The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-02-19


Thursday. Feb. 1O.-The forenoon was spent
on the 3lst section of the Legislative report The
section relates to the oath to be taken by the
members Of the Legislature, In sdditiod to the
usual oath to support the constitution of the U.
8. and Of this state, i. requires the members to
swear that they will take no bride. &c. The
section was opposed BY several member OF the
last legislature as insulting to the representa-.
tives of the people; but the majority were for
the new oath, and it was adopted by a strong
vote.
In the afternoon the S3d section, in reference
to sp.cisl legislation, was discussed. Several
items OF the section were adopted. but before
reaching vote upon the whole section, the con.
vsntion adjourned. ,. -
During the day, Mr. Medili made . report in
favor Of minority representation /, which was or.
dered to be printed. 1t provides for the division
of the state into representative districts SO large
as to give each district 3 representatives Then
each voter shall have the right to cast 3 votes,
one each for three candidates, or all three for
one candidate, as he pleases The result, Of
course, would be the election of one democra.
from each district, no matter how strongly re-
Publican, and rice rersd.
| Friday, Feb 1.-The consideration Of the
section in reference to special legislation was re.
suned and the discussion continued until late in
the day, when it was adopted. As 1t stands, it
forbids the legislature from passing special laws
for granting divorces, changing names Of persons
or places, laying out or vacatng roads or streets,
changing county seats, incorporating cities or
towns, and long list of other things Of this
character for winch tho Legislature i, to provide
by general laws.
SEC. "a, against granting extra compensation
to officers or contractors in any case and Sec
30 and 80, against lotteries, were adopted, and
then the convention adjourned.
Saturday. Feb. l2-Secs 81, 80 and 80 of the
legislative report, relating to state, county and
municipal Indebtedness, 10, were postponed,
and the 40rh section, forbidding the appropris-
ton of the public funds Of any city, county or
town for sectArian purposes, was taken up. Mr..
Hayes opposed the section. believing that religion
and education should not be entirely divorced,
and favoring rather the equitable division OF the
tons. Mr.. Snyder took the opposite view main
tanning tina, this was no,a christian government
&c. The section was adopted as follows:
SEC. 40. Neither the general assembly nor
any county, city, town, township school district
municipal or other corporation shall ever make
any appropriation or pay from any public fund
whatever. anything IN aid Of any scctar,nlpur.
pose, or to help support or sustain any school!
co I'M r,i.v or
institution OF learning, controlled by any -ectl-
rian denomination whatever; nor shall any grant
or donation Of land or personal property ever be
made by any such public corporation for any
sectarian purpose whatever.
Adjourned
X0nday. Feb. l4.-Sec. ~ of the legislative
report was taken UP, prohibitin. the esi-lAtu.r
from renting to any officer lossc. oi public
funds. After an mated debate il was adopted
The convention then returned 70 section. 81. -
and 80. Sec. 81, the pon, of which is the pro.
hibition of the legislature from mourning state
debt Of over saJOOD0 q. any time, except BY a
consenting vote of the people, was earnestly dis.
cussad and adopted. Sec 3S, forbidding the ap.
preparation Of money from the treasury in any
private law, was adopted without debate. Sec.
80, torbdding cities, counties or towns from 70.
ting aid TO railroads, &c, excited discussion
which lasted until adjournment without coming
to vote. .t..aa .i -.-
Tuesday, Fob 1.-THE debate upon the 39th
section of the Legislative report was resumed and
continued most Of the day, ending in the striking
ont the section by vote of 4S to H. The ADD
section was taken up next. 1t provides that no
charter to corporation, grant of special priv.
ileges shall be altered or repealed, but by
| vote OF twe-thirds Of the Legislature No vote
was reached up to adjournment
Wednesday FEB. 1.-THE debate on the AID
section Of the legislative report was continued
until late in the afternoon and finally adopted in
tho following shape:
SEC. AZ. All existing charters or grants OF
| special or exclusive privileges, under which or.
carnations shall not have taken place, or which
shall not have been in operation shall cease after
ten days from the time the constitution takes ef-
feet, and thereafter have no validity or effect
whStever.
| See. 4, which had been passed over was next
| taken up and adopted. 1t fixes the number of
senators n 81. Sec. 5, fixing the number OF rep
resentatives at 15l was next taken up, but again
postponed until sec. 6 shall be disposed of. Ad-
journed.
Thursday, Ftb.l7-The day was again spent
on the legislature report The main question
disposed Of was Mr.. Medill's plan of minority
representation which, after q spirited discussion
| WA adontad Tho section IL ahovo ......p