Others desired the choice of Senators, who had before been
chosen by the several counties on a joint ticket, by single
districts. A proposition for a Convention was submitted to
the people by the Legislature of 1851. But the people were
attached to the old Constitution. There was a special dread
of any change in the independent tenure of the judiciary.
So although the coalition had a majority in the State the
proposition for a Constitutional Convention was defeated.
The scheme was renewed the next year in the Legislature of
1852, of which I was a member. Several of the Free Soilers,
among which I was included, were unwilling to have the matter
tried again without a distinct assurance that there should
be no meddling with the judiciary. This assurance was given
in the report of a joint committee of the Legislature to whom
the matter was committed, consisting of the leaders of the
Democratic and Republican parties, who reported that there
was no purpose to change the judicial tenure with which the
people were well satisfied. Accordingly I voted for it. The
measure got a bare majority in the House which it would never
would have had without that stipulation.
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