portunity of ascertaining public feeling at present in relation to this subject, I do not feel prepared to urge upon the Legislature any particular course of conduct to be pursued. The members themselves, come fresh from the people, and are presumed to be advised of the wishes of their constituents as to what action, if any, should be had in reference to the question. Being thus advised, they will doubtless adopt such measures as are called for by the public sentiment, and adhering, as I do, to the opinion long entertained and frequently expressed, that the prosperity of Iowa would be greatly advanced by her speedy incorporation into the Union as a State, it affords me great pleasure to assure you that whatever steps may be taken by you, looking to that desirable result, and in my judgment calculated to effect it, will receive my hearty co-operation.

-Reprinted from Journal of the House of Representatives of the Eighth Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa, p. 11.—being an extract from the Governor's Message of December 3rd, 1845.

Abstract of vote given

for and against the Con

stitution, at the August Election, 1845; except in the Counties of Marion and Iowa, for which no returns have been received.

421,

Majority against Constitution,

-Reprinted from Bloomington Herald, New Series, Vol. I.,

No. 26, September 20th, 1845.

NUMBER VII.

OF

UNIVE OF CA

INTRODUCTION.

WHEN the Legislative Assembly met in December, 1845, the Constitution of 1844 had been twice rejected by the people of the Territory.1 In his message to the Assembly, the Governor deplored this result and promised his "hearty coöperation" in such action as might be directed toward admission into the Union. 2 The Assembly was not slow to act. On the 17th of January, 1846, an act was approved, which provided for the election of delegates to a convention to form a new Constitution. The delegates elected in accordance with this act met at the Capitol in Iowa City on Monday, the 4th of May. The Constitution which they drafted (properly termed the Constitution of 1846)5 was ratified by the people on the 3d day of August by a majority of 456 votes. On the 4th of August, the act of Congress defining the boundaries of the Commonwealth was approved by the President." And finally on the 28th day of December, 1846, the Common

3

1 See No. VI. of this series, pp. 177, 182.

2 See No. VI. of this series, p. 182.

3 See p. 187 of this number.

4 Journal of Convention, p. 23.

See p. 190 of this number for text of this Constitution.

6 See No. V. of this series, p. 128.

wealth of Iowa was "declared to be one of the United States of America, and admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States in all respects whatsoever."1

1 See No. V. of this series, p. 131.

B. F. S.

NOTE

ON THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT COPIES OF THE SEVERAL CONSTITUTIONS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF IOWA.

The original manuscript copy of the Constitution of 1844, with the signatures of the members of the convention, has been preserved in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Iowa.

No complete manuscript copy of the Constitution of 1846 seems to have been preserved. However, there is, in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Iowa, an incomplete manuscript copy of this Constitution. I have carefully examined this incomplete manuscript and find that it contains all of the Constitution from the "Preamble and Boundaries" to the article on "Amendments of the Constitution." The articles entitled "Amendments of the Constitution," "Miscellaneous," "Schedule," and the signatures of the members of the convention which drafted the Constitution are wanting. But the copy of the articles that have been preserved appears to be the authentic original manuscript copy as adopted in the convention.

The original manuscript copy of the Constitution of 1857, with the signatures of the members of the convention, has been preserved in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Iowa.

B. F. S.

THE CONVENTION OF 1846.

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO A CONVENTION TO FORM A CONSTITUTION AND STATE GOVERNMENT.

SECTION. I. Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Iowa, That there shall be a poll opened at the township election in April next, for the election of Delegates to a Convention, to form a Constitution for the future State of Iowa; and the notice for said election for Delegates, shall be given at least twenty days before the holding thereof, and the manner of giving said notice, and all other proceedings connected with said election, shall be in accordance with the provisions of the law providing for the election of members of the Council and House of Representatives in this Territory, so far as the same may be applicable.

SEC. 2. That the Convention shall consist of thirty-two members; to be elected within the several organized counties in this Territory as follows, to-wit: