Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-01-02

but return the thanks of the Convention the company
for their kind offer concurred in.
Mr.. Dunn of Perry from the committee 10 which was
referred resolution the subject OF geological
vey of the State made interesting report that sub
Ject,takng the ground that 1t would bring capital to
considerable amount into the State, and thus repay
all expenditures well aid in creating sinking
fund TO pay off our public debt accompanied by Sec
ton making it the duty of the General Assembly to pro-
vide for thorough geological survey oil the State
In i've wears read and passed to a second reading.
The section providing that the Governor and Leuten
Governor shall hold their Offices for four years:
read second time when
Mr.. KILeoRE moved to recommit with Instructions to
strike out four years. and insert "two years. and TO
be eligible only four years out OF six years.
Mr.. BORDEN supported the amendment. He thought
il strange that gentlemen would advocate four years,
when many of the States elect annually.
Mr.. COOKERLY thought il equally strange that Sena
tors should be elected for four years and the friends oil
that measure advocate two years for the Governor
The question was taken on the amendment, and de-
cided in the negative, ayes %, noes %.
The section then passed, ayes 63, noes Al.
The other sections ordered be engrossed yeser
day, read third time; when by common consent
the words Temporary President" inserted instead
of President for the time being as amended on yes
terlay.
The sections then passed by of ayes 9S g.
The section in relation to the veto power OF the Gov
ernor again taken up its second reading.
Mr.. RARiDEN moved to amend, that bill shall be-
come law if returned in five days after presented
to the Governor for his signature, even should an adj.
ournment of the Legislature take place during the SAID
five davs'.
Mr. RARIDEN commended that at the close of ses-
sion of the Legislature bills frequently placed IN
the hands of the Governor and it increased the veto
power too much to enable him TO prevent their passage
by withholding his signature.
Mr.. BIDDLE entered into argument at length, on
the subject OF the veto power and in favor oil the amend
ment
Mr.. PErr1r replied to what he called the Wing
speech of tie gentleman from Cass He contended
that the power had never been exercised against
the liberties Of the citizen. 1t had almost always been
exercised in relation to the finances OF the country, and
he challenged gentlemen show, from the vetoes Of
Washington down, that any injury had accrued to the
nation. Even the veto of the gentcman's John
Tyler of the bill for the charter OF a United States
Bank pronounced blessing. So far own
State concerned, Gov Noble had vetoed a number
of bills Gov Wallace had vetoed some, and Governors
Whcomb and Wright had vetoed several others and in
the whole the fact that the power should have been
exercised frequently. The responsibility wouId
with the Legislature, if they thrust many bills
upon the Governor at the close of the session.
Mr.. OWEN took issue with the gentlemen from Wayne
and Cass and all who opposed the veto power 1t was
conservative and not kingly power. 1t emanated in
the frstsplace, from republican government. 1t
in the best days of Republican Rome that it habits first
existence In despotic the power is
ed in a monarch but here, in representative of the
people Ii was wholesome check hasty legislation.
In England the veto power is nuity. The people
will not tolerate it. Fut here where the power is
lodged in the representatives the people 1t be
ercised with the greatest safety. The Queen of Eng
land was indeed bur ceremony The theory in Eng
land was, that the legislative power should be unrestrct
ed Here was that should he restricted We havo
been engaged, Convention. in restricting that pow
era thing unknown in the history Of England Con-
venons called in that country for that purpose.
So far the amendment concerned, he would vote
for provision that bill should be introduced du-
ring the last three days Of the session He could
abolish power that had worked so well,
Mr.. RARIDEN said, it the pocket veto he OPP
posed to. He would not discuss the question whether
vcfo aftvoo A. hal,r
marked il the pocket veto he opposed to. He
wished to compel the Executive to show his hand
TO be able TO suppress legislation for years He was
not very hostile unfriendy TO the veto power in its
proper exercise.
Before the question was taken, the Convention adj.
journed.
lii the afternoon Mr. SMITH Of Scott moved amend
the section - require vote Of three ts OF the
members pass law the veto OF tie Governor,
instead of majority of all the members elected He
had evils growing out of the veto power.
Mr.. STEVENSON moved to lay the amendments Of Mr..
Rariden and Mr.. Smith Of Scott on the table.
division Of the question being called for, the ques-
ton taken on laying Mr. Smiths amendment the
table and decided in the affirmative.
Mr.. RARIDEN's amendment then laid on the table,
ayes II, noes %.
Mr.. KILcoRE moved to amend the section so that il
shall be the duty of the Governor sign bills and
the same Immediately to the House from whence they
misunderstanding the veto power; laid the la
BILE, on motion of Mr.. Bascom, ayes 100, noes IL.
The section was then ordered 10 be engrossed.
The section in relation to resolutions-thc to
bllswas ordered to be engrossed; also, section in
ation to a seal OF the State.
MIR. SMILEY moved to amend bv inserting n section
that contested elections for Governor and Lieutenant
Governor shall be determined by the Houses under
provisions of law; which adopted and the section
ordered to be eDgrossed
Mr.. MoRRIsox of Marion reported back the section
in relation to filling vacancies by the Governor, sc.
which was ordered to be engrosse also
The section engrossed providing that all commits
na1 Lei tha tl,o
State of Indiana
The section providing that all elections shall be held
on the first Tuesday in October biennialy was read
first time; when
Mr.. PRATHER moved to amend by striking ont ''bien-
nially" and inserting annually"
Mr. KELso moved TO amend, so to insert the "sec-
ond Tuesday in October instead of the first Tuesday "
which amendment was adopted.
Quite an animated discussion here sprung up, in
which il commended, that since it determined
not to The county officers their would be
expiring year. That it would be announcement TO
elect officers so long beforehand 1t coHtended on
the other hand that the sessions of the Legislature be-
ing biennial and the terms of all officers being made to
suit the biennial elections, it would be unnecessary
have annual elections That special elections could be
had whenever there was ad occasion for them.
Mr.. KELso moved to amend the amendment by stri-
king out ''annually."
Mr. TAYLOR said he had lived twenty years in an adj
joining State, where there biennial elections, and
he had seen no difficulty General always prefer
able to special elections. Annual elections would
create confusion.
Mr.. NEWMAN moved TO strike out and insert that gen.
eral elections shall take place the first Monday in
September.
The previous question called and sustained, and
first put Mr.. Kelso's amendment, striking out
'annually'-and adopted.
Mr.. PRATHER's amendment, as amended, adopt.
ed; Mr.. Newmans amendment not adopted, and
the section then ordered be engrossed providing
that all general elections shall be held the second
Tuesday in October.
The article reported from the military committee