Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-03-14
For the Indiana Slate Sentinel
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.
AssembIy----Frce Ba
ing, &c,


When this subject FIRST mentioned, many were
disposed to ridlcule the idea. who. if now con-
verts to the doctrine. disposed Ia give it fair and
! candi6 inyestigaiinn.
The Senate and House Of representatives. in the
several States are mudeIed after Congress; but as
has been befre remarked bear similarity TO those
bodies in the manner in which they re constituted
The Senators In Congress represent State sovereignty
the little State of Drlewure being equally repre-
senied with the empire State Of.New York-ihe Rep.
resentatires the masses IF the people. The case is
quite different with the State Legislature IN very
large number of the counties of this State like Ma
rion, Wayne, Des rburn. Johnson, Shelby, &c &c
the constituents of the Representatives and Senators
are identically the same individuals. Other Sena-
toral Districts differently situated. The coun-
ties of Boone, Hamilton and Upton for instance
form u District Two Of these counties, for exam
pie, so far as roads concerned, have common
interest, IN connecting indianapolis with the Wa
BASH Boone has separate and rather rival inter-
est with regard TO her matchmaking it, a difficult
matter to represent these counties Alright in the Sem
ate, should question be brought up before The Sem
ate involving these separate interests. 1t is true
there are rival interests in counties which has
induced some to advocate system of electing repre-
sentatives by single Districts.
The only argument of force, in favor Of Senate
or second body. is for check upon hasiy and inn
provieent legisa tom but find, that this check in
the history of Indiana, has frequently BEEN but asa
rope of snnd The combinations of interests
that passed The internal improvement bill of 1886 in
the House Of Representatives also took place in the
Senate, and enabled it pass TINT body also Here
was an occasion for this wholesome check to have
been exercisedbut the Representatives of the same
counties. with few exceptions that voted against the
bill In the House also voted against it in the Senate
constituting, almost ldenticallY the same minority
! In questions OF less moment than the one alluded
to, which was contested step by step, and the ayes
and NOES taken. plan has been proposed, which
think a good one, VIZ that tie ayes and noes shall
be taken and recorded on the passage Of every bill of
whatever character.
| am not, however with the advocates of a single
body without some wholesome check. | would pro
pose that legislative power should be vested in lep-
slaive assembly and that all bills should there orr p
mate. would also urge. that all measures of any
moment should be fully discussed before the regular
standing committees of that body, and here would
answer the objection, rather argument in favor of
q Senate, that the two Houses might be perfecting
different bills at the same time By proper use of
these committees business might be put in train for
discussion, easily by two separate bodies be-
cause the discussions of the heard by the
other, and II is supplementary for q member
of House to refer to what is going on in the 9TH
err But the check would propose is this: | would
elect council of say ten members, BY the people of
the whole State, which the Governor should pre-
side. whose duty it should be carefully to examine
every bill passed by the Legislative assembly, and
who might propose amendments, that the rights of
the whole people would be guarded who might be
fully able to decide whether law constitutional
Should this body agree a BILL it should be returned
mud ihereupon become law. If amended, it should
be returned. and if majority approve Of the amend
ments should also become a law. If the bill wns re-
jected vetoed by the council maturity of two
thirds of the Legislative assembly should be able to
pass IT, the objections of the council the contrary
: notwithstanding As the Supreme Judges, and the
Treasurer, Auditor and Secretary Of Slate will no
doubt be elected by the people of the whole Stae-to
save expense. these officers might the council
in connection with the Governor, which would at
once settle the Constitutionaliiy of all laws that
might be enacted. This, however, would inter-
fere with the principle / am cOntending for, should
either of these propositions be adopted.
e II will be at glance that third at least,
of the expense might be saved by the plan propose.
There is nothing original in the idea. Vermont. it
will be seen, on examination. has similar council
and but one legislative body and several States have
something nearly nllied it in their Legislative sys-
TENS.
, A body of this kind | think might meet every year
with good advantage the people. especially should
the wholesome guards contemplated against special
legislation, be introduced into our new Constitution
In onward progress a State. the annual meet
ing of legislative body like this, think would be
productive of good. The advantage Of the council
! of revision would be mainly felt in preventing
, biguous expressions in laws, and the guard it
would afford that the rights of the whole people Of
the State protected. II would be a small body
that would sit quietly down and deliberately examine,
in broad daylight,-not at night is the gen.
orally with commitiees-the bills laid before them,
section by section. A review of this kind. by men
of talents, age and e5perience,-and such should al
ways be appointed to the council-could not but re-
suit in great good TO the country. and appears to
would be much preferable to the Senate at present
constituted Many other arguments might be urged.
but will desist for the present.
No one, perceive. has, at much length, rs yet,
discussed the Bank question: question that will
doubt elicit much discussion before the Convention.
= There appears TO be doubt that banking of some
description will be tolerated under Constitu-
ton. With this admitted fact, all hands, there is
of opposition against banks IN general al
though were there any prospect OF putting them
down altogether, much is ready 10 be said and writ
ten on the sublect-but the task is useless one at
this time. and the ant-bank should make the
most, do the best they can, with the evil. largo
number of the citizens of our State are in favor Of
free banking. and there is considerable probability
that a system of this kind in edition present
State bank system, If the present system be not
perceded by il, will be adopted Should the struggle,
however. up between these two systems. the
ti-bank men may hold the balance of power. Should
o system Of free banking be adopted, would oppose
il. unless State stocks placed in the hands
of the auditor Of State other State officer Of
equal with the notes issued, security 10 the
ri hllholder have doubt that regulation of this
kind would concentrate large amount Of our State
bonds in our State The bills issued the faith
of these bonds, and the specie necessary redeem
them in the vaults of the banks under the usual reg
ulations, would make the a most excellent home
currency least and the concentration Of bonds
at home, would keep within the bounds of the State,
the annual interest thereon, instead of being sent
abroad. But | cannot discuss this subject now. /
" hope to hear from others. B.
u ANOTHER MAIL RoBBER-The special agent of the
Post Office DEPARTMENT has arrested Frederick ].