Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-04-02
A CONSTITUTIONAL Convention.

We publish below, for the information of the public,
the act providing for taking the sense of the people
on the calling a Convention to alter, revise, or amend
the Constitution of this State, which was passed by
the last Legislature. We deem this to be one of the
most important questions which the people will be called
upon to decide at the August election. For our own
part, We should be very glad to see a decision In favor
of a Convention. We have long been well satisfied
that the Constitution could be greatly improved in
several important particulars, and we should have
urged the subject upon the attention of the people
more strenuously and frequently than we have done,
but for the unfortunate result of a similar proposition
in 1910, when, through misunderstanding as we
believe, the people decided against such a Convention
by a large majority.
We have observed, with pleasure, that several of the
most influential papers, both Wing and Democratic,
advocate the Convention, and propose various amend
ments. We shall endeavor to notice all these more
fully hereafter, as well as to suggest others which We
have reflected upon.
At present, we must content ourselves by civ ing
the law, which is as follows:
SEC. /. Be it enacted by the General assembly Of the
State of Indiana, That it shall be the duty of the inspectors
each county in this State, at the annual election in August
next, to open a poll in which shall be entered all the votes
given for or against a Convention to alter, revise, or amend
SEC. 2. Every qualified voter of this State may, if he
choose, at the annual election in August next, vote for or
against the calling of a Convention for the purpose mentioned
in the 6rst section Of this act.
SEC. 3. If such voter shall be in favor Of a Convention, he
shall write or print, or partly write and partly print, ON the
same ballot with which he votes for State OF county officers,
the words, 50 for a Convention p If against a Convention, he
shall in the same manner have the words against a Conven-
tion,' on his ballot as aforesaid
SEC. 4. II is hereby made the duty of the inspectors and
judges Of elections, to certify the votes given for and against
a Convention, TO the clerks Of the Circuit Courts, respectively,
in the same way and manner, and under the same restrictions
and penalties, that votes for State and county officers are
certified.
SEC. 5. 1t shall be the duty of the clerks of the Circuit
Courts throughout this State, to certify and make returns Of
all the votes given for aud against a Convention, to the
Secretary Of State, in the same way and manner that votes
given for Governor and Lieutenant Governor are required by
law to be certified and they shall be subject 10 the same
penalties for a neglect of duty. 1t shall be the duty of the
Secretary of State to lay before the next General Assembly,
on the second Monday Of December next, all the returns by
him received pursuant TO the provisions of this act.
SEC 6. Il shall be the duty of the several sherifs of this
State, to give six weeks public notice, in a newspaper, if
one be published in his county if not, by written notices in
each township Of his county, that there will be a poll opened
for the purposes specified in this act.