNT was conducted to the Chair. The Convention then proceeded to the choice of a President to preside over its deliberations; when, on collecting and counting the votes, on the seventh balloting it appeared from the report of the Tellers that WILLIAM B. CARTER, the Delegate from the county of Carter, was duly elected; whereupon, Mr Carter was conducted to the Chair, and made his acknowledgements to the Convention in the following words, to wit:Gentlemen of the Convention: It is with the deepest feelings of gratitude, that I rise to express my thanks to this honorable body, for the high and distinguished honor just conferred upon me-an honor that was wholly unexpected and unsolicited by me, but the more to be appreciated on that account. The only way I can ever repay such an act of kindness, is to exert whatever talent God and nature have endowed me with, in promoting that harmony, good feeling and social intercourse in the body over which I have been called to preside, which is so essential to the discharge of those high and importnat duties, which the people of the State, in their highest sovereign capacity, have conferred upon us, for the purpose of altering, changing or amending the fundamental principles by which they are governed. In discharging the important duties which must necessarily devolve upon me, as the presiding officer of this honorable body, I shall greatly rely upon the kindness and indulgence of the members of this Assembly, to supply the deficiencies which I may possess in relation to a thorough acquaintance with the procedure which prevails in all deliberate political bodies. The great principle which should actuate each individual in this Convention, is, to touch the Constitution with a cautious and circumspect hand, and to deface that instrument, formed with so much wisdom and foresight by our ancestors as little as possible; and should there be in that sacred charter of liberty, some articles or features of doubtful policy, prudence requires that we should better let it remain than to launch it into a sea of uncertainty, when we cannot perhaps better its condition. That mutual concession and a spirit of compromise, are indispensible to a successful termination of our labors, I have no doubt; such feelings should be cherished by every member of this Convention; and when we have performed the duties and work assigned us by our constituents, we can depart to our homes and our families with the pleasing reflection, that we have faithfully and honestly discharged our duties, with an eye single to the best interests and happiness of our beloved country, and that society and posterity will be shielded and protected by a constitution which guaranties to us and them civil and religious liberties, as well as our personal and political rights, in the true sense that freemen understand and appreciate them. MR. BURTON moved that the proceedings of the Convention be opened by prayer to Almighty God, and that the Rev. MR. SMITH of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Nashville, be invited to offieiate on the occasion. MR. GORDON moved that all other clergymen present be invited to seats within the Bar of the House. Both of which motions prevailing, the Rev. JAMES C. SMITH pronounced a solemn and appropriate prayer. MR. M'GAUGHEY submitted the following, which was adopted unanimously Resolved, That the rules adopted for the government of the House of Representatives of the 20th General Assembly of this State be deemed and taken as the Rules of Government for this Convention, so far as they are applicable, until otherwise ordered. The Convention then proceeded by ballot to the election of a Secretary, and upon collecting and counting the votes upon the first balloting, it appeared from the report of the Tellers that WILLIAM K. HILL was duly elected--who thereupon took his seat at the Clerk's table. MR. BURTON then moved that the Convention now proceed to the election of an Assistant Secretary, and the question thereupon being had, it was determined in the affirmative-Ayes 51-Nots 9. The ayes and noes being demanded, the affirmative voters were Messrs. President, Allen, Armstrong, Alexander, Bradshaw, Burton, Blount, Cannon, Cahal, Cobbs, Cheathain, Douglass, Fulton, Fogg, Garrett, Gillespy, Greene, Gray, Gordon, Hodges, Hill, Hess, Kelly, Kincannon, Kimbrough, Ledbetter, Loving, M'Clellan, Robert J. M'Kinney, John A. M'Kinney, M'Gaughey, Montgomery, Marr, Neal, Nelson, Porter, Purdy, Roadman, Richardson, Ridley, Robertson, Stephenson, Senter, Smith, Smartt, Sharp, Scott, Ury, Whitson, Walton and White-51. The negative voters were Messrs. Childress, Cross, Huntsman, Humphreys, Kincaid, Kendall, Mabry, Webster and Weakley-9. And so said motion prevailed; whereupon the Convention proceeded by ballot to the election of an Assistant Secretary, and upon collecting and counting the votes upon the 20th balloting, it appeared that WILLIAM I. I. MORROW was duly elected-who thereupon took his seat at the Clerk's table. And the Convention adjourned until to-morrow, 9 o'clock, A. M. TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1834. The Convention met according to adjournment. Resolved, That the Secretary contract for such articles of stationery, as may be necessary for the use of this Convention during its Session. MR. SMITH Submitted the following, as an amendment thereto, in lieu of the whole from the word "Resolved," "That the Secretary contract for such stationery as may be necessary for the use of the Convention, during its session, with a view to the saving the public expenditure, and when procured it be under his care and responsibility." On motion of Mr Cannon, the foregoing resolution together with the amendment thereto, were ordered to the table. The Convention then proceeded to the election of a Door Keeper, and upon collecting and counting the ballots, upon the 6th balloting it appeared from the report of the Tellers that James M'Dowell was duly elected, who was thereupon ordered to give his attendance accordingly. The Convention next proceeded to the election of an Assistant Door Keeper, and upon collecting and counting the votes upon the 9th balloting, it appeared that Alfred C. Robertson was duly elected, who was thereupon ordered to give his attendance accordingly. MR. DOUGLASS submitted the following: Resolved, That the Editors of the several newspapers published in this state, be permitted to take seats within the bar of this House, for the purpose of taking notes and reporting the proceedings of this Con vention. MR. BLOUNT, the following: Resolved, That this Convention be opened daily by prayer, under such arrangements as may be entered into by ministers of the different denominations themselves, as to the routine of daily prayer, without bias of, or towards any particular sect or exclusion of any order, in said routine,provided it may be acceptable to the clergy who are or may be at Nashville during the Session of the Convention, to enter into such arrangement: And that a copy of this resolution be by the Secretary addressed to the clergy resident in this city-both of which were severally read and adopted. Mr. ALLEN Submitted the following: Resolved, That a committee of thirteen, one from each Congressional District, be appointed to inquire into and report what method will be most expedient to bring before the House such amendments as may be proposed to the Constitution. And Mr. BURTON, the following: 1st. Resolved, That a committee of and report what amendments, if any, are be appointed to prepare necessary to be made to the Bill of Rights, appended to the existing Constitution of the State of Tennessee. 2d. Resolved, That a committee of be appointed to take into consideration the Judicial Department of the government, as established by the present Constitution of this State, and that they report to this Convention such amendments thereto as may seem to them necessary to be made. 3d. Resolved, That a committee of be appointed to take into consideration the Legislative Department as fixed in the existing Constitution, and that they report such alterations and amendments as may appear expedient. 4th. Resolved, That a committee of be appointed to prepare and report such alterations and amendments, as they may deem necessary and proper, to the Executive Department of the government. 5th. Resolved, That a committee of be appointed to take into consideration the proper basis of Representation, and the proper mode and manner of apportioning the same among the several counties, and that they report thereon to this Convention. 6th. Resolved, That a committee of be appointed to take into consideration so much of the Constitution as relates to the right of suffrage, and qualifications of persons to be elected to office, and to report what alterations or amendments are necessary to be made therein. 7th. Resolved, That a committee of be appointed to take into consideration all such parts of the Constitution as relate to the Militia Soldiery of the State, and that they report such alterations and amendments as to them may seem proper to be made. 8th. Resolved, That a committee of be appointed to take into consideration all such parts of the Constitution as are not referred by any of the foregoing resolutions, and that they report to the Convention such amendments thereto as may seem expedient. Said resolutions were severally read and ordered to the table. Resolved, That the following oath be administered to the Secretary and Assistant: "You solemnly swear that you will faithfully and diligently perform the duties of the office to which you have been elected in this Con vention, to the best of your skill and ability. So help you God." Mr. ALLEN offered the following in lieu of the foregoing: After the words "that you will," add- "discharge the duties appertaining to the office of Secretary to the Convention faithfully and impartially, according to the best of your skill and ability." Said amendment being received, the question was thereupon hadWill the Convention adopt the resolution?-and determined in the affirmative-Ayes 41-Noes 19. The yeas and nays being demanded, those who voted in the affirmative are Messrs. President, Allen, Alexander, Burton, Blount, Cannon, Cobbs, Fulton, Fogg, Garrett, Greene, Gray, Gordon, Hodges, Hill, Kelly, Kincannon, Kincaid, Kimbrough, Ledbetter, Loving, M'Clellan, Robert J. M'Kinney, John A. McKinney, Mabry, M'Gaughey, Neal, Nelson, Porter, Purdy, Roadman, Richardson, Ridley, Robertson, Stephenson, Senter, Smartt, Sharp, Whitson, White and Webster-41. Those who voted in the negative are Messrs. Armstrong, Bradshaw, Childress, Cahal, Cheatham, Cross, Douglass, Gillespy, Huntsman, Humphreys, Hess, Kendall, Montgomery, Marr, Smith, Scott, Ury, Walton and Weakley-19. So said resolution was adopted. Whereupon the oath prescribed was administered to the Secretary and Assistant Secretary by Robert Weakley, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Davidson. MR. NELSON submitted the following: Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the form and nature of the oath to be taken by the members of this Convention, and that said committee report thereon as early as practicable. MR. GREENE offered the following as an amendment thereto in lieu of so much thereof as occurs after the words "inquire into," to wit: "the expediency and propriety of the members of this Convention taking an oath, and if it should seem proper that one should be administered, that they report the form and nature of that oath." And the sense of the Convention being thereupon had, said amendment was received. Whereupon the question was submitted "Will the Convention adopt the resolution?" and determined in the negative-Ayes 25-Noes 35. The ayes and noes being demanded, the affirmative voters are Messrs. President, Allen, Burton, Cobbs, Cheatham, Fogg, Greene, Gray, Kelly, Kincannon, Kincaid, Kimbrough, M'Clellan, Robert J. M'Kinney, M'Gaughey, Neal, Nelson, Richardson, Ridley, Robertson, Senter, Smartt, Scott, Whitson and Wesbster-25. The negative voters are Messrs. Armstrong, Alexander, Bradshaw, Blount, Cannon, Childress, Cahal, Cross, Douglass, Fulton, Garrett, Gillespy, Gordon, Hodges, Hill, Huntsman, Humphreys, Hess, Kendall, Ledbetter, Loving, John A. M'Kinney, Mabry, Montgomery, Marr, Porter, Purdy, |