Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-02-03
SENATE.

THuRsnAY, Jan. %, l847.
!. H. r. file, No. Al, bill 10 relocate
State road therein named, was read a
third time and passed.
Senate file, No. So, bill to locate q
State road from Wallings Landing to
Crawfordyille, was read third time and
passed.
Senate file. No 81, bill to locate q
road from Wallipgs Landing 10 Columbus
City, was read third time and passed.
On motion Of Mr. Bissel H. R. file, No.
46, bill to locate State road from Can
ton, in Jackson county, TO Pioneer Grove,
in Cedar county, was taken from the ia
bic, and amended by adding the following
TO the third section Of the bill: provided
that no part Of the said expences shall be
paid by either Of the counties of Cedar or
Jackson" Ordered, that the bill be read
third time on Tomorrow.
On motion of Mr. Sanford, Senate file,
No. Al, bill providing for the election Of
Electors of President and Vice President
of the United States, was taken from the
table and referred to the Committee on
Elections.
On motion Of Mr. Benton, H R. file,
No 80, bill prescribing the time, man
ner, and place of holding election of SEN
ators to Congress, was taken from the Ia
be, and referred 10 the Committee Oh
Elections.
II. R.. file, No. 8, an act providing
thai the legal voters in each township de-
terlnine at the township election whether
the county commissioners shall grant Ii
cense for retailing Intoxicating liquors, in
said townships was not agreed to.
On motion Of Mr.. Fullinwider, Senate
file, No 49, bill concerning Justices Of
the Peace, was considered in committee
OF the whole Mr. Sanford in the Chair
After making sundry amendments, the
committee arose and reported the bill
back 10 The Senate, which. on motion a
greed to he amendments made by the
Committee, and ordered the bill to its
third reading on tomorrow.
Senate file, No 20, an act prescribing
the general duties of Auditor OF State;
was read third lime and passed; also
H. r. file, No. so, an act 10 provide
for the location Of the county seat OF jones
county.
Mr. Benton offered the following Pro-
test, which was ordered to be placed up
on the journal
We, the undersigned, avail ourselves Of
the privilege guaranteed 10 members Of the
General Assembly, by the llth section Of
the 4th article Of the constitution OF This
State, Of entering our protest against the
action of a majority of the Senate, OH the
9th inst, in the passage of ian act fixing
The punishment for the crime Of murder"
and Of having our reasons for doing Sc,
placed on the Journals Of the Senate
Said act virtually abolishes Capital Pun
Ishment in this State, which we believed
TO be premature and inexpedient, and cal;
culated to increase, rather than diminish
the crime Of murder.
1t vests dangerous discretionary pow
er in the jury, which will tend to lrus-
trate the equitable administration Of the
laws, and viii jeopardize, rather than
guard the welfare OF the whole communi-
ty at large.
1t grants the criminal ex par;e priv
eliges, which will lead to system Of
corrupt and pro'racted litigation which
will almost invariably result in his final
acquittal.
Instead Of being an additional safeguard
to life and property, it will render both
less insecure. and instead Of lettering the
assassin, it viii encourage and protect
him In the commission of chime.
Its natural operation will be, TO shield
the wealthy and influential criminal, and
make ample provision for his ultimate ac-
quital while it extends nc additional relief
TO the poor ard friendless.
In view Of these facts, we hereby enter
our solemn protest against the passage Of
said act.
Iowa City, Jan. 18th l8l7.
THOS. H. BENTON, Jr.
T, CRAWFORD. r.a IS. 81
ROBT. BROWN -
SAML. FULLlN WIDER.
r, Il. HARBOUR
JAMES SPKOTT. 4