Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-11-21
Constitutional Convention.

roll being call the Delegates present answered TO their
names and the absentees noted.
The PRESIDENT laid before the Convention petition
from the citizens Of Clark county, praying for provis
ion in the Constitution prohibiting Negroes and Muat
toes from coming into the State, and expeing those
from the State already here. The petition complains of
threats made by Kentuckians inundate the State with
the old and worn out Negroes of Kentucky to become
paupers Indiana The petition read and referred
! The Convention then resumed the special order, in
relation to the rights of married women. Mr. PEPPER
of Ohio said he had been attentive listener the
guments advanced; and in his poor judgment, those
who had opposed the sections, had misunderstood the
matter issue. 1t not, contended, provision
take from the husband part of his property and give
it to his wife He was in favor of the sections repor
ted with perhaps, the exception that the property of
the wife should be sold without the Of the
husband He did not believe this reform would operate at
all niuriousy the interest othe married Things
would 90 on under it, very much they do present.
with the exception that the wife, by being permitted to
hold property, would be able guard against the acts
of profigate improvdent husband. 1t also
contended that it would interfere with the happiness of
the married relation. He could not consider it. No
one here denied, that matrimony a holy relation
one that should not be interered with any manner to
lessen its obligations The very of this, the
object Of the reform. On the question Of right, there
could be doubt. There something cruel in the
dea where a husband became incompetent, through dis
sipation otherwise manage the property brought
him BY his wife, that he should still be permitted go
and squander it, until from competency the wife and her
children reduced to beggary and 1t is pro-
vide for instances like this that the reform contcnded for
comes in and makes provision, whereby the wife may
protect her property great deal had been said
about dscord and schsms that would be produced in
families by the reform. He did believe that there
would be any such result. He could speak from expert
For the last twelve years. his request his
wife had owned and managed portion of his property
He believed from the manner in which she had controlled
it, she much better prepared to manage his
estate should he, at any time, be called hence.
! Mr.. OWEN replied to the arguments advanced He
complained that matter had been introduced
He then asked the reading of the amendments after
which he said that who had listened to the
arguments yesterday could have dreamed that such
amendments were under consideration. 1t had been
urged that his reform would interfere with the conju
gal relation Now il farther in its benefits than
the conugal relation 1t protect the rights of
the widow, when her husband is Dead and all conuga
relations ceased Even the gentleman from Wayne
(r Rariden) said that twenty-six years ago he had
endeavored change the unfair and niqutous law
on our statute book. He lawer; but he had
paid considerable attention the subject He had read
many of the books and he could agree with the gen.
tleman from Dearborn (Mr Holman) in his strong pref
erences for the law After arguments atlength
in relation to the comparative merits of the common and
civil law he next paid his respects to the gentleman
from Hendricks (Mr. Navel That gentleman had
made unfortunate alusion Louisiana. He had per-
sona experience in trading down the river and had
err lost dollar in trading in Louisiana, where the civil
law prevails; but h had lost in Mississippi where the
common law is in existence He also called upon the
gentleman from Gibson, (Mr. Miller) who had been
gagged in the Southern trade for many years. who gave
evidence that the notes given him in Lousona had al
ways been promptly met but he had with losses in
Mississippi. Mr.. Graham of Warrck, who had much
experience corroborated the statement Of Mr. Miller
Mr.. OWEN then referred the remark Of the gentle
man from Putnam (Mr. Badger) who had contended
sections under consideration contrary to the
spirit of the Christian Scriptures and who also said he
was willing to meet any that question. He was
prepared the gentleman here elsewhere now
or at future period that issue; and he pledged him.
SELF if the gentleman sustained his position he would
vote against the sections under consideration He
ouded by reading from Livy another speech from Cato
as offset the read by the gentleman from Tip
pecanoe (Mr. Clark and the reply Of another Roman
who defended the of Rome, from his aspersons
on their character He said he made his present re-
marks because he believed extraneous arguments had
been introduced If it improper provision, it
should be voted down. II it should be discussed
; adopted.
Mr.. BLYTHE then moved TO amend the sections so as
in effect to read claws shall be passed securing to
married women property owned before marriage, or
which they may obtain by descent or by purchase
after marriage" and striking the balance of the
, sections.
Mr. READ of Monroe said, that the laws in force in
relation to women were disgrace the Christian and
enlightened age in which lived. Not that the prac-
tees under these laws so, but they appeared
laid down in and the law. This age
its enlightened progress had superior the laws
under which lived in the action under them. Gentle
had entirely mistaken the of happy homes
1t was Christianity, pure and untrammeled Christianity
more than any thing else, which indebted for
the happy homes of Indiana. He was not in favor Of
bestowing the right of suffrage on women 1t was a
right, which if given, with very exceptions would
be exercised But the rights in question those
that made their appeal every father and brother in the
n land
After considerable conversation and motion made
b postpone the subject until Monday two weeks which
did prevail, the further consideration of the sub
ect postponed until it up its regular order
Mr.. McCLELLAND then presented petition from the
Of Ra,I l,b bsohx