Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-06-22

III
ing nearer adecision of something. With
out this, there would be nothing for us to
do. .r,.9 E.,s8 ~
And the motion was put and carried,
and the following resolutions we're taken
up from the table;
Resolved, That the government of the
state ofIllinois shall consist of three CO.
ordinate departments, each independent
OF the other; and that the powers Of the
government should be divided and so dis
tributed among these departments that
neither of them could, without the consent
and cooperation of at least one of the
others, injuriously affect either Of the
great rights of personal liberty and pfi-
vate property.
ResolUed, That the necessary distribu-
ton of power for this purpose is into leg
islative, judicial and executive departr
ments. the first is to prescribe general
rules for the government of society; ths
second to expound and apply these rules
to individuals in society; the third, 10 en-
force obedience to the judgements and
DEGREES of the second, and TO see that the
laws are faithfully executed. -,
Mr.. Williams said, that it would be
perceived that if we now proceed to the
discussion Of these resolutions, and in.
terchange our sentiments and views upon
them, and come to decision on the sub
jects contained in them, that we will de-
eide the three great questionable exc.
cutive. judicial and legislative depart
.ments-to be decided; and that after that
we would have but little more than a bill
It is important that the Convention
should commence the discussion. If we
took but single question at time, and
every member who desires to do so would
express his views and propose his amend
ments, we would soon get through; and
in this way we will have done the most of
what we came here to perform. move,
then, that we take them up-these twS
first resolutions, and discuss them cool5
and calmly, and then proceed to the dis.
cussion and decision ofthe others,
Mr.. Servant said, that if the Conven-
ton was disposed to economic both time
and money, he would suggest to the gen.
teman from Adams. to permit these
have them, printed in bill form, so thar
members would be enabled to understand
and see these resolutions before them and
in such way that they might examine
and weigh the matters contained in them.
He thought that some of the propositions
contained in these resolutions could not
be better nor more in accordance with
his views; and to others. also contained
in them, he was opposed. -.
He was-in layorof taking up all the
great questions one at a time. For in;
stance, in the first place, we might discuss
the proper number of senator's and rep
! resentatives to constitute our General
Assembly, the length of time they should
sit, whether annual or biennial sessions,
the per diem to be allowed them, &c.
! After we had fully discussed this branch
ofthe government, we mlghl proceed to
the Executive department; take up the
Governor and the Lieutenant Governor;
discuss the proper time for them to hold
office, their salaries, powers, &c. Then
we might pass to the Judiciary, settle the
number ofjudges, the length oftheir terms
of service, if elective, their salaries
both supreme and circuit courts, and all
matters connected with them.
1t would be idle for any committee Of
this Convention to disregard the express:
ed views of the members. If gentlemen
would not speak to the time consumed ia
debate but had proceeded to the organ
ization and pursued the legitimate bust
ness of the Convention ifthey who spoke
most of the economy Of time, bad not
themselves consumed, some of them, five,
four, three and two hundred dollars
worth oftime, much might have been done:
1t was not too late yet to retrace their
steps. Let them then go to work, per-
form the business they were sent here
to transact. and then they would not be
afraid to go home to their constituents.
who would receive them with approval of
"welI done good and faithful servants
Let us do this; let US take up and discuss
these great questions, and after we have
expressed our opinions upon them, Moth.
ing will be required but committee of
| revision to prepare them in detail, and
then go home.
| Mr.. Palmer, of Stark, said that he
held in his hand the act ofthe Legislature
which called them together to revise alter
and amend the constitution of the State.
We had met under that call. He al-o
held in his hand the present constitution
the State. He supposed the PROPOSE.
ton to amend would begin with the first
article Of that constitution, and that, pur-,
suing a similar plan as that followed in
relation to the rules, we would 60 down.
article after article section, after section,
until we had gone through with it. amend
! ing it as we went along in every place
| that we though it needed amendments.