, 1841-01-23

and habits, and uP better qualified than the
present generation to frame 4 form of gov
eminent adapted to their condition.
In answer TO the constitutional objection.
Mr.. Coulter referred to the Declaration Of
Rights. which declared that 'the people
have the inherent, sole and exclusive right
of regulating the internal government and
police thereof. and Of Altering and abolish
ing their constitution and form Of government
,UheHerer 1t may be necessary 70 their safety
and happiness" In providing for amend
ments through the action Of the Legislature.
he thought the people had not contemplated
That as the only way Of amending the Con
stitution. That was 4 ready and cOnven-
lent mode. and answered well enough for
ordinary purposes.
But the power OF the people themselves,
independently of their agents tere. 70 assem-
bic in Convention ard latter or abolish the
existing constitution. when a great exigencv
arrived requiring their interposltlon. could
not be denied. His bill did not say the peo-
pie should 90 into Il cOnvention-it only pro-
vided them with legal forms by which they
could effect this object Ifihey should desire
TO do so. He believed the Constitution now
needed amendment which he was sensible
could not be made by the Legislature.
Mr.. Wells expressed Il wish to have time
TO consider the subject. The moment he
thought had arrived 10 examine into the pro-
priety Of submitting the Constitution to a
Convention. He would say 10 the other
side. as well as TO the democrats, that what
ever might be done IN relation to new COul-
ties. the same necessity would arise FOR 4
convention. He inStanced the inequality
now prevailing in the representation. Ger.
tain ten representatives OF the floor repre-
scented II 1000 souls. another ten represented
1900. another ten 27,OO0. If the system
were changed. still. under the same ConslItu-
ton. the same difficulty would and must oc.
cur.
AT the suggestion Of Mr.. Wells. Mr.. Smith
modified his motion SO as to lay the bill on
the table for the present, promising that
when the bill came Up, he would he prepared
TO show the utter unconsiitutionality of the
project.
Mr.. Wells then proposed the following
amendment 10 the Constitution.
Resolved by the General Assembly G! the
State of Missouri that the following amend
mcnts be proposed TO the Constitution of this
State.
That so much of ID sect. Of the Sd art. of
the Constitution rs provides that .each coun-
" shall have one representative be and the
same is hereby abolished.
2I. That 50 much of the 81. sect. of the
Sd. art. of the Constitution as provides that
1.-The whole number of representatives shall
never exceed enc hundred" be and the same
i. hereby abolished.
Sd. That SO much OF the 4th sect. Art. Ill.
OF the Constitution as provides that "the
General Assembly shall appoItion the num-
Der of representatives among the several
counties according TO the number of free
white male inhabitants therein" be and the
same is hereby abolished.
18th. That the numbero OF free white male
inhabitants in this State shall be the basis OF
representation in each House of the General
Assembly.
9Th. That the General Assembly shall pro-
vide bv law that the enumeration OF the InhabI-
taniS of the State shall he So taken rs TO ena-
bic them TO make the apPortionmcnt OF rep
rcsentation rs in the first section provid-
ed.
9th. Tha, the General Assembly shall at
llle utAl SCSSlOl ullC4 tdSl uNl WI VI
the inhabitants shall have been made, lay oil
The whole of the State into rs many repre-
sentative districts rs there shall he members
in the next House of Representatives. dis
tricts respectively shall contain an equal
number Of free white male inhabitants as
nearly as practicable. and shall he in square,
as nearly as practicable. and each of said rep
resentative districts shall send one member,
and no more. 10 the House of Representa-
tives. and three OF said districts being con-
tigous to each other shall constitute 4 sena-
torial district which shall send one member
To the Senate and no more.
Tie bill for consolidating The Supreme
Court at Jefferson has iaiied-ayes 44-nays
81.
Mr.. Abraham Mcclellan has been r~e-elect-
ed Treasurer of the State. and Horsely Rea,
Commissioner of the permanent seat OF Gov
eminent.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Cityof jefferson, Jan. 9. l84l.
Dcmetrius A Sutton. ESD. Membcr elect
e a. ,,n. & Din.+n apnnrrnl-urn