Another flagrant abuse under Radical rules had been the too frequent meeting of the Legislature. During the four years of Governor Brownlow’s administration, it had been in almost continuous session. To remedy this, regular sessions were made biennial, and it was provided that no member “shall be paid for more than seventy days of the regular session, or for more than twenty days of an extra or called session.”
The two important changes in the constitution, which had no relation to the disturbed political conditions resulting from the war, were the creation of a homestead exemption, and the delegation to the Legislature of the power to pass general laws for the organization of private corporations.
Having completed its labors, the Convention proceeded to the Capitol, and, in the presence of both Houses of the Legislature, it placed the revised constitution in the hands of the Governor. By him it was submitted to a vote of the people, and ratified by a vote of 98,128 for, to 33,872 against.
At the first State election that occurred under the provisions of the new Constitution, the Democrats regained political control of the State. This ended the Reconstruction Period in Tennessee.
[19] Caldwell’s “Studies in the Constitutional History of Tennessee.”
[20] Journal of the Constitutional Convention of 1870.
AUTHORITIES.
Acts of Tennessee: Extra Session, 1861; 2d Extra Session, 1861; 1861-62; 1865; 1865-66; Extra Session, 1866; 1868; 1869; 1869-70; 1870; 1870-71; 1871; 1872; 1873; 1875; 1877; 1879; 1881. Extra Session, 1881; 1882; 1883.
Barnes, W. H. “History of the Thirty-ninth Congress.”
Bate, W. B. Messages to the General Assembly.