Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-01-09
JnOi1,,I Gcnislaturr.

Cn rnoilon OIL Mt. MIiIer. inc amcNu"
ments were taken up separately.
The question being on concurrng in
tho amendments Of tho committee. 10 give
each senatorial district two delegates 10
TIC convention,
Mr. Uanpa moved to amend the amend .
n,cnt by giving to each senatorial district
n number Of delegates equal to the repre- /.
scnfs'i*cs and senators from sad district.
Mr.. Hanna said. tia, taking as an ex-
preston Of the opinion Of the Senate the
Amendment proposed ~ the committee
10 vicweI il as settled fat the delegates
H%c-.ld hc elected By senatorial districts.
.i'rdcr this view, thc delegation. Of two
from each district. is certainly most un
fair and unjust 10 some districts. The
district which he has the honor 10 repre-
sent. has within ts borders ct this time
over 6 600 voters; whilst the county Of
Knox has bat 100 votes and vet would
he entitled 10 the same representation as
his district. IN his district there IS over
- miles of canal anil 80 miles Of lai.oa!
now under progress Of constructions; the
commerce is grca. nd the wealth immense.
Are We not To be represented, Our mum
bers. our wealth and our commerce.! He
protested against this unequal aud partial
effect. di,franchiscl some two thousand
votes Of Iis district. 1t places that great
district. will, her vast wealth and extended
commercial advantages, upon an equality
with small districts, without commerce.
and will, less than onc.thrl oF our num-
bnrs The constitution which is to b.
adopted. may be md remain TIC organic
law Of the land for many many years yet
4.
cd in that convcniion-thosc who arc -
be affected By the instrument which max
be framedl For CSC reasons tho amend.
msnt which he proposed. II give 70 each
senatorial district a number Of delegates
cqua! 10 the number Of senators and re-
prtscu,ativcs T. which the several districts
are entitled. He did no, pretend to say
this was the most Just and fair apPortion-
men,. but il was better than an equal
number from each district.
Mr.. Holloway said he should vote
against the amendment proposed by The
Senior from Clay. because he preferred
tina, tho delegates should be elected b. re-
preventative districts and rot by senate.
rial he wanted the districts small so that
the views and wishes Of the people in
every portion Of the State ght be fairly
represented IN the cOnvcniion.
Mr.. Rousseau said that il The amend.
mcnt was adopted ii would give an ad-
vantage to the large counties III n senate
rial district over the small ones; the l,rgc
counties might elect all the delegates from
the district and the other counties in the
district would have no voice in the con-
veniion: this was an advantage which he
was unwilling 10 give to the large counties;
he was in favor Of each county elccting
its own delegate.
Mr.. Buckles said that the amendment
under consideration was ono Of consider
able importance; i seemed 10 him there
fore that it ought 10 be carefully examined
by the Senate. lie did not entertain the
fears that had been expressed by some
senators that tho people would srumblc
about the cost Of the conventions he would
like to see every neighborhood represented
in that convention; the people require ono
hundred and fifty persons 10 trans act orclin-
airy business in tho Legislature; now, sir.
do they not require an equal number to
transact extraordinary busincss' lie
though, they did. and for that reason was
in favor OF the largest number. lie said
that if tho delegates were elected BY
senatorial districts the people would not
be fairly represented in the convention,
because some senatorial districts con
tanned great many moro votes than
others.
Mr.. Porter said that the bill and amend
mont> proposed too large number Of
delegates; il is not true as has been as
serted by senators that the people require
ono hundred and fifty members 10 transac,
the ordinary business Of lcgislation: it is
true that there arc ono hundred and fifty
representatives and senator's in the Legs
la;ure: but the Senate and House have a
separate organizations; SO that the great
est number which the people have reGur-
ed in either house is enc hundred mem
hcrs lie believed that a small number
Of delegates would max, 4 better consti-
taIion in Il shorter period of time than a
large number. IL said he could not say
that the senatorial system would be an
equitable representation. but still he did
not see how il could be rcmedied without
dis,rictng the State over; aud he would
prefer the election ofdelcgatos to the con
vcniioa by senatorial districts rather than
have moro than one hundred members in
tho convention: Ii, would therefore vote
against the amendment.
Mr.. Woods said that no proposition had
representation TO the districts. The scna-
iorial districts were unequal. some having
greater number of votes than others:
and TO give them an equal number Of dele
gates in the convention would create dis /:
satisfaction with the people. 1t is due 10 I
the people TIA; The representation should .
be fair
Nj Rousseau moved 10 lay the amend .
III h,.t =,
unon tho table; carried.
Mr.. Miller moved 10 Strike on, "two,"
and insert in lieu thereof zone
lie sail tina; he was salts! led in his
own mind tina, fifty delegates would make
Il better constitution .haa one hundreds
and the cos, would b much less: Iar.-r