Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-11-07

speeches. but before the question was taken the Conven
ton adj burned.
MoNDAY, November A, Is50.-The Convention was
opened 10y prayer Iy the Rev. Mr.. BABB. The Conven
ton then proceeded, under special order, to the
seraton of Mr. PETrIrs resolution for abclishng the
Grand Jury System; when Mr.. WALPoLE proposed to
commit the resolution and amendments to a select COM
mittee with report the following points
1s Are presentents and indictments judicial proceed
ngs according to common law2 If So to arogate the
Grand Juy System would not the same violate the 81
article of the compact of the 18th July, 1897 guar
antics the benefit of judicial proceedings according to
the course Of law to the inhabitants of this
State7 3D. Are not said articles of compact confirmed
by the Federal Constitution and binding upon the peo
pie of this State? Mr.. WALPoLE advocatedhs motion
commit in a speech of considerable length; when
Mr.. TERRY having the floor the main question: pro-
ceeded at length in opposition to the original PROPOSE
ton, offered by Mr.. PETIT in a speech Of much re-
search and ability, in the OF which he defended
the character of the system of its best ea
lures He admitted The abuses of the system in this
country but could not consent 10 its abrogaton He
would, however, 30 against Grand Juries were their
secret character abolished Mr.. TERRYs speech will
he very interesting when published in consequence os
references to English history. Mr.. READ of Monroe
also came to the rescue of the Grand Jury System
speech of great force and power He contended that
its spirit found in the common law and it Mould he
uproong Of the great props of society should I've
abandoned. Even France in her onward progress was
taking hold of the system. 1t was found, in rude
state it is true Germany but the germ of the system
was there found. 1t stood barrier against oppres
sion 1t carrying the principle, that no man
at al I,va
his peers, little farther-by making it impossible for
the citizen be placed upon his trial. except upon the
accusation of respectable number of his fellow-c-
He expected be found side by side with the gen.
teman from Tppecanoe DIr Petit) in many subjects of
reform. He had bold heart and brawny arm, and it
was dangerous to come in conflict with him. but in tie
present instance, he thought he going little too
far, and would have part with him on this question
Mr.. ROBINSON opposed the resolution and thought it
would conflict with the great principles of the common
law which orr institutions are founded He thought
the present system better calculated to ferret out crime
than any oGhcr that could be adopted. He admitted
there complaints against it, growing out of its i'm
proper administration but he denied that there was
wish the parto the people, abolish it, He thought
the proposition, offered by HIMSELF would suit the coun-
try. Too many little and petty offences had been
brought before these tribunals. But one fact, more
than all Others had convinced him that Grand Jures
proper The retailers Of spirituous liquors are
universally opposed to them-they think them oppres-
sive, and that they should be put down So with the
gambler. He is unwilling that his deeds Of darkness
shall be brought to light and is opposed Grand Ju-
ries. An experience of than twenty years in de-
Tending criminals had enabled him to say that nearly
all he had defended (and they had been few in num-
ber,) were opposed to Grand Juries. Mr. OWEN would
make few remarks; but in relation to the expedi
encY or nexpediency Of Grand Juries; but he would
speak the amendment of the gentleman from Han.
cock (Mr. Wapole) He denied that the questions pro-
pounded had any thing TO do with this question Hehad
always thought that he lived in sovereign State and
he believed that the compact with Virginia had nothing
do with the action of e Convention in this partic
uar. He cited provision in our old Constitution
which is couched in strong language, against slavery
As matter of opinion, it worth much but as a
question of power this body, it worth nothing
This Convention (altiough nothing was further from
tie feelings of IL members) had the power make this
a slave State Mr. KENT remarked, that as a section
had been introduced, virtually aholshing Grand Juies
he thought that debats should be suspended until came
up in ORDER for considerations he therefore moved that
the whole matter be laid upon the table, which motion
prevailed.
Mr.. MoRRrsoN of Marion, from the committee on Elk
ecutive officers reported the following sections:
SEC. II shall be the duty OF the General Assem-.
bly, provide Ivy law that the County Auditor or other
proper officer of the several countless shall annually fur
ns the Secretary of State report of The Agrcutu
raj productions of each county.
SEC. =. 1t shall he the duty Of the General Assem-
bly, to provide by law, that the County Auditor other
proper officer OF the several counties shall annually pr
n of the
her of children who instructed in the district conn.,
mon schools the number of district school houses the
amount of money applied TO the purposes of such schools
and such other information may be necessary in re.
gard to common schools.
Read and passed to a second reading.
Mr. KENT introduced the following sections:
SECTION. =. Treason against this State shall consist
in evyng war against it, and in giving aid and comfort
to its enemies.
SECTION No person shall he convicted of treason
unless the testimony Of two witnesses to the same
overt act, or his confession in open
The Convention then proceeded to the consideration
the article in relation to the of Office of Secretary
Auditor and Treasurer; when Mr.. Chandler gave notice
that he would reconsider the vote on striking
1.-TWO" ard inserting 'four" the term of the Sec
rotary; when, on motion of Mr.. Wolfe the whole mat
) ter was laid upon the table.
The section in relation to imprisonment for debt, was
then taken up when Mr. ROBINSON moved to amend by
striking the words strong presumption of fraud
and insert provision that fraud should be proved be-
fore Imprisonment. Mr.. DoBsoN opposed the amend
and would against it. for the purpose of offer
ing another, the effect that debt and fraud should
be coupled together. He in favor Of furnishing fraud
of all kinds whether connected with debt any thing
css But he wished to entirely separate debt from i'm
prisonment. Messrs. Petit and Owen concurred in
opinion with Mr.. Dobson. The discussion continued