call of a convention to alter and amend the constitution of the State. 93. Calling Convention Oftener Than Once in Twelve Years (December 13, 1843). Introduced in the House on December 13, 1843, by Joseph Chapman, and rejected. [House Journal, Twenty-eighth Session, 110.] Resolved, That the judiciary committee be requested to enquire into the constitutionality of the legislature of the State of Indiana, calling a convention for the purpose of amending or altering the constitution of the State at any other time than once in every twelve years. 94. Calling a Constitutional Convention (January 10, 1844). Submitted to the House on January 10, 1844, by Joseph Chapman; advanced to second reading and laid on the table on January 11, by a vote of 57-33. Only the title of this bill has been preserved. [House Journal, Twenty-eighth Session, 467.] A bill to authorize the qualified voters of this State to vote for or against a convention for a revision of the constitution of this State. 95. Biennial Sessions, Resolution of Inquiry (December 10, 1844). [Twenty-ninth Session, 1844-45. James Whitcomb, Governor, Democrat. The Indiana State Journal of November 9, 1844, gives the following political classification of the 29th General Assembly: Senate 25 Whigs, 25 Democrats; House-55 Whigs, 45 Democrats. The Indiana State Sentinel of August 15, 1844, gives: Senate 25 Whigs, 25 Democrats; House-53 Whigs, 46 Democrats.] Introduced in the House on December 10, 1844, by Thomas L. Sullivan (Whig); referred to a committee of three Whigs for consideration; on December 11, the committee reported a bill and recommended its passage; on December 16, the bill was considered and referred to the Judiciary Committee (4 Whigs and 3 Democrats); on December 23, the Judiciary Committee reported the bill back to the House and recommended its passage. An unsuccessful attempt, lost by a vote of 40-49, was made to recommit the bill to the Judiciary Committee with instructions to amend so as "to submit the isolated question of biennial sessions of the General Assembly, and not interfere with any other constitutional provisions, and that the time of meeting of the General Assembly to be on the 1st of January, and that all elections shall be viva voce." (Opposed to amendment, 18 Democrats and 22 Whigs; in favor of amendment, 23 Democrats and 30 Whigs.) A second proposed amendment designed to provide for triennial sessions of the legislature was lost. The bill was then recommitted to the Committee on Judiciary with instructions to strike out the preamble and that part of the first section which referred to certain provisions set forth in the preamble. title to this bill is preserved. [House Journal, Twenty-ninth Session 86.] Only the A bill authorizing a convention to be called to alter, change, or amend the constitution. 96. Biennial Sessions (December 5, 1845). [Thirtieth Session, 1845-46. James Whitcomb, Governor, Democrat. Senate- (Indiana State The following resolution was introduced in the Senate on December 5, 1845, by Ambrose D. Hamrick (Whig) and adopted. [Senate Journal, Thirtieth Session, 45.] Resolved, That a select committee be appointed to enquire into the expediency of calling a convention so to amend the State Constitution as to allow the State legislature to meet but once in two years. On December 6, a committee of three was appointed (2 Democrats and 1 Whig); on December 12, the committee reported a bill; on December 15, the bill was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary (7 Whigs and 4 Democrats); on December 29, the Committee recommended indefinite postponement; on January 12, 1845, the bill was advanced to engrossment by a vote of 24-22; (in favor of advancement-17 Democrats and 7 Whigs; opposed-6 Democrats and 16 Whigs); on January 13, the bill passed by a vote of 30-14; (19 Democrats and 11 Whigs in favor, and 4 Democrats and 10 Whigs opposed); on January 17, the bill was laid on the table by the House. Only the title of the bill has been preserved. [Senate Journal, Thirtieth Session, 76.] A bill to authorize the qualified voters of this State to vote for or against the calling of a convention for a revision of the Constitution of this State. 97. Calling a Constitutional Convention (January 19, 1846). The following resolution introduced by Henry Secrist (Democrat), was adopted by the House on December 10, 1845. [House Journal, Thirtieth Session, 100.] Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to report a bill providing for taking the sense of the qualified voters of this State, at the next annual election, for and against calling a convention for an amendment of the Constitution of this State. On December 15, the committee reported a bill, which passed the House call of a convention to alter and amend the constitutic State. 93. Calling Convention Oftener Than Once in Twelve Yearber 13, 1843). Introduced in the House on December 13, 1843, by Joseph and rejected. [House Journal, Twenty-eighth Session, 110.) Resolved, That the judiciary committee be request quire into the constitutionality of the legislature of the Indiana, calling a convention for the purpose of amendin ing the constitution of the State at any other time tha every twelve years. 94. Calling a Constitutional Convention (January 10, 18 Submitted to the House on January 10, 1844, by Joseph advanced to second reading and laid on the table on January 11. 57-33. Only the title of this bill has been preserved. [House Journal, Twenty-eighth Session, 467. A bill to authorize the qualified voters of this State to vote [ a convention for a revision of the constitution of this State. 95. Biennial Sessions, Resolution of Inquiry (December [Twenty-ninth Session, 1844-45. James Whitcomb, Govern Introduced in the House on December 10, 1844, by Thom (Whig); referred to a committee of three Whigs for consideratio ber 11, the committee reported a bill and recommended its pacember 16, the bill was considered and referred to the Judicia (4 Whigs and 3 Democrats); on December 23, the Judiciar reported the bill back to the House and recommended its pas successful attempt, lost by a vote of 40-49, was made to reco to the Judiciary Committee with instructions to amend so as isolated question of biennial sessions of the General Assen interfere with any other constitutional provisions, and that th ing of the General Assembly to be on the 1st of January, and tions shall be viva voce." (Opposed to amendment, 18 Den Whigs; in favor of amendment, 23 Democrats and 30 Whigs.) posed amendment designed to provide for triennial sessions of was lost. The bill was then recommitted to the Committee on December 18 and the Senate on January 17, 1846, by a vote of 31-14. (19 Democrats and 12 Whigs in favor; 4 Democrats and 10 Whigs opposed.) See Appendix V. [Laws, Thirtieth Session, 97.] AN ACT to provide for taking the sense of the qualified voters of the State on the calling a Convention, to alter, revise, or amend the Constitution of this State. Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That it shall be the duty of the inspectors and judges of elections, in the several townships within each county in this State, at the annual election in August next, to open a poll in which shall be entered all the votes given for or against a convention to alter, revise, or amend the Constitution of this State. Sec. 2. Every qualified voter of this State may, if he choose, at the annual election in August next, vote for or against the calling of a convention for the purpose mentioned in the first section of this act. Sec. 3. If such voter shall be in favor of a convention, he shall write or print, or partly write and partly print on the same ballot with which he votes for State or county officers, the words, "for a convention; if against a convention, he shall in the same manner have the words "against a convention," on his ballot as aforesaid. Sec. 4. It is hereby made the duty of the inspectors and judges of elections, to certify the votes given for and against a convention, to the clerks of the circuit courts, respectively, in the same way and manner, and under the same restrictions and penalties, that votes for State and county officers are certified. Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the clerks of the circuit courts, throughout this State, to certify and make returns of all the votes given for and against a convention, to the Secretary of State, in the same way and manner that votes given for Governor and Lieutenant Governor are required by law to be certified: and they shall be subject to the same penalties for a neglect of duty. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to lay before the next General Assembly, on the second Monday of December next, all the returns by him received pursuant to the provisions of this act. Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the several sheriffs of this State, to give six weeks' public notice, in a newspaper, if one be published in his county; if not, by written notices in each township of his county, that there will be a poll opened for the purposes specified in this act. Approved, January 19, 1846. |