As a state senator in 1848, Helm had voted to allow the state's citizens to decide the matter in a referendum, but after seeing the document produced by the constitutional convention, he opposed its ratification.
1848年担任州参议员时，赫姆曾投票支持该州公民通过全民公决来决定这个问题，但在看过制宪会议所制订的文稿后，他反对将之批准。