The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-01-22
FROM SPRINGFIELD.
Constitutional Conv.u,,or.

|
| Feiddy Jan. 14.-Half the d.,. s...;,, "a.
spent In discussing the psopriety of adop,iny 4.
parliamentary rule. that to lay an amend ment o..
the table shall not take the original propo,;,;on
with it. The matter was finally sent to N. .o,,.
mittee on rules.
Then another hour was spent in compls;,,.
about the inaccuracy with which the pros,ed.
| ings of the convention are printed in the t,o
daily papers at Springfield.
These prelininaries disposed Of, the convention
went to business. The committee on State.
County and Municipal Indebtedness made a 20.
port proposing four sections to be enyraf,ed i,
the new constitution. /. That the credi. of tina
state shall never be loaned to individuals or cor
porations; 2. That the state shall contract m
debt except to supply casual deficits Of revenue.
and then not beyond S250,000; 3. Except in
time OF rebellion or invasion and s. No county.
city or municipal corporation shall contract
debt beyond per cent. of the assessed value of
property in such county, city, sc. The report
was made the special order for the 10th INST
Mr.. Eldridge presented a remonstrance from
citizens of La Sale against the employment Of
convict labor upon public works, which. on
his motion read 1t came frem the Rock.
Island and La Sale Associations of Journsvmeu
stone cutters. On motion of Mr.. Brown. the
following resolution was adopted on the subject:
RSsoloed, That the committee on Penitentia,v
and Reformatory Institutions be requested 70
inquire into the expedency Of provision in the
Constitution, prohibiting N echancal labor in the
penitentiary in this State.
About % propositions were submitted bv diff.
ferent menbers TO amend the constitution in a.
many different particulars, and all appropriately
referred. Whereupon the convention adjourned
to Monday
Monday, Jan. 17.-No business was done to-
day, despatch having been read, soon after the
convention met, announcing the death of Mr..
Patterson, member from Kankakee
Jan lS-The entire day was consumed in dis
cussion upon the question of filling the vacancy
occasioned BY the death Of Mr. Patterson Of Kan.
kakee, and the Developments were somewhat
curious. The debate arose upon resolution Of.
fered by Mr.. Well- of Peoria, that the county
of kankakoe procee. to cleo: a delegate in plaes
of the deceased II said, IN effect that there was
no law upon the subject, and the convention was
the sole Judge. The entire conservative side of
the house, almost without exception, sustained
Mr.. Wells resolution. while the bulk OF those
who were in pol,ic.i sympathy with the deceas.
ed member opposed it. Il was considered 10 be
the old question Of p.enary powers OF the conven.
ton; OF it. sovereignty or nou-sovereignty ani-
20 q degree tho debates of the first three DAYS
session were revived Mr. Wall, Of Perry, while
admitting the essential fitness Of the reso.
lutien, still t'oneh. that it would be more
proper 70 refer the matter 70 special committed
and 50 moved Nj Browning favored the idea,
and Mr. Church opposed The latter gentleman
offered substitute placing the whole IN after in
the hands OF the governor. This. however, did
not seem to meet with much favor, and was not
pressed, the mover himself accepting Mr. Rccs
substitute The debate lasted through the entire
session, and ended with the passage Of Mr.. Wells
resolution by vote of almost two to one
Jra l9-Thc committee en mines and mining
reported ia favor Of constitutional provision
tina. all pits OF the depth OF % feet shall be pro.
vided with escapenen, shafts. The report was
made the special order for next Monday.
ported provision against selling the Illinois 4
Michigan canal. Order far next Tuesday
About 20 resolutions, suggestive of amend.
ments to the constitution, were offered and rs
ferred to the committees.
The order Of the day--the question OF state
and municipal acknowledgements then taken up
and debated until adjournment. The debate
Al
wrangle among lawyers on the meaning Of terms.
This discussion was mostly confined to tho legal
profession. Still, it is very important that any
words which are to go into the new constitution
and which have Ga smbiguou meaning should
be thoroughly discussed and made plain and,
certainly, day spent for this object may be the
means Of saving an unlimited amount Of future
~; NJ g. bad