this State," approved January 15, 1849, a poll was opened at the annual election held in August last, at the places of holding elections in the several counties of this State, and from the returns made to the office of Secretary of State, as required by the act referred to, it appears that there were cast at said election, in favor of calling a convention, 81,500 votes, and against it 57,418 votes. The total vote of the State for Governor is 147,250; the total vote of the State, 149,774 (in this latter statement the vote of Fayette county for Governor is included, the total vote of that county not having been returned), showing a majority of 6,612 votes in favor of a call for a convention, over all the votes cast at that election. The duty of the present General Assembly is plain; it will become necessary to provide by law for districting the State, with a view to the election of delegates to that convention; to determine the number of delegates which shall compose that body, and the time of holding the same. It is most respectfully suggested that, in the discharge of this important duty, the members of the General Assembly should divest themselves of all party predilections, and make such an apportionment as will insure to the people of the State, irrespective of parties, a full and fair representation in that body. This being done, a great initiative step is taken, which will tend as much as any other to predispose the people of the State to adopt the new Constitution which the convention may present to them for their ratification. Whilst upon this subject it is proper to say, that it will be necessary to levy an additional tax, to defray the expenses of the convention the amount necessary will depend much upon the length of the present session of the General Assembly. In all probability the organic laws of the State will undergo, in the course of the ensuing year, many material alterations, which will at once suggest the propriety of passing but few general laws, inasmuch as they may become inconsistent or inoperative under the new organization of the State government. Special legislation is a growing evil which has attracted much attention amongst the masses of the people, and to which much well founded opposition exists in the public mind. Indeed, it has for years past engaged full three-fourths of the time of the General Assembly, to the exclusion (from their due consideration) of many other questions of great importance to the people of the State. It has also occasioned a corresponding proportion of the expenses of our legislation. To avoid this evil, I earnestly recommend to you the enactment of such general laws as will confer up on the proper subordinate tribunals of the country, the requisite power to adjust all such questions as are properly and exclusively the subjects of special enactments. If this course is deemed impolitic, I trust that such provision will be made in the contemplated new constitution, as will effectually prevent it. 124. Providing for a Convention (January 18, 1850). Introduced in the Senate on December 4, 1849, by Frank P. Randall (Democrat), and referred to a select committee of 10 (6 Democrats and 4 Whigs); reported back from committee on December 14 with several amendments and the recommendation that the bill do pass. In the course of its consideration by the committee and by the Senate, the following amendments were proposed, considered and either adopted or rejected: Changing the date of the election of delegates from the first Monday in April to the first Monday in August. Adopted. The committee recommended that the membership of the convention should consist of "two delegates from each Senatorial district of this State, as the same is now districted." On the floor of the Senate the following provisions were suggested: That the membership of the convention should consist of "a number of delegates in each Senatorial district, equal to the number of Senators and Representatives to which each of said districts is entitled in the year 1850, to be elected by said Senatorial districts." Laid on the table. "To provide one instead of two delegates from each Senatorial district." Laid on the table by a vote of 36-12. To "make a fair and equitable apportionment among the respective counties of the State, not to amount in the aggregate to a greater number than one hundred delegates." Laid on the table. "That each county have one delegate, and each county with 1,700 polls, adopting the vote of November, 1848, at the presidential election as a basis, two delegates, and every fraction of 700 over two thousand, three delegates, and every fraction of 700 over three thousand, four delegates." Laid on the table. "That each county shall elect one delegate, and Senatorial districts shall elect one delegate." Laid on the table by a vote of 25-23. "That the representation shall be equal in numbers to the House of Representatives as the same shall be represented in 1850." Laid on the table. "One delegate for each and every one thousand votes, and an additional number for every surplus of 700 votes, taken by Senatorial districts, and based upon the Presidential vote of 1848; total number, 140 delegates." Laid on the table by a vote of 37-13. Provided, "That the district consisting of the counties of Clay, Vigo and Sullivan shall be entitled to three delegates; and the counties of Knox, Daviess, and Martin shall together be entitled to three delegates in said convention." Laid on the table. "Each county, which gave less than 1,500 votes at the Presidential election last past, shall be entitled to one delegate, and each county which, at said election, gave over 1,500 and less than 3,000 votes shall be entitled to two delegates, and each county which gave at said election, over 3,00 votes shall be entitled to three delegates." Laid on the table. "To make a fair and equitable apportionment among the respective counties of the State, not to amount, in the aggregate, to more than 150, nor less than 100 delegates." Rejected. "Provided that he (the delegate) shall have resided within the district one year next preceding said election." Laid on the table. "Provided, That each district having over 3,500 votes cast at the November election, 1848, be, and the same is entitled to three delegates; and each district having cast at said election over 5,000 votes, shall be entitled to four delegates." Laid on the table by a vote of 25-22. "That each Senatorial district that cast 4,000 votes at the last annual election shall be entitled to one additional member." Laid on the table by a vote of 29-17. "The number of delegates to said convention shall be equal to the number of representatives in the present General Assembly, and shall be elected in the same districts as they are now elected to the House of Representatives: Provided, however, That each county shall have one delegate to said convention." Laid on the table. "Each county to have one delegate, and each Senatorial district having over 3,000 voters an additional delegate, and if over 5,000, two additional delegates." Laid on the table by a vote of 31-15. The following proposed amendment was laid on the table by a vote of 30-16; "That the delegates to said convention shall be apportioned as follows, to-wit: "To district the State giving one delegate to each district; Provided, The whole number of delegates shall not exceed 130." Rejected by a vote of 9-38. "The said convention shall consist of delegates who shall be elected by the respective counties of this State as follows, to-wit: The county of Miami shall elect one delegate; The county of St. Joseph shall elect one delegate; The counties of Marshall and Fulton shall elect one delegate; The county of Vigo shall elect one delegate; The county of Sullivan shall elect one delegate; The county of Clay shall elect one delegate; The county of Lagrange shall elect one delegate; The county of Noble shall elect one delegate; The counties of Steuben and DeKalb shall elect one delegate; The county of Franklin shall elect two delegates; The county of Dearborn shall elect two delegates; The county of Randolph shall elect one delegate; The counties of Blackford and Jay shall elect one delegate; The county of Gibson shall elect one delegate; The counties of Pike and Dubois shall elect one delegate; The county of Washington shall elect two delegates; The county of Tippecanoe shall elect two delegates; The county of Allen shall elect one delegate; The counties of Adams and Wells shall elect one delegate; The county of Decatur shall elect two delegates; The county of Green shall elect one delegate; The county of Owen shall elect one delegate; The county of Marion shall elect two delegates; The counties of Cass, Pulaski, and Howard shall elect two delegates; The counties of Huntington and Whitley shall elect one delegate; The county of Vermillion shall elect one delegate; The county of Boone shall elect one delegate; The counties of Hamilton and Tipton shall elect one delegate; The county of Warrick shall elect one delegate; The counties of Perry and Spencer shall elect one delegate; The county of Putnam shall elect two delegates; The county of Johnson shall elect two delegates; The county of Warren shall elect one delegate; The counties of Benton, White, and Jasper shall elect one delegate; The county of Shelby shall elect two delegates; The county of Clark shall elect two delegates; The county of Montgomery shall elect two delegates; The county of Floyd shall elect two delegates; The county of Switzerland shall elect one delegate; The county of Laporte shall elect one delegate; and The counties of Porter and Lake shall elect one delegate. And all persons entitled to vote by this act, for delegates, shall be eligible to be elected to a seat in said convention." Laid on the table by a vote of 28-21. "That the delegates shall be elected by representative districts as apportioned for 1850, each district to be entitled to at least one delegate; districts that polled for President in 1848, 2,000 and less than 3,000, two dele |