The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-02-24
Constitutional Convention.
THE ADJOURNMENT QUESTION:
CONSIDERATION OF THE EX-
ECUTIVE REPORT.
WASHINGTON.
REPORTED DEATH OF MINISTER
BURLINGAME---MiS
BILL SIGNED--CHEAPP0ST-
AGE---C0NGREssIONAL
REVELS--.GEOR6IA
QUESTI0N--THE
WHITTEMORE
CASE.

SPRINGFIELD, Feb. 23.-lhe Convention
met at 10 o'clock.
Mr.. Truesdale moved to take up tn
resolution offered by Mr.. English providing
for a recess from March until May.
Mr. Wells moved to amend by laying tn
resolution on the table until after the adop
ton of the Judiciary Committees report.
Mr.. Church said if these matters wer
no, disposed OF at this time he should offe
a resolution that no recess be taken, and n,
leaves of absence granted except for sick
ness
Mr.. Hsines, OF Lake, moved to take u,
the recess question on the 4th of July, whici
motion was lost.
Pending any decision, the Convention
resolved itself into Committee of the Whole
on the remsning sections of the EYecutiy,
Department report.
Section 25, providing that all State officer
shall receive salaries which shall not be in
creased or diminished during their term
was taken up.
Mr.. Hsines moved that the pay of off
shall be three thousand dollars per yea
each.
Mr.. Bryan movsd to postpone the consid
Grafton of this section.
ing the question of salaries to the Legisls
ture woulh be serious objection to the
Constitution.
Mr.. Underwood offered an amendment pro
viding that the Governor shall receive i've
thousand dollars per year until otherwise
provided by law, all other officers L
receive salaries as may be fixed be fixed b,
law.
Mr.. Hsines, of Lake, thought it was not
always right to TX the salaries of officers
Why continue restrictions that have no,
been obeyed in time past? We have over
riden the plain provisions of the Constitu.
ton, and 1t may be done again.
The question then being on the amend
ment OF MIR. Haines, it was voted down and
the question then recurring on the substitute
of MIR. Underwood, with an amendment of
fered by Mr.. Tincher, providing ths, all off
GERS salaries shall be taken out Of the fees OF
their officers, 1t WAS also lost.
Mr.. Cary did not wish to see this secSon
pass without entering his protest against it
There was nothing that could work more in,
juriously against this constitution than let
ting the Legislature provide for salaries.
Mr.. Washburn wished TO enter his pro
to the management of the Legislature. 1t
was imperstIvely demanded of this body
that it should forever fix this matter, and II
we fail to fix the salaries in this Convention,
the people will not fail to crush this consti.
tu ton.
Mr.. Wall was tired of hearing this threat
uttered This Convention had duties to per.
form. and 1t should perform them fear.
lessly.
Mr.. Springer thought the people did not
want to know what became of every dollar
of their money. The policy of sthxing the
pay officers by the Constitution is the worst
policy that could be adopted.
Mr.. Archer thought it much better to fix
the salaries. The plea of necessity made
for over riding constitutional provisions was
a poor plea, and if it should prevail, this
Convention should at once adjourn and go
home.
Mr.. Goodhue thought We should learn
from experience that the restriction has
provision In our constitution has worked
much injury to the vital interests of he State
Mr.. Medill did not think there could be
any opposition to this section. 1t would in
deed tie short.sghted policy to say what
should be given our State officers twenty
years from now
Mr. Mccoy was in favor of paying reason
able salaries to the State officers, and his
constituents would favor it also.
Mr.. Schofeld said the people did not know
how much money is paid the State officers
In future, Representatives will come direc
rom the people, instructed as to their duty
in stfixing the paw for the State departments
He therefore could not fear that the publit
interests would suffer in the least by adop
ing this section
The question being on the adoption of tn,
section, it WAS adopted.
The committee rose and the Convention
adjourned until p. m.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Secretary FisI
has informed President Grant that he ha
received dispatch from ex Governor Cur
tin, Minister to Russia, stating that Anso1
X. Burlingame, the Chinese Minister. diet
suddenly at St Petersburg, at o'clock OIL
Tuesday morning. No particulars are We
given. The announcement. has caused .
gloom In all circles.
The President has signed the Mississippi
bill, and will Immediately return it to Con
gress.
Mr.. Bowen, of the New York Indepen
dent, appeared before the House Po.,a
Conn mittee yesterday, and made length
argument in favor of reducing postage OF
letters TO one cent He informed the com
mittee that there were capitalists in Nev
York city worth hundred million of dollar
ready to perform the service at the reduces
rate, provided government would abando
the business.
/ The Senate gallery was crowded all da
Yesterday, in anticipation of the admission
of Revels, the colored Senator, Of Missis
sippi, the approved bill having been re
ported to that body. The House CALLER
was also crowded in expectation OF seen
when Whittemores case came up.
Mr.. Salisbury, of Delaware, objected t.
Revels taking his seat, on the ground tha
his certificate was signed by Ames, Provi
sional Governor of Mississippi; that tn
Constitution does not recognize such an otf
Ger, and, therefore, it is void. The matte
is now heing debated.
/ General Logan called up the Whittemor
case a. 2 O'Clock, and without going into q
argument, yielded the floor to any gentle
man who desired to participate in the dis
cussion.
A sL.rp debate followed between Messr'
Logan and Butler. A paper was read frol
Whittemore. asking an extension Of on
week, 90 az to give him chance to answe
the charges, alleging that he has not ha
such opportunity.
After thirty minutes had been consume
in determining the question of order, Nj
Butler finally got the floor as counsel fo
Wb;ttavno.a arouin in favcr of postpont