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[December 21, 1846]

MADISON, Tuesday evening, December 15, 1846

We have at last the finishing labors of the Wisconsin constitutional convention, and meager enough is the history of its last moments. But one business session has been held since Saturday, and the principal proceedings then were the adoption of the resolution allowing $4 a day to the assistant clerks, and raising the pay of members and the inferior officers to $2.50 from the third of November last, when a cash payment was made by the territorial treasurer. This proposition of raising the pay of members was offered by Mr. Chase of your county and first made for $3 a day accompanied by a preamble reciting that the scrip to be issued for payment of arrearages was at a discount of twenty-five per cent and the time of redemption uncertain. This was debated by Mr. Ryan, J. Y. Smith, and Mr. Judd in opposition, and by W. R. Smith, H. Chase, and Mr. Magone in support. It was argued in favor that the legislature had no power to fix the compensation of the convention, and the reason why members declined to do this act of justice to themselves was a fear of their popularity among the people. But even admitting the authority of the law, it was only justice to make good to the members the amount specified in it, and, if they were to be paid in a depreciated paper, the loss should fall on the territory and not on those. who had spent their time and given their services here. On the other side it was contended that the election of delegates was had under an implied contract on the part of the candidates to receive only $2 a day, and in good faith they were bound to appropriate only that amount. The treasurer, moreover, had no authority to pay more than the law specified, and if more was appropriated, the convention should provide the means to meet it. The motion to pay $3 was lost-40 to 37-and $2.50 carried by 39 to 38.

Mr. Noggle attempted to get up the reconsideration of the northwestern boundary but was declared out of order.

One hundred dollars was voted to each of the chaplains for services during the session.

A. Hyatt Smith offered a resolution to adjourn sine die Wednesday morning at eight o'clock, which was adopted, and thus closed at Monday noon the business of the convention, although two days' pay is to be drawn thereafter. Meanwhile the scrip had been distributed to the members, and three-quarters or more are now on the way home.

This morning the convention met or attempted to meet at the usual hour, but there were only eleven members present, and an adjournment was had till tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, when, unless the residents of the village be called in to fill up the seats, the President's valedictory will be delivered to as formidable "an array of empty boxes" as ever greeted the appearance of a broken-down stock actor on a benefit night.

[December 22, 1846]

MADISON, Thursday evening, December 17, 1846 The final adjournment was had yesterday morning at eight o'clock. About twenty-five members were present and the proceedings were as brief as [they were] uninteresting. Mr. Jenkins presented a protest against the increase of the pay of the members. The committee of revision reported the constitution correctly enrolled, and General Smith offered a complimentary resolution for the "able, faithful, and impartial manner" in which the President had discharged his duty. (It has been customary, heretofore, for a member of the minority to do this, but whether this rule was departed from in the present instance because no Whig was willing so far to play the hypocrite I cannot tell, but perhaps the Chair will explain.) To this the President responded in the usual style, when the convention adjourned sine die in time to allow the attendants to take the morning stages, and draw a day's pay for the members and the whole list of absentees.

Thus terminated the existence of a body which, commencing as a party assemblage, continued throughout in turbulence and faction, and whose labors at last failed to receive the sanction of a very large proportion of its members-a body in which the indecision of its presiding officer has given an unrestrained license to the outbreaks of anger, the bickerings of jealousy, and a disgraceful trifling with legislative decorum and propriety-a body in which almost every question has been decided with reference to ulterior views and selfish designs-a body whose session has been protracted by its quarrels far beyond the most ample time necessary for the transaction of its business-in short, a body without elevation of purpose, consistency, or fairness of action, or dignity of deportment, which never was respected by the people, and whose death has given the greatest satisfaction it has ever caused.

P. S. Public business thus disposed of, now for a treat of personal matters.

Visiting the room of the Secretary of the convention in the early part of the evening, today, I found there Mr. Upham, the president of the convention, in company with the Secretary and two assistants. Soon after entering I was accosted very angrily by Mr. Upham with a demand whether I was the writer of the letters in the Sentinel and Gazette, and, on my question for what purpose he made the demand, he continued (increasing his demonstrations of anger) that they were outrageously abusive, and as we were strangers to each other, demanded why I thus treated him. I replied that they related to his public conduct, when he rejoined that they were personal and outrageous, and if it were not for my size (being, by the way, of small stature, while he is very large and athletic) he would thrash me outrageously. Having thus declared himself, he came to me and struck me in the face while sitting in a chair, and immediately stepped back. On my rising and remarking that my size need not deter him from completing his wishes, and that if he thought by such an act as he had just committed he would benefit his character as a man or a public officer he was welcome to all he could make out of it, he replied he had insulted "me" and should attend to my "masters" when he got home.

So the spirit of bullyism is "progressive" and ascending. Heretofore, it has been confined to the members. Now it breaks out between the President and the reporters. Well, so be it; if the blow given me establishes the falsity of the facts reported, or controverts the inferences drawn from them, then the President stands before the people vindicated from my reports; but if he has only added a violent outbreak of passion and confirmed the truth of my charges, then he may credit himself with such an involuntary testimony to the force and effect of my strictures.

LETTERS TO THE PLATTEVILLE INDEPENDENT

AMERICAN

[October 23, 1846]

MADISON, October 15, 1846

It is said that large bodies move slowly, and the present convention, I fear, before the adjournment will be a notable example of the truth of the adage.

The convention has already been engaged some four days in the consideration of the article reported by the majority of the committee on banks and banking and the substitutes and amendments thereto.

The article reported by the majority of the committee prohibits the incorporation of any bank in this state and provides that any person exercising any banking powers in this state shall be punished by fine not less than ten thousand dollars and imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than five years. And also prohibits under a penalty of five hundred dollars or imprisonment of three months the passing of any bill of any banking institution within this state.

The substitute to the article reported by the majority of the committee, offered by W. R. Smith of Iowa, simply prohibits the legislature creating any banking institution in this state.

Mr. Hicks of Grant offered an amendment to the substitute of Mr. Smith of Iowa prohibiting the incorporation of any bank within this state, and the passing of any paper money, bank note, promissory note, treasury note, certificate of deposit, or other evidence of debt intended to circulate as money, issued either within or out of this state, and provides that a violation shall be punished by a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment not less than two years nor more than ten years. Upon these three propositions some four days have been spent by the convention at an expense of some $1,200 to the taxpayers.

Under the amendment of Mr. Hicks it seems questionable whether the president of the United States and the secretary of the treasury of the United States (if the amendment could be enforced) might not become inmates of the penitentiary. There have been some thirty speeches made upon these various propositions, some confined to the question, some evidently and purposely made for buncombe. The amendment of Mr. Hicks has been voted down by about 100 to 15, a few minutes since, and Mr. Baker of Walworth has just

introduced another amendment intended as a substitute for all the propositions before the convention. It prohibits any banking in this state, and I am inclined to think will meet with general approbation by the convention. It is believed that this bank question will act as a kind of safety valve and save a great many speeches upon other questions. Heaven grant it may be so!

Mr. Strong of Iowa this morning called up his resolution to adjourn, and after an amendment by inserting as the day of adjournment Monday, the second day of November, moved the adoption of the resolution; but it was almost unanimously voted down.

There is quite a seditious spirit among the Democrats. They have applied all kinds of epithets to each division-"hards," "softs," Old Hunkers, Young Democrats, Tadpoles, and Crawfish Democrats.

There has been some very spirited sparring between Ryan and Strong on the one side, and General Smith of Iowa on the other side. The General wields the brighter armor and seems a Saladin against his opponents, and in the tilts and tournaments thus far has afforded great amusement to the convention by shivering the lances of all who enter the jousts. It is thought a final vote may be reached this night-doubtful-if reached this week. The convention is numerous and composed of such materials that the attempt to put them in leading strings, to move at the beck of any leader, has utterly failed, and it has become a "fixed fact" that the real Democrats, the farmers and mechanics, will do what they believe right, regardless of any leaders.

Yours, etc.

X

MADISON, October 17, 1846

From the best information I can gather I am inclined to believe that the right of suffrage will be given to all aliens within the state at the time of the adoption of the constitution, upon their filing their declaration to become citizens of the United States and taking an oath of allegiance to this and the United States.

There is a spirit of radicalism and ultraism in the convention, if not alarming, at least well calculated to excite suspicion.

In reference to the judiciary there is quite a diversity of opinion, and some, if not a majority, of the able men in the convention will

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