The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-05-20
CoIuMBus. NAV l3

We had very interesting forenoon ses-
sion Today; but, upon the whole, it did not
amount to much, for the President did not
announce the standing committees as antici-
pated, nor did the committee on rules make
their report. rl ~ 49,,
Mr.. Vance, of Champaign, from select
committee, reported that it was inexpedient
for the members TO buy Columbus newspa-
pers the expense Of the State to send them
to their constituents, whichreport was adop-
ted. t. n hs a.-It t.r'{
Mr. Stidger, of Stark, offered resolution
requesting the Auditor OF State to furnish
the convention with information respecting
the surplus revenue, to what purposes it has
been appropriated, the amount OF common
school fund derived from it, &c. 1t was
laid on the table 20 be printed. add taa
Mr.. Smith, of Warren, presented a petit
tion asking for negro suffrage, which he ask
ed TO have read, but objection was made
both to having it read, and to its reception,
upon which there was long and uninterest-
ing discussion, nearly every member def
ming his position" upon the right of petition,
negroes, negro suffrage, &c. Nearly every
member was in favor OF receiving the peti-
ton, but opposed TO granting its prayer
The yeas and nays being demanded on its
reception, resuited--yeas l0l, nays 2-Mr
Sawyerand Mr.. Lidey votingin the negative.
MIR. Thompson, ofStark, and Mr.! Stilwell
Of Muskingum, each presented petition
praying for universal suffrage, without re-
gard TO color or sex! The ladies asserting
their rights in connection with the negroes,
rendered these petitions less Objectionable,
and they were suffered TO be received and
laid on the table without debate.
MIR. Williams, Of Warren, then presented
q memorial, which, he said, was from ne
groes exclusively, and Mr.. Roll moved that
it be rejected The yeas and nays were de-
manded on its reception, and resulted, yeas
rs, nays 20. Soit was received and fsfa on
rne table, instead of going under it, where
it deserved to 60. A committee appointed
to report the salaries which shall be paid 10
the officers Of the Convention, reported to
pay three dollars per day to all but the mes
senger boys-they are allowed one dollar
per day.
The committee which had under con-
sideruton the resolution of Mr.. Green, of
Ross, calling on the clerks Of the several
counties of the State for certain legal in.
formation, reported the same back in an
abridged form, and it was adopted.
Mr.. Stanberry offered resolution de-
claring it inexpedent to conform TO SO
much Of the law providing for the calling of
the convention as relates to securing the
copyright TO the State to publish the de-
bates Of the Convention, which was refer.
red to committee, but reported back this
afternoon and laid on the table.
MIR. Reemelin, of Hamilton. offered the
following, which, at his request, was laid
on the table TO be printed
Resolued, That it is expedient so to
change the present Constitution of Ohio,
as to take away from the General Assem-.
bly, the power TO apporton Senators and
Representatives among the several coun-
ties of this State.
Resotred, That it is expedent to en-.
graft upon the new constitution, provision
for q self-actng opportionment of Senators
and Representatives,, based upon the fol-
lowing principles:
lst. The entire population in each coun-
ty, 10 he the basis for Representative pur-
poses,
I'd. For Senatorial apportonment pur.
poses, the State to be divided into Senate
rial districts, TO be permanently fixed in the
new constitution.
Sd. The quota of population requisite
for Senator or Representative, tobe per-
manently fixed in the new constitution.
4th. Each county 10 be entitled to Ut
least one Representative.
9th. No provision to be put into the new
constitution limiting the number of Sena-
tors or Representatives of which the Gen
eral Assembly shall consist.
9th. In Ollacases where n county cr Sc
material district may, according 10 its pop
ulution be entitled to more than one sena-
tor or representative, such county or sena-
torial district TO be sub-divided into such
number Of separate, distinct and single
districts as may be equal TO the number Of
senator's and representatives, to which such
county or district would be entitled, by
some local authority resident therein; such
for instance, as tho board Of county com.
missioners, or similar bo5y.
The uppcrlionment 10 be mnde evory
five years; Of the first. the United States
census now being taken, to be the basis,
and so every 10 years hereafter, if an
United States census should be ioken---if
otherwise, and for the intermediate five
years, the General Assembly TO mako pro-
vision for State census.
No new county 10 be erected, nor the