CONVENTION

OF THE

STATE OF MICHIGAN.

HALL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,)

LANSING, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 1850.

In pursuance of the Act, approved March 9, 1850, providing "for the time, place, and manner of holding the Convention to Revise the Constitution," the Delegates assembled at the Capitol this day.

At 2 o'clock P. M., the Hon. CHARLES H. TAYLOR, Secretary of State, appeared and stated that he was present with the of ficial List of Delegates, with the exception of Shiawassee county, returns from which had not been received.

He then proceeded to call the List, and all the Delegates answered to their names, except JOHN B. GRAHAM, of Hillsdale, CrRUS LOVELL, of Ionia, EBENEZER DANIELS, of Lenawee, HIRAM HATHAWAY, of Macomb, LORENZO M. MASON and REUBEN B. DIMOND, of St. Clair, and JAMES M. ED MUNDS, of Washtenaw.

Hon. F. J. PREVOST, of Shiawassee, afterwards presented his credentials and

took his seat.

On motion of Mr. KINGSLEY,

other mode was proposed, the election would be proceeded with in the manner prescribed.

Mr. McCLELLAND said: Mr. President, it is unusual to vote for the election of the presiding officer, in a body like this, by ballot. I do not think the Legislature had power over this matter. So far as I know, bodies like this vote viva voce. in favor of it, and therefore move that we proceed to vote for President viva voce.

I am

Mr. WITHERELL said he did not think it absolutely necessary to go to the law for authority, but it might be a question of expediency. The law provides that the President shall be elected by ballot.

Mr. McCLELLAND--My object in making the motion was to save time. If there ISAAC E. CRARY, of Calhoun county, was is to be any discussion, I will withdraw the

appointed President pro tem.; and

On motion of Mr. HANSCOM, D. P. BUSHNELL, of Wayne, was appointed Secretary pro tem.

On motion of Mr. RAYNALE, DIODATE HUBBARD was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms, pro tem.

Mr. KINGSLEY moved that the Convention proceed to the election of a Presi

dent.

The CHAIR stated that the law provided that the election should be by ballot. He did not consider that provision of the act binding upon the Convention; but if no

motion.

Mr. J. D. PIERCE inquired if the constitution did not require a viva voce vote.

The CHAIR-Not in this case.

Mr. HANSCOM renewed the motion. The provision of the act had no power to bind the action of the convention. The Legislature (said Mr. H.,) might as well have gone on and dictated the mode of all our proceedings. He would prefer the mode of election usually adopted in such bodies as this.

Mr. ROBERTS said it appeared to him, if the motion were carried, the Convention

would be repudiating the action of the Le-ments of public service, with honor to themgislature before its organization was com- selves and usefulness to their fellow-citipleted. We may as well take a vote re-zens; and when I consider further the impudiating our own election.

Mr. McLEOD moved to lay the resolution on the table. Lost.

Mr. WITHERELL read the provision of law. He did not consider it binding on the Convention.

portance of the objects for which we are convened, I cannot but be impressed with deep sensibility for the distinguished honor conferred. The best requital which I can make will be in the devotion of my best powers to the faithful and impartial performance of the highly responsible duties of the station. This I shall endeavor to do in all sincerity. And though I do not bring to the task great familiarity with Parliamentary proceedings, yet with the aid (which I doubt not will be kindly and generously accorded) of the knowledge and experience that pervade this asssembly of representatives of enlightened and free ap-citizens, it is my hope that I shall be enabled so to fulfill it as to meet your appro

Mr. Redfield believed the law to be obligatory on the members. We cannot organize (said Mr. R.,) till we have complied with the provisions of law. When we have become organized we shall be in a different position.

The motion did not prevail, and the Convention proceeded to elect by ballot.

Messrs. STOREY, of Jackson county, and HANSCOM, of Oakland, having been pointed tellers, and the ballots having been counted, the following was the result: For DANIEL GOODWIN,

75

The PRESIDENT pro tem. announced that DANIEL GOODWIN, of Wayne county, having received the highest number of votes, was duly appointed President of the Convention.

bation.

In conclusion, allow me to express the fervent desire that our deliberations may be so guided by that All-Wise Being in whose hands are the destinies of States and Nations, that their results may tend to establish more firmly and permanently those benign principles of civil freedom and popular sovereignty upon which our institutions are based, and promote in the highest degree the prosperity of our State and the happiness of our people.

On motion of Mr. COOK, of Hillsdale county, it was

Resolved, That John SwEGLES, Jr., be and he is hereby appointed Secretary of

On motion of Mr. WHIPPLE, of Ber- this Convention. rien county,

A committee of two was ordered to be appointed to wait upon the President elect and conduct him to the chair.

The PRESIDENT pro tem. appointed Messrs WHIPPLE, of Berrien, and MCCLELLAND, of Monroe, such committee.

The PRESIDENT having taken the chair, addressed the Convention as follows: Gentlemen of the Convention:

I tender to you my sincere thanks for the flattering expression of your confidence in selecting me to preside over your deliberations upon this interesting occasion. When I look around this Hall and behold congregated here so much of ability, of intelligence, and of experience in public affairs-so many who have occupied various stations in different depart

Resolved further, That HORACE S. ROBERTS and CHARLES HASCALL be and they hereby are appointed Assistant Secretaries of this Convention.

Mr. HANSCOM offered a resolution, that the rules of the last House of Representatives be adopted, so far as they are applicable to the proceedings of this Convention, till otherwise ordered.

Mr. WITHERELL saw no necessity for the adoption of the resolution. It would be difficult to know what were applicable and what were not; a committee might be appointed that would shortly report rules which would be altogether applicable. There were probably not more than three members of the Convention who were in possession of the rules of the House.

Mr. HANSCOM contended that the

Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed to prepare rules for the government of this Convention in its proceedings. Adopted.

Messrs. KINGSLEY, BRITAIN, MCCLELLAND, TIFFANY, BACKUS, WALKER and HANSCOM were appointed such committee. Mr. CRARY offered the following: Resolved, That the President of this Convention appoint a door-keeper and four messengers.

Resolved, That the daily sessions of the Convention shall commence at ten o'clock, A. M., until otherwise ordered.

Mr. BUSH would prefer meeting at

Mr. FRALICK moved to strike out the nine. words "door-keeper and."

Mr. CRARY wished the gentleman to explain whether he did not think the Chair competent to appoint, or whether he considered a door-keeper unnecessary. Mr. C. said, it is necessary that we should have somebody to take care of the House, and clean the room, so that we may sit here in health and comfort. It is not the duty of the sergeant-at-arms or the messengers-it has usually been done by the fireman; but as the weather will probably be so warm that we shall not need fires, it would be more proper to appoint a person as door-keeper with instructions to attend to those duties.

Mr. FRALICK—The office is unnecessary. There is one more secretary appointed than is necessary.

Mr. CRARY-The secretary will not sweep the floor.

Mr. FRALICK-Perhaps not-we have been elected here because the taxes are too high. The law that called the Convention says nothing about a door-keeper. Under that we have no authority to appoint.

Mr. WITHERELL expressed his opinion to be in favor of the appointment.Adopted.

Mr. MCCLELLAND offered the following:

Resolved, That a committee of nine be appointed by the President, to report the best

Mr. COOK accepted the suggestion, and the resolution was adopted.

Mr. HASCALL offered a resolution that the members of the Convention go into a. draft for their respective seats.

Mr. CLARK said there were a number of gentlemen of the Convention who should have seats, and cannot find any. How those gentlemen who had seats had obtainthem, was a mystery to him. He thought it would be most proper to distribute them by draft.

Mr. HANSCOM said the law of the state provided against lotteries. He considered the proposition of the gentlemen from Kalamazoo a species of gambling to which he had most serious objections.

Mr. DIMOND asked for the ayes and noes, which were ordered, and the motion was negatived.

Mr. BRITAIN offered the following: Resolved, That the State Printer be instructed to forward, by mail, one copy of the daily journal to the publishers of each newspaper published in the state, during the session of the Convention.

Mr. B. said the object of the resolution was to get the proceedings of the convention placed in the hands of the people at as little expense as possible. The journals would be republished in the newspapers. The sending of journals by members was done at an expense of time which could be devoted to more useful purposes. Carried.

A resolution was offered requiring the Sergeant-at-Arms to furnish the members of the Convention with stationery.

Mr. EATON thought it would be like requiring a constable to pay the cost of a

suit.

Mr. BUSH inquired if it was not required by provisions of law that the Secretary of State should furnish stationery to the members of the Convention.

The resolution was withdrawn. Mr. STOREY offered the following: Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to inquire into the propriety of procuring the services of three reporters to report the proceedings and debates of this Convention. Adopted.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD offered the following:

printed, with the Constitution of the State, &c., and such information as is embraced in the manual of the Legislature of 1850. On motion of Mr. WITHERELL, the resolution was laid on the table.

On motion of Mr. WHITE,

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the chair to furnish the members of the convention with stationery.

Mr. COOK moved to amend by adding not exceeding in value five dollars to each member.

On motion of Mr. HANSCOM, the resolution and amendment were laid on the table.

On motion of Mr. J. D. PIERCE, the Convention adjourned.

TUESDAY, (2d day,) June 4. The roll was called, the journal read and approved.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Convention be instructed to procure papers equal to one daily paper for each delegate, The PRESIDENT announced the folof such papers as each delegate shall di-lowing committees appointed under resolutions of yesterday:

rect.

Mr. J. D. PIERCE raised the question, whether there was any provision made by law for the payment of those papers. He believed there was no such provision made by law for such payment, and if not, the Secretary could not draw on the treasury for the funds.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD believed the members of the Convention were entitled to all the privileges of members of the Legisla

ture.

Mr. WITHERELL read the provision of the law in relation to the subject-it provides that the Convention may furnish for its own use such stationery as is necessary.

The resolution was not adopted.

Mr. HANSCOM offered a resolution that a committee of three be appointed to inquire what arrangements, if any, can be made in reference to postage.

Mr. WITHERELL moved to add that the committee further inquire into the propriety or means of furnishing newspapers

to members.

The amendment was accepted and the resolution adopted..

Messrs. HANSCOM, DANFORTH and BRITAIN were appointed such committee.

Mr. CROUSE offered a resolution instructing the committee on rules to procure the rules which shall be adopted, to be

Committee on resolution as to reporters-Messrs. STOREY, CHURCH and WELLS.

Committee on resolution as to mode of proceedings, &c.-Messrs. MCCLELLAND, CRARY, S. CLARK, TIFFANY, WILLIAMS, R. ROBINSON, WHITTEMORE, WALKER and WITHERELL.

Mr. VAN VALKENBURG offered the following;

Resolved, That a committee of two be appointed to invite the resident clergymen of this place to meet with us alternately, and open our daily sessions with devotional exercises.

Mr. ROBERTS moved to lay the resolution on the table, which motion did not prevail; and the question being on its adoption,

Mr. VAN VALKENBURG said, I of fered this resolution, Mr. President, in the confident hope it would find a ready response in the bosom of every member of this Convention. The business which has assembled us here is of the most vital interest to the citizens of our State and to the permanency of our free institutions. On an occasion of this kind it appears to me, Mr. President, that we need pre-eminently, as your honor observed yesterday, the direction of that All-Wise Being who guides the destinies of States and of Nations. There are many upon this floor,