The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-02-19
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CON-
VENTION.

We have scarcely heard from Iowa City
since our last, owing to the arrangement of
the mails by the flood, and consequently have
very little further from the Constitutional Con-
vention. Through the courtesy of the Mem
Der from this District, George Gillaspy, Esq,
we are in receipt of sheets of the official Re-
port of the Debates and Proceedings of the
Convention, in full, down to Monday, Janu-
airy, Goth, being SO closely printed pages, mat
ter enough, il we deemed it profitable to print
it all, to fill our entire columns. Besides, this
portion of the report before us, brings down
| the proceedings barely to the time when the
real business of the Convention was com
mcnced, being devoted mainly TO organization,
and preparation for work. Judging by the
space occupied by the report so far, the entire
proceedings will be voluminous The speech
es of members upon every question are given
| in full, and will comprise a considerable por-
! ton of the volume The sheets which we
have, though evidently the first unrevised
copies, show evidence of faithful reporting,
and are, withal, well printed on a good quail
| ty Of paper. The work, when completed, will
doubtless give faithful history of the Con-
ventioh, and large edition will enable the
members to give them general circulation
among their constituents. 1t Of course will
be out of the power of the newspapers of the
State to publish anything more than the snb-
stance.
The debates exhibit very commendable
degree Of talent in the Convention, and they
appear to be conducted with dignity and pro-
priety, varied occasionally by a little humer-
Gus badinage between members of opposite
politics, such as the following: Clarke, of
Henry, said, if the gentleman from Des Moines,
(J. c. HalI) could smell a negro in all of his
resolutions, he could smell wnislley in all of
his, (Halrs.)
The Convention, we see, has adopted the
plan of introducing resolutions into the Con-
vention, which are debated, and if adopted,
referred to the appropriate committee. These
committees as fast as they prepare them, re-
port articles for the consideration of the Con-
vention. We gave last week the report Of
the committee on the Legislative depart
ment. We have, in addition, reports of only
two other committees, on the right of suffrage,
and on amendments to the Constitution. These
two reports we give below. The former, it
wlll be seen, changes article End, very slight
ly. Whether they improve sec. 2 any we
have no time here to discuss. Our readers
can compare the proposed provisions with the
old one, and decide for themselves
Report of standing Committees.
MIR EDWARDS, from the Committee on the
Right of Suffrage, made the following report:
The committe to whom was referred that
portion OF the Constitution relative to the right
of suffrage, have had that subject under consid-
Grafton, and have unanimously instructed
Inc TO report the same back without amend
ment, and recommend its adoption by this Con-
ventioE,
The provision is as follows:
''ARTIcI E 2-RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
81. Every white male citizen Of the United
States of the age of twenty-oDe years, who
shall have been resident of the State six
months next preceding the election, and the
county in which ne claims his vote twenty days,
shall be entitled to vote at all elections which
ale now or NAV hereafter be authorized by
law.
SO. Electors shall, in all cases except trea-
son, be privileged from arrest on the days of
election, during their attendance at such cleo
ton, going to and returning tberefrom.
SO. No elector shall be obliged to perform
militia duty on the day of election, except in
time Of war or public danger.
"a. No person in the military, naval or ma
rine service of the United States shall be con-
sidered resident of this State by being sta
toned in any garrison, barracks. or military or
naval place or station within this State.
'5. No idiot or insane person, or person
convicted of any infamous crime, shall be en-
titled to the privilege of an elector.
"6. All elections by the people shall be by
ballot'
In motion of Mr.. CLARKE, of Johnson,
the report was laid on the table and one hun
dred copies ordered to be printed for the use
of the Convention.
Mr.. EDWARDS, from the Committee on
Amendments to the Constitution, made the
following report: ad
The committee to whom was referred so
much of the constitution as relates to future
amendment Of the constitution have had the
same under consideration. and majority Of
the committee ask leave to recommend the
following:
Sec. 1. Any amendment. or amendments to
this constitution may be proposed iii both
houses of the General Assembly, and il the
same shall be agreedt by a majority of the
members elected to each Of the two houses,
such proposed amendment shall be entered up
on their journals, with the yeas and nays Ia
ken thereon, and referred to the Legislature to
be chosen at the next general election, and shall
be published as provided by law for three
months previous to the time of making such
choice; and if in the General Assembly so next
chosen, as aforesaid, such proposed amend
ment or amendments shall be agreed to by a
majority of all the members elected to each
house. then it shall be the duty of the General
Assembly to submit such proposed amendment
or amendments to the people in such manner
and at such time as the General Assembly
shall provide; and il the people shall approve
of and ratify such amendment or amendments,
by majority of the electors qualified to vote
for members of the General Assembly voting
thereon, such amendment or amendments shall,
become a part of the constitution of this
State
Sec. 2. At the general election to be held in
the year one thousand eight hundred and six
ty-seven, and in each tenth year thereafter, and
also at such times as the General Assembly
may by law provide, the question "Shall there
be convention to revise the constitution and
amend the same?' and shall be decided by the
electors qualified to vote for members Of the
General Assembly: and in case a majority Of
the electors so qualified voting at such election,
shall decide in favor of convention for such
purpose, the General Assembly at its nexl
session shall provide by law for the election of
delegates to such convention.
A A n u T.. i