Morning journal and courier., 1891-04-28
oun sTATE,s coNsrIrUTIoN,

| Professor Baldwin,s Sketch of Its torical Society-Election Laws-An
 Unenviable Distinction-Resolu ion | in Regard to Adjutant CampbeI1's l Monument. |
 At meeting of the Historical society | held last night paper was read by Presi- dent Simeon E. Baldwin on sThe History and Character of the Constitution of Con necticut" He spoke to large audience, in which were number of law students. His history was very complete, and evil dently represented an immense amount of of research and study. It would be i'm possible to give . sketch of it in a short space, but we append few facts of inter est:
 The second and last constitutional con- vention met in 1918 and compiled an original constitution, which was ratified by majority of 1,5O0. This constitution begins with 8 general bill of rights, in which toleration was sswrit large" The elective franchise was limited to free holders, taxpayers, or militia-men. The general assembly retained it's ancient CUdTdCLcI dS DOOJ SoWpO6Ou O1 upper house, representing the people at large, and large lower house, rep resenting the towns. An important | change was one requiring the ordi- nary debates in each house, hitherto held | with closed doors, to the public. As to l the gubernatorial election, the secretary of state, treasurer and comptroller were to ''canvass the returns and publish the name of the person having majority of the whole number of votes, who shall be declared to be elected. But if no person shall have a majority of the whole number | of votes returned, or if two or more shall have an equal and the highest number of votes, then the names of the two persons l shall be returned to the general as- l sembiy at the next session, and one of l them shall be declared governor by the joint ballot of both houses without debate. Contested elections for the gov ernor or lieutenant governor shall be de, termined by both houses of the general as- sembly in such manner as shall be pre- scribed by law"
 Professor Baldwin continued to give the l history of the constitution and it's amend | ments down to the present day, and closed
 with these significant words:
 "These figures tend to show that the
 plan of amending the constitution by g
 referendum to the people is less likely to
 secure their interest in the work than that
 of acting by their delegates in constitu-
 tional convention. There is no state in
 the Union but our own that has not held
 such convention since 1918. It is to be
 hoped that Connecticut will not much
 longer enjoy this unenviable distinction: Professor Baldwin was loudly applauded
 and many questions were brought up by
 different members. Ex-Mayor Lewis
 moved that the paper, together with Pro
 lessor Baldwin's preceding one. be printed
 for the benefit of the public, and the
 matter was referred to the publication
 committee.
 Rev. A. N. Lewis, chairman of the com
 mittee which has in charge the erection oi
 a monument to Adjutant Campbell, offered
 the following resolution which was unani
 mously passed:
 Resolved, That this society views with heart, l approval the propositionIto erect, by popula
 subscription, monument to Adjutant Camp | bell, who fell during the attack on New Haven | July 5, ITO.