would be within their reach. He did not understand how this convention could take security of a contractor. To whom was the bond to run? By whom was it to be prosecuted in case of a failure? The contractor might, after a short trial, conclude that he had a hard bargain and refuse to proceed further, and where would be the remedy? When the convention had finally adjourned, it would no longer have an existence in law or in fact, and of course would have no power to prosecute for a breach of contract. Mr. JUDD advocated the letting of the printing to the lowest bidder, as throwing it open to free competition, and applying the true democratical, instead of the aristocratical, principle to this branch of public patronage. The present was an age of progression, and as we were building up a state government from the foundation, we should commence aright. Congress and several state legislatures 'had adopted the principle of letting out the public printing to the lowest bidder, after long trials of the other mode. He hoped it would now be adopted by the convention. Mr. CASTLEMAN should vote against the amendment of the gentleman from Racine. The convention had declared, as he believed, in favor of letting out the printing to the lowest bidder, and he wished to see that course adopted by the convention; and should therefore vote against any other proposition for disposing of the printing until that one was disposed of. Mr. ROUNTREE thought the best proposition had not yet been submitted. He would prefer to elect a printer to do the incidental printing, and to let the journal to the lowest bidder. Mr. ESTABROOK had listened to the arguments pro and con, with the hope of getting some light on the subject and forming a correct opinion, and he was now in favor of the amendment of the gentleman from Racine. It was according to the usages of all legis lative bodies to elect their printers and pay them a fair compensa tion. Much had been said about getting the printing done at a fair price. If this was what gentlemen were desirous of getting at by letting out the printing by contract, he would refer them to the law calling the convention, which authorized them to elect the necessary officers, and also a printer, and to pay them a fair compensation; and he contended that there was no more necessity or propriety in letting out the printing to the lowest bidder, than there was in letting out the other offices in the same way. He thought it was too late now to adopt this method; for if adopted at all, it should have been adopted in the outset, and all the offices let out to the lowest bidder. He had no doubt that by that course officers might have been procured for one dollar per day. The printing had been tompared to building a barn, and it had been argued that it should be let out by contract to the lowest bidder, on the same principle. He thought it was more like "barnburning" than barn-building. It might be compared to employing a physician. If a man's wife was very sick, he should, upon the same principle, receive proposals from all the physicians, and let out the curing of his wife to the lowest bidder. (Great merriment and cheering.) Mr. E. went on to explain the reason why the convention was so averse to an election of printer. There were two presses of the same professed politics here, and members were afraid if they voted against either one of them, that one would say something naughty about them. For his own part, he had no such fears. He had an opinion of his own, and was ready to express it by his vote if he could get an opportunity. The question was then put on the adoption of the amendment of Mr. LOVELL, and was decided in the negative. And the ayes and noes having been called for and ordered, Those who voted in the affirmative, were Messrs. Bishop, Case, A. G. Cole, Dunn, Estabrook, Fagan, Fenton, Folts, Fox, Gifford, Harrington, Jackson, King, Kinne, Latham, Lewis, Lovell, McClellan, Mulford, Nichols, Pentony, Prentiss, Mr. President, Root, Rountree, Scagel, Turner, and Wheeler,-28. Those who voted in the negative, were Messrs. Beall, Biggs, Carter, Castleman, Chase, O. Cole, Cotton, Davenport, Featherstonhaugh, Fitzgerald, Foote, Fowler, Gale, Harvey, Hollenbeck, Jones, Judd, Kilbourn, Lakin, Larrabee, Lyman, McDowell, O'Connor, Ramsey, Reymert, Reed, Richardson, Sanders, Scheffler, Secor, Steadman, Vanderpool, Ward, Warden, and Whiton,-35.2022 Mr. CASTLEMAN moved to amend the resolution by striking out all after the word "Resolved," and inserting: "That the secretary be and he is hereby instructed to receive sealed proposals from now till nine and a half o'clock A. M. on Monday morning next, for the incidental printing of this convention, and that he report the same to the convention at their first meeting there after. Provided, that no proposal shall be reported unless accompanied by security for the performance of the same in the time and manner proposed." Mr. BEALL accepted the amendment as a modification of his motion. Mr. LOVELL moved to amend the amendment by striking out all after "Resolved," and inserting: "That the convention proceed to the election by ballot of a printer to do the incidental printing of the convention, and that the journal of the convention be let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder, under such regulations as the convention shall provide." Mr. KILBOURN opposed the amendment. He said he came here virtually instructed to oppose all propositions to elect a printer, and to go for letting out the printing to the lowest bidder. He was opposed to all monopolies, and he considered 'the election of a printer the bestowing of a monopoly. The question was then put on the amendment, And was decided in the negative. And the ayes and noes having been called for and ordered, Messrs. Bishop, Case, A. G. Cole, Colley, Dunn, Eastabrook, Fagan, Fenton, Folts, Foote, Fox, Gifford, Jackson, Jones, King, Kinne. Latham, Lewis, Lovell, McClellan, Mulford, Nichols, Pentony, Prentiss, Mr. President, Root, Rountree, Scagel, Turner, and Wheeler,-30. Those who voted in the negative were Messrs. Beall, Biggs, Carter, Castleman, Chase, O. Cole, Cotton, Davenport, Featherstonhaugh, Fitzgerald, Fowler, Gale, Harrington, Harvey, Hollenbeck, Judd, Kilbourn, Lakin, Larrabee, Lyman, McDowell, O'Connor, Ramsey, Reymert, Reed, Richardson, Sanders, Schaeffler, Secor, Steadman, Vanderpool, Ward, Warden, and Whiton,-34. Mr. RICHARDSON moved that the convention adjourn; Which was disagreed to. Mr. KING moved to amend the resolution by striking out the word "incidental;" Which was disagreed to. And a division having been called for, There were 20 in the affirmative, and 26 in the negative. The question was then put on the adoption of the resolution, as amended, And was decided in the affirmative. And the ayes and noes having been called for and ordered, Messrs. Beall, Biggs, Carter, Castleman, Chase. O. Cole, Colley, Cotton, Davenport, Featherstonhaugh, Fitzgerald, Foote, Fowler, Gale, Harrington, Harvey, Jones, Judd, Kilbourn, Lakin, Larrabee, Lyman, McDowell, O'Connor, Ramsey, Reymert, Reed, Richardson, Rountree, Sanders, Scheffler, Secor, Steadınan, Vanderpool, Ward, Warden, and Whiton,-37. Those who voted in the negative were, Messrs. Bishop, Case, A. G. Cole, Dunn, Estabrook, Fagan, Fenton, Folts, Fox, Gifford, Hollenbeck, Jackson, King, Kinne, Latham, Lewis, Lovell, McClellan, Mulford, Nichols, Pentony, Prentiss, Mr. President, Root, Scagel, Turner, and Wheeler,-27. Mr. CARTER introduced the following resolution, to wit: Resolved, That the president be authorized to invite the Rev. Mr. READ, of this village, to preach in this room to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock." And the rule having been first suspended for that purpose, said resolution was adopted. On motion of Mr. MULFORD, The convention adjourned. MONDAY, December 20, 1847. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. LORD. The journal of Saturday was read and corrected. Mr. ROUNTREE presented the certificate of election of the Hon. WILLIAM H. KENNEDY, member elect from the counties of Sauk and Portage, and on his motion Mr. KENNEDY was admitted to his seat. Mr. FENTON presented the certificate of election of the Hon. GEORGE W. BROWNELL, member elect from the counties of St. Croix and La Pointe, and on his motion Mr. BROWNELL was admitted to his seat. The PRESIDENT announced the appointment of the following standing committees, to wit: 1st. On General Provisions, comprising Preamble, Boundaries, and Admission of the State, Suffrage and Elective Franchise, Internal Improvements, Taxation, Finance and Public Debt, Militia, Eminent Domain and Property belonging to the State, Bill of Rights, and such other Provisions as may be referred to them-Messrs KILBOURN, ROUNTREE, SANDERS, MULFORD, REED, LARRABEE, FOX, BEALL, CARTER, JONES, SCHOEFFLER, MCDOWELL, SCAGEL, REYMERT, and BROWNELL. 2d. On the Executive, Legislative, and Administrative Provisions-Messrs. LOVELL, KING, FENTON, LATHAM, JUDD, O. COLE, and TURNER. 3d. On the Judiciary-Messrs. DUNN, WHITON, A. G. COLE, GALE, and MCCELLAN. 4th. On Education and School Funds-Messrs. ESTABROOK, ROOT, JACKSON, WARDEN, HARVEY, VANDERPOOL, FITZGERALD, STEADMAN, and FAGAN. 5th. On Banks, Banking, and Incorporations-Messrs. CHASE, LAKIN, BISHOP, CASTLEMAN, and WHEELER. 6th. A Schedule and other Miscellaneous Provisions-Messrs. PRENTISS, LEWIS, COLLEY, DORAN, FEATHERSTONHAUGH, WARD, and COTTON. The PRESIDENT presented the following communication froin the secretary of the convention, to wit: CONVENTION CHAMBER, Madison, December 20, 1847. S The undersigned begs leave to report, that in accordance with a resolution adopted by the convention on the 18th inst., he addressed letters to the several printers resident in Madison, enclosing a copy of said resolution, and that he has received the following proposals to do the incidental printing of this body, accompanied by the security required. Respectfully submitted. T. MCHUGH, Esq. THOS. MCHUGH, Sec'y. Sir-In accordance with a resolution adopted in the convention on the 18th inst., I make the following proposals for doing the inci, dental printing of the constitutional convention: For composition per 1000 ems, forty cents, Paper furnished at cost, W. W. WYMAN. We, the undersigned, will hold ourselves responsible for the faithful performance, on the part of Mr. W. W. Wyman, of any contract which he may make for doing the incidental printing of the constitutional convention, now in session at this place. Dated Madison, December 20, 1847. P. W. MATTS, Proposals for doing the Incidental Printing for the Convention to form a Constitution for the State of Wisconsin. The undersigned, proprietors of the Wisconsin Argus printing establishment, hereby propose and agree, to do the incidental printing of this convention for the sum of one cent. H. A. TENNEY. The undersigned guarantee, that Messrs. Tenney, Smith and Holt, if their proposal for doing the incidental printing of this convention, be accepted, shall perform the work in a good, expeditious, and acceptable manner, and shall enter into any other or further bond or obligation, with good and sufficient sureties, to perform the service proposed, if the convention shall so direct Madison, December 20, 1847. SIMEON MILLS, ELISHA BURDICK, DANIEL B. SNEDEN, JAMES M. SHIELDS, DANIEL BAXTER, Proposals for doing the Incidental Printing for the Convention. We hereby agree to do the incidental printing of the convention during its present session for one-half of the sum it has already cost the people of the territory in the discussion had on that subject. The same to be ascertained by a committee appointed by the convention. GEORGE THOMPSON, LAWRENCE BARROWS. We hereby guarantee that the above bid, if accepted, shall be faithfully executed. MADISON, December 20th, 1847. To the Constitutional Convention, WM. N. SEYMOUR, N. W. DEAN, J. D. RUGGLES. GENTLEMEN-In accordance with a resolution of your honorable body, December 18th, 1847, I propose to do the incidental printing for your present session at the rates of forty cents per thousand ems, for plain composition, and eighty cents per thousand ems for rule and figure work, and forty cents per token for press work. BERIAH BROWN. Madison, W. T., December 20, 1847. |