Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-06-15
Constitutional Convention.

Feb. 90. l847, entitled san act to pro-
vide for the call of Convention" the
delegates to said Cow ention chosen un.
der said act, assembled this day in the
Hall of the House of Representatives, in
the State House at Springfield, at o.
Clock P. NJ. Mr. SHERMAN, of Cook, called
the Convention to order, and moved that
ZADoC CASEY be appointed President,
pro tenn, which motion was unanimously
adopted. On motion of Mr.. Scales, L..
VI. BeorH was appointed Secretary, pro
fem., and MIR. WILSON, door-keeper, pro
TEN. On motion of Mr.. SHERMAN, Mr.
CLINE was appointed assistant door
keeper, pro tenn. Mr.. Thompson moved
that the names of the members be called.
Mr.. ScATEs suggested the propriety Of
having magistrate To administer the
cath TO the members. The CHAIR sug-
gesled that no cath was necessary; and,
he further suggested that as the Secreta-
ry called the members by counties, that
they present their credentials.
On motion of hlr. DEMENT,, Mr..
MooRE of Gallatin county. was appointed
Assistant Secretary, pro tenn. The Sec
Rotary, then called over the list of dele
gates, who as their names we're called
presented their certificates of election,
after which they were again called, al
phabetically, and the Chair announced
that there were an hundred and fifty. four
delegates in attendance.
MIR. SCATES offered the following
resolution:
Resolped, That each delegate of this
Convention, before proceeding TO the
transaction ofany business take an oath
to support the Constitution of the United
States.
la offering the above, Mr.. S. said he
was aware that tn powers of this Con-
vention are elementary and that the mem
bers were not under any obligation to
take an oath; yet, while there was no
form Of an oath prescribed for the mem
hers, he hoped they would take this one.
There was an apparent propriety in the
oath, as no form OF government they
could adopt would be valid unless it cor
responded with the constitution OF the
Uuited States.
Mr.. THOMAS, of Morgan, was not
satisfied with the oath proposed to the
Conveniently the member from jefferson.
Where was the necessity for an oath?
This Convention represented the sover-
| eighty ofthe State ofIllinois. Its members
were not responsible to any power for the
violation of The oath if taken. No pun
ishment could be awarded for breach of
it. He would remind the gentlemen, that
there were constitutions adopted in other
States, before the United states had
constitution, and, therefore, he could see
no obligation to answer to support the
constitution of the United States. This
was his presenG view. but if the gentlemen
would satisfy him that it was proper he
would vote for it.
Mr.. MlNSHALL, of Schuyler, said
that there would seem, manifest propri-
ETY. in taking an oath, which, although it
might be said, would impose no additional
obligation, still could work no injury
Further, that as no folm of government
could be established by this Convention
that would differ in character from that
Of the constitution of the United States,
it appeared to him quite proper, though
| perhaps not necessary, to take an oath to
support the constitution olthe T.. States.
/ He, hawever, would move, as an amend
ment to the resolution. the following, TO be
added thereto. "and to faithfully discharge
the duties oflheir office as delegates OF
this Convention, for the purpose of revis
ing and amending the constitution of the
State of Illinois"
And the said amendment having been
agreed to, the question was put on the
resolution as amended, and the same was
adopted.
| Mr.DAWSON moved that WIN. LAVE.
Ly, esq, be called within the bar TO
administer the oath.
| Mr.. LOGAN said, that for the purpose
ofeeonmising tine, be hoped that the oath
| would be administered to the body collec-
| lively, which mode would save eonsideFa.
BILE time, and could be performed by the
members without leaving their seals,
simply by rising the hand. He made
a motion to that effect.
Mr.. SCATES hoped the oath would
be administered. ifdone at all. in more
digni6ed manner than that suggested by
the member from Sangamon. The plan
suggested might save few moments
time, but would nct comport with the
proper dignity which should accompany
the administration ofan cath. 1t remaind-
| ed him of the manner in which the oath
| OF allegiance was administered by the
4 coHquerors ofNew Mexico.
/ Mr.. LOGAN then moved division oil
i the question; which was lost.
The members then were called 10 the
i desk BY the Secretary, ten, al limo, and
the oath, as ado9sed. was administered
to them by VIM LAvELY, esq.
AIr. SERVANT moved that the Con.