Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-11-07

provision of this kind He thought the recollection of the
Chair would bear him witness that, IT, in the
oa of the State Debt Bill there had existed such Con-
sttutlona provision would have been lost 1t seemed
to him that by the adoption of this resolution the Con-
venton would be taking their hands what prop
ery belonged to the people, He considered 1t would be
sufficient remedy to adopt Constitutional provision
that upon the final passage of every BILL each member
of the Legislature should record his By this
means he would be held directly responsible the peo
pie, and this Convention: and surely if
defeated by member absentng himself, he should
be amenable only to his constituents 1t seemed to him,
that, upon the whole, the adoption of this principle
would be injurious instead of beneficial
Mr.. KELSO said it would seem, by what had been
said, that his motion was rather unpopular ;lls morning
He would, therefore, with the leave of the committee,
attempt to defend 1t. Ii had been said that his motion
was dlscourteous to the Of the resolution. He
though there would be dscourtesy in making
motion Of this kind than for attempt inn
pose his opinions imperatvey upon standing commit
tee OF this body What necessity there for creating
standing committees al If they make their
Instructions to them upon all subjects imperative, the
committees would have no discretion whatever; there
would be necessity for them the whole idea of stand
ing committees would be foolish anomaly, if they
to he Instructed IN every thing they should do. He un-
deTsoOd the advantage OF committees In deliberate bo
dies be something. like this the Chair selects each
committee, well qualified to pass upon any
that might be submitted to them then the body submits
them their propositions, and the committee after
sidcring them in all their bearings report them back
the House, with their Judgment in the premises then
remains for the body determine whether they will
coincide with the report or not. This was what he
understood about the utility of committees. he would
like to inquire of gentlemen whether it would not be
preferable to offer at once, amendment to the Const
tuition in proper shape? They had talked about saving
time; would il not be far me-savng method to
have their amendments Incorporated in the Con-
stltutiOn He affirmed that the proposed by the
gentleman would prove to be saving of time the
left shoulder useless and reckless waste OF time.
According to strict parliamentary usage he supposed
that he ought detain the Convention any longer
but other gentlemen had gone into the merits of the
resolution, he would like 70 do the They had
expression of that will could he obtained, unless
majority OF all the members of the Legislature should
he required in the affirmative before propo-
sition could become a law. Their object seemed TO be-
he understood the matter compel every member Of
the Legislature remain here until the end of the
sion But he affirmed that this provision would more
have that effect than if not word of it in the
Constitution. For when any member took notion TO
60 home he would ask for leave of absence which would
be granted, Of course. II would he thought discoure
Gus to refuse the first application. And the next day
perhaps b; C. d. &c, would have leave of absence, be-
cause the application had been refused in the first
instance And so, frequently, the House would be
\ lOund without quorum. During the term OF his own
short experience in legislation such had always been
the case and the last days of the session there
to he hut very thin attendance Under the oper-
alton of this principle the sickness of five six
hers and perhaps the factious temper of five six 9TH
ers might prevent the passage OF the most important
law Where then was the wisdom of placing so much
power in the hands of few factions men, who might be
disposed to keep outside of the barl They need 90
farther and upon call of the House they could answer
and the Clerk would report quorum present. If gen.
temen would take the trouble to examine the journals
for four five years past they would find that, upon
the announcement of the Chair that there quo
rum voting, call of the House, the very minute
had furnished quorum. time after time By the adOp
on Of the principle Of this resolution, they would only
give to such factious minority ten times power
than they now have. What obligation could it place
mo
world 1t could not have the effect which gentlemen
pretend For these and other reasons should adher,
to his motion change the character of the resolution
Like his colleague, (Mr. Pepper Of Ohio) he was m
SELF ready to vote upon this question: but be would rath
er first. have the Judgment Of the standing committee
in the shape of report