was then rejected by a vote of 4-25. A substitute was then proposed instructing the Judiciary Committee "to inquire into the expediency'' of authorizing the qualified electors to vote at the August election of 1832 on the question of calling a convention to amend the Constitution to provide for biennial sessions and to transfer cases of impeachment to the circuit courts, but was rejected by a vote of 11-18.78 At the 17th session only one constitutional measure was under consideration. On January 22, 1833, a resolution was introduced in the House instructng the Judiciary Committee "to inquire into the expediency" of authorizing the qualified electors to vote at the August election of 1833 on the question of calling a constitutional convention to revise the Constitution. By the same measure, "certain sections" of the Constitution "that ought to be revised" together with "the proposed amendments' were recommended to the people. These amendments included the biennial election of representatives and the quadrennial election of senators; the election of the Governor for a term of 4 years, rendering him ineligible to serve longer than 8 years out of any 10 years; abolishing the office of associate judge; extending the term. of justices of the peace to 7 years, and constituting them a county court to transact all county business; substituting voting viva voce for voting by ballot; providing for the application of all military exemption funds and fines to the support of common schools instead of the support of county seminaries; and consolidating the offices of clerk and recorder in all counties. The resolution was rejected at once without a vote.79 At the 18th session, the only constitutional measure under consideration was a resolution of instructions, introduced in the House on December 23, 1833, directing the Judiciary Committee "to inquire into the expediency' of authorizing the qualified electors to vote at the August election of 1833 on the question of calling a constitutional convention. On December 28th, the committee submitted an unfavorable report, and although an attempt was made to submit the resolution to a select committee with instructions to return a favorable report, the House was indisposed to continue the consideration of the measure.80 78. See p. 147. A proposed amendment to the substitute resolution authorizing the electors to "express their opinion as to the propriety of so amending the constitution as to give to Indians the rights and privileges of citizens" was rejected by consent. Senate Journal, 16th Session, 148. ment of minor officers from the senate to the circuit courts. On December 21, the resolution was adopted by a vote of 41-17 after it had been amended to instruct the Committee on Elections "to inquire into the expediency" of reporting the contemplated bill, and in addition to the two amendments designated, the convention when met was "to make such other amendments as may be deemed necessary." A month later, on January 22, the committee reported that in their opinion it would be inexpedient to legislate upon the question at that time and the consideration of the resolution was accordingly discontinued.73 On December 22, the day following the adoption of the House resolution,74 a resolution was introduced in the Senate reviving the plan of submitting drafted amendments to the people and providing for their subsequent incorporation in the Constitution. This resolution met with scant favor and was promptly rejected by a vote of 9-13.75 On January 23, the day following the final rejection of the House resolution, a bill was introduced in that Chamber providing for a revision of the Constitution; an attempt to indefinitely postpone the bill was lost by a vote of 25-32; on January 29, the consideration of the bill was discontinued, and on December 13, 1830, at the beginning of the 15th session, the bill was reported as unfinished business, and on recommendation of the Judiciary Committee it was laid on the table.76 The only constitutional measure considered at the 15th session was the proposal to authorize the electors to vote on the proposition of constituting the General Assembly of 1831-2 a convention for the purpose of amending the Constitution to confer the power of impeachment on circuit courts and providing for biennial sessions of the General Assembly except in cases of emergency, which was rejected by a vote of 10-11.77 At the 16th session, on December 27, 1831, the resolution which had been proposed and rejected at the 14th session, providing for the submission of pre-drafted amendments to the electors, was again brought forward. An attempt was made to amend this resolution to instruct the Committee "to inquire into the constitutionality and expediency" of making the proposed amendments, but the motion was rejected by a vote of 12-17. The original resolution 76. 77. House Journal, 14th Session, 435 and 540; 15th Session, 85, 86 and 117. was then rejected by a vote of 4-25. A substitute was then proposed instructing the Judiciary Committee "to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the qualified electors to vote at the August election of 1832 on the question of calling a convention to amend the Constitution to provide for biennial sessions and to transfer cases of impeachment to the circuit courts, but was rejected by a vote of 11-18.78 At the 17th session only one constitutional measure was under consideration. On January 22, 1833, a resolution was introduced in the House instructng the Judiciary Committee "to inquire into the expediency" of authorizing the qualified electors to vote at the August election of 1833 on the question of calling a constitutional convention to revise the Constitution. By the same measure, certain sections" of the Constitution "that ought to be revised" together with "the proposed amendments" were recommended to the people. These amendments included the biennial election of representatives and the quadrennial election of senators; the election of the Governor for a term of 4 years, rendering him ineligible to serve longer than 8 years out of any 10 years; abolishing the office of associate judge; extending the term of justices of the peace to 7 years, and constituting them a county court to transact all county business; substituting voting viva voce for voting by ballot; providing for the application of all military exemption funds and fines to the support of common schools instead of the support of county seminaries; and consolidating the offices of clerk and recorder in all counties. The resolution was rejected at once without a vote.79 At the 18th session, the only constitutional measure under consideration was a resolution of instructions, introduced in the House on December 23, 1833, directing the Judiciary Committee "to inquire into the expediency" of authorizing the qualified electors to vote at the August election of 1833 on the question of calling a constitutional convention. On December 28th, the committee submitted an unfavorable report, and although an attempt was made to submit the resolution to a select committee with instructions to return a favorable report, the House was indisposed to continue the consideration of the measure. 80 78. See p. 147. A proposed amendment to the substitute resolution authorizing the electors to "express their opinion as to the propriety of so amending the constirution as to give to Indians the rights and privileges of citizens" was rejected by consent. Senate Journal, 16th Session, 148. 79. House Journal, 17th Session, 467. 80. House Journal, 18th Session, 156, and 207. 73 ment of minor officers from the senate to the circuit courts. On December 21, the resolution was adopted by a vote of 41-17 after it had been amended to instruct the Committee on Elections to inquire into the expediency" of reporting the contemplated bill, and in addition to the two amendments designated, the convention when met was "to make such other amendments as may be deemed necessary." A month later, on January 22, the committee reported that in their opinion it would be inexpedient to legislate upon the question at that time and the consideration of the resolution was accordingly discontinued. On December 22, the day following the adoption of the House resolution,74 a resolution was introduced in the Senate reviving the plan of submitting drafted amendments to the people and providing for their subsequent incorporation in the Constitution. This resolution met with scant favor and was promptly rejected by a vote of 9-13.75 On January 23, the day following the final rejection of the House resolution, a bill was introduced in that Chamber providing for a revision of the Constitution; an attempt to indefinitely postpone the bill was lost by a vote of 25-32; on January 29, the consideration of the bill was discontinued, and on December 13, 1830, at the beginning of the 15th session, the bill was reported as unfinished business, and on recommendation of the Judiciary Committee it was laid on the table.76 The only constitutional measure considered at the 15th session was the proposal to authorize the electors to vote on the proposition of constituting the General Assembly of 1831-2 a convention for the purpose of amending the Constitution to confer the power of impeachment on circuit courts and providing for biennial sessions of the General Assembly except in cases of emergency, which was rejected by a vote of 10-11.77 At the 16th session, on December 27, 1831, the resolution which had been proposed and rejected at the 14th session, providing for the submission of pre-drafted amendments to the electors, was again brought forward. An attempt was made to amend this resolution to instruct the Committee "to inquire into the constitutionality and expediency" of making the proposed amendments, but the motion was rejected by a vote of 12-17. The original resolution 76. 77. House Journal, 14th Session, 435 and 540; 15th Session, 85, 86 and 117. was then rejected by a vote of 4-25. A substitute was then proposed instructing the Judiciary Committee "to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the qualified electors to vote at the August election of 1832 on the question of calling a convention to amend the Constitution to provide for biennial sessions and to transfer cases of impeachment to the circuit courts, but was rejected by a vote of 11-18.78 At the 17th session only one constitutional measure was under consideration. On January 22, 1833, a resolution was introduced in the House instructng the Judiciary Committee "to inquire into the expediency" of authorizing the qualified electors to vote at the August election of 1833 on the question of calling a constitutional convention to revise the Constitution. By the same measure, "certain sections" of the Constitution "that ought to be revised" together with "the proposed amendments" were recommended to the people. These amendments included the biennial election of representatives and the quadrennial election of senators; the election of the Governor for a term of 4 years, rendering him ineligible to serve longer than 8 years out of any 10 years; abolishing the office of associate judge; extending the term of justices of the peace to 7 years, and constituting them a county court to transact all county business; substituting voting viva voce for voting by ballot; providing for the application of all military exemption funds and fines to the support of common schools instead of the support of county seminaries; and consolidating the offices of clerk and recorder in all counties. The resolution was rejected at once without a vote.79 At the 18th session, the only constitutional measure under consideration was a resolution of instructions, introduced in the House on December 23, 1833, directing the Judiciary Committee "to inquire into the expediency" of authorizing the qualified elec tors to vote at the August election of 1833 on the question of calling a constitutional convention. On December 28th, the committee submitted an unfavorable report, and although an attempt was made to submit the resolution to a select committee with instructions to return a favorable report, the House was ind.-posed to continue the consideration of the measure 35 78. See p. 147. A proposed amendment to the substitute resolution a TOINE the electors to "express their opinion as to the propriety of wo amending the conRTS. tion as to give to Indians the rights and privileges of citizenman” sent. Senate Journal, 16th Session 148. |