Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-01-03

ompi payment Of the interest the State debt read vice
aud referred to The committee on Finance.
Mr. Hendricks introduced bill amend the charter OF
the city ef Mldson read twice and referred to the
mre on C0Tpo All ms.
Mr. Morrison Introduced bill 10 amend an act approved
January 2s IS42 relative 10 The continuance Of all any
Of the public works by private read fist time
Mr Hrndricks introduced bill 10 amend the school ,w
so far relates to township No. g. range 10. in ferson
county read fist time.
Nj Woods introduced bill to auth rise Justices OF The
peace to in certain Switzerland coun-
ty read ftst time.
MIR Reid Of u nrroduccd bill incorporate the Con-
nersville and Reesve turnpike comptny read twice and
referred 10 The committee on Corporations.
On motion Of MIR James, the vote the passage of the
bill TO incorporate Lamasco city was reconsdersd and the
bill referred to select committee.
On motion, the Senate adjourned.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The bill providing for the call OF convention OF the peo-
pie Of State Of Indiana revise amend alter the
constitution of said State, taken up and the question
bring agreeing 10 the amendments Of the committee to
the bill,
separately.
The question being coueurring amendment Of the
committee give each senatorial district two delegates to
the venon,
Mr. Hanna moved to amend the amendment by giving to
each senatorial district number Of delegates equal TO the
repre- sentatives and senators frofn said district
Mr. Hanna said that taking expression OF the opin-
ion Of the Senate the amendment proposed by the commit
tee viewed il settled that the delegates would be
elected by senatorial districts Under this view the dele
CATION of from district certainly most unfair
unjust Districts The district which he has the
5000 whilst the county Of Knox has but 100 votes
would be entitled the representation as his
district Ia his district there is 90 miles of canal and
80 miles Of railroad under progress oil construction tne
commerce il great and wealth Are not to
be represened Our numbers, wealth and our COM
ece He protested against this unequal and partial APP
poooment for the that it, in effect, disiranchies
thou sand votes of his district.
M Holloway said he should vote against the amendment
the delegates should be elected by representative districts
by senatorial he wanted the districts small so that
The and wishes OF the people n portion Of the
State might be fairly represented in the convention
Mr. Rousseau said that If the amendment adopted
would give advantage the senatorial
district over the large counties might elect
delegates from The district and the other counties 10
the district would have voice in the convention this was
advantage hich he unwilling 10 TO the large
countless he was IN favor o each county eectng It's own
delegates.
MIR Buckles said the amendment under confederation
Of considerable importance it seemed to him there
FORE that ought be carefully examined by the Senate
He did entertain the feaIs that had been expressed by
that the people would gIumbe abou, the cost
Of the conventions he would like to see every neighoorncod
in convention the people require one hun
dred and fifty persons TO transact ordinary business IN the
Legislatures now. sir do they require equal number
transact extraordinary busnesl He thought they did, and
favor Of largest number He said
that if the delegates elected by senatorial districts the
people would be fairly represented in the convention
because senatorial districts contained great many
than others.
Mr. Porter said that the bill aud amendments proposed too
large number Of delegates; is not has been
serted by that the people require hundred aud
fifty members TO Transact the ordinary business OF legsa-
ton il is true that there hundred and hy repre-
sUives and senator's in the Legislature; but the Senate
and House have separate organization so that me great
est number which the people have required IN either House
Is one hundred members He believed that small NUMBER
Of would make better constitution in shorter
od Of time than large number Hn said he could not say
that the senatorial would be equitable representa-
ton, but still he did how could be remedied with
dsrictng the State over would prefer the eec
on Of delegates ts the convention BY senatorial Districts
rather than have than bundled members IN The
fko
ment
Mr. Woods said that proposition had been before the
Senate which fair representation to the Districts The
senatorial disisies unequal some having greater
number Of than others; aud TO give them equal
number Of delegates in the convention would create dssa
saction with the people, II is due 10 the people that the
representation SHOULD be fair
Mr. Rousseau moved to lay the amendment proposed by
the Senator from Clay upon the table carried.
Mr. Miller moved to strike out two, and insert 10 lieu
thereof " one"
He said that be satisfied n his mind that fifty
delegates would make better constitution than hun
died; and the would be much less large bodies
Slow and do not transact business with The same despatch
that small bodies do for this reason, he hoped that the
number Of delegates in the convention would be limited to
fifty.
Mr. Graham sad that the great principle upon which
were based was that the laws should eanae
possible from the people themselves this amend
men however, this power from the people BY
slng large districts that the sentiments Of the people
will be fairly represented in small body he believed
that the convention ought be composed Of less
Der than hundred he therefore hoped that the amend
ment would not be adopted
M Holloway said, that il the general opinion that
al body would transact business with despatch than
large one but IN amending the Constitution which would,
he trusted stand for ages there was something else to be
taken into cnndera besides the cost OF the convention
the views and sentiments Of every portion of the State
should be fay represented in the convention il they we've
not it would be ground OF complaint aud
tim the pai Of The people, and after the constitution
aiaended the people would reject it, He would there
fore to reeommit the bill TO select committee with
Instructions district the State fairly, giving q each dis
lct number Of delegates 10 proportion 10 the number OF
the district, and that the number Of delegates in
the convention shall not exceed one hundred.
Mr.. Carver said he could not vote for bill providing
for convention composed of less number than one
hundred members; the argument advanced for a small
number that il will cost ess this may be true, sir; but
what dollars and cents compared with the importance
of the subject The sentiments and feelings of every
portion of the people of the State of Indiana should be
fairly represented in that conventon and if it pos
sibe he would like to the people themselves assemble
and frame their own constitution; IT, then, you have
small numbers the reforms which the people demand will
not be made and the people will reject the constitution adop
ted by convention composed of few members. issaid
does not coincide with their views This may be true
but he desired to know from Senator's if it would not be
better policy have large number Of delegates to make
constitution that would reflect the will of the people
the State and which, when presented by the convention
to the people, would be ratified by them.
Mr.. Eddy moved to amend the instructions follows
That each county shall have delegate, and for every
- number Of votes one delegate
He said that the convention should reflect the will
the people of the State of Indana and should be
stituted in such that every shade Of opinion
might be fairly represented This much due the peo
ple that law of this kind which might govern them fo
ages should reflect their will. He friend Of re
trenchment but believed that this kind of rerenchmen
not the true policy of the States interest ough
TO be represented i'm the convention and this b
done without large number Of delegates.
Mr.. Ellis moved to lay the motion commit the bill
with instructions the table; carried.
Mr.. Rousseau moved 10 lay the amendment Of the Sen
from Gibson the table; carried ayes &c. H.
Mr.. Hardin moved to amend the bill that each
in the State shall have delegate in the convention
and each Senatorial district