Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-12-12
constitutional Convention.

WEDNESDAY, December a. 1S50.-The Convention
opened by prayer by the Rev. Mr.. STEELE
Mr.. KENT moved to reconsider the vote, on commit
ting the section providing that shall not be re-
duced below 400 square miles, with Instructions which
motion prevailed, avs ga noes g.
The question then REQUIRED on recommtting the Sec
tlon with instructions, by adding the following viz
Except the following case to-it: where the voters
Of two counties desirous of forming new
county and after laying the same by metes and bounds
and giving their appreciation to it, by of clear
majority of the Of each county, separately in ia-
vor of it, at some general election"
Mr.. GIBSON moved the previous question which be-
ing seconded, was first put on sustaining the previous
question, and decided In the affirmative, ayes Sc
noes 45.
The main question then taken on the passage of
the section engrossed providing that counties Shall
be reduced below 400 square miles, and decided in
the affirmative, ayes 80, noes 80.
The Convention proceeded the consideration of the
sections reported from the committee finance and tax
aton-the question pending being motion of Mr..
READ of Monroe to recOmmit with Instruction. to add
the following sections ro-wit:
"SEc. =. The General Assembly shall by law pro-
vide uniform rule of assessment and taxation and
shall prescribe such regulations will just val
uatlon OF all property, real and personal except
much for municipal educational benevolent religious
purposes, may be specially exempted by law.
SEC. =. Money invested in State United States
bonds shall be taxed money at interest and all other
stocks shall be taken personal property"
Mr.. BAscoM moved to amend the instructions, by ad-
ding the following section:
''SEc. The stock and all other property of banks
shall be taxed other property in this State is taxedv
Mr.. DoBson raised the question, whether. under the
Constitution of the United States, United States bonds
could be taxed
Mr.. BORDEN advocated the principles of the sec-
tiOns.
Mr.. NAVE hoped the sections would be withdrawn
and referred to a committee for investigation.
Mr.. READ Of Monroe had examined the Constitution
al question. and was clear that point He thought
taxation should be uniform and equal.
The discussion was continued by Messrs Stevenson,
Hovey and mcfarland; when
Mr.. BAscoM Withdrew his amendment; and
Mr.. READ OF Monroe withdrew his Instructions and
offered the following a substitute:
'To recommt with instructions, to introduce a Sec
ton sections requiring uniformity and equality in the
assessment and taxation of all property real and per-
sona in the State, except such may by law be spe-
ciay exempted"
Which was declared out of order, inasmuch as in
strucons, at this stage of the proceedings, should be
definite
The sections then passed, by vote Of ayes 120
noes 2-and provide, that 'sno money shall be drawn
from the treasury bat in consequence of appropriations
made by law and statement of receipts and expendi-
lures shall be published with the laws of each session
the Legislature"
Mr.. BAscoM, on leave offered resolution that the
committee finance enquire into the cxpediency of sub
ecng the stock and all other property any banking
Institution that may be created in this State, the same
taxation other property; which was adopted
The Preamble to the Constitution, heretofore ordered
to be engrossed read third time and passed. ayes
1S4 noes /.
On notion the Convention adjourned
In the afternoon, the first section in the bill Of rights
declaring that all power is inherent in the people
&c. read second time; when
Mr.. Warts moved to amend, by adding provision
from the first section of the present Constitution
follows
1--WE declare that all men are born equally free and
independent" &c.
Mr. CHAPMAN said. that before he sat down he would
to lay the resolution the table. He would do
so because the subject of negro rights referred to
select of from each Congressional Dis
rict If that committee should decide to admit the
black population equal privileges, then this amend
ment should be adopted. He was opposed TO another
negro discussion He therefore moved lay the
luton on the table. AT the request of
Mr.. PETIT he withdrew the motion. 1Ir. p. said
that the declaration that all men were born equally ree
was in point of fact. Every knew that the
negroes in the slave States not born equally free
with the whites The fact is said he, not born
all babies are born, but not. Besides, VIC
should conhne the organic law to our own State and
even here, negroes not an equality with white
men. This Convention, by a solemn vote, Just given
had declared readiness to deliver up and send negroes
back to slavery. At the time OF the adoption OF our
present Constitution and when the Declaration Of Inde
pendence was framed negroes were not considered as
possessing political rights, and hence there
ference to them in either OF those instruments. But
things considered now, this amendment is not true,
and he not-wIllnG to vote for lie. 1t migat be
correct say" all white persons not men) in this
State born equally free &c. but he thought plain
declaration Of rights in few words as possible, would
be the hest.
Mr.. RARrDEN in favor of the amendment. He
going to discuss the question, whether it
theoretically practically true it solemn deca-
ration of fathers in trying crisis, and was placed
in our Declaration of independence foundation
stone for form of government.
Mr.. DUNN of jefferson not only for placing the
amendment in the Constitution for the protection of
negroes but for the protection of white men, Aboi-
florists were compared this floor, vermin, aud
there might be disposition to Danish them from the
State. Men for protesting certain religious sentiments
might be hanshed He clung to this sentiment
of the circumstances that surrounded its first pro-
mitigation to the world by the ilustrious Jefferson.
Mr.. BORDEN favored the amendment, and compile
mented the gentleman from Jefferson, Mr.. Dunn for
his speech.
Mr.. STEVENSON moved to amend the amendment by
striking all after the word decare and insert the
words " all men created free and equal" &c.-the
language Of the Declaration of Independence which
was accepted by Mr.. Watts.
Mr.. OWEN said in Justice to the committee that
ported this section he would again say the Convention
that the committee had withheld the consideration of this
section until decision made in reference TO the
right Of negroes to hold property, &c. There was
something said in committee about inserting white
men but the general opinion was, that unless the
ton could be reported Just it is in the present Con-
sttution with slight change in phraseology, it should
not be reported all. The committee had no feeling
on the subject
/ Mr. HOWE defended the phraseoloay Of the amend
ment, as contained in prcsent Constitution The
word q men, generic term, intended to include
the whole human family, and word born pointed to
the time of their birth 1t great abstract prcpo-