DOCSLIB.ORG

Indiana Constitution of 1851

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

The Indiana Historian A Magazine Exploring Indiana History A conference celebrating the 150th “The setting of the convention” is Focus anniversary of Indiana’s Constitution the focus on page 5; the organization of was held in November 2001. Speakers the convention is covered on page 6. at this sesquicentennial celebration An overview of “delegates to the noted the renewed interest of the convention” is presented on page 7 in Indiana Supreme Court and Court of words of one of the members. Appeals in the Constitution. One On pages 8-9, an excerpt from a speaker emphasized that the Constitu- contemporary satirical sketch of the tion needs “to be in the hearts and convention is presented. minds of every citizen.” He noted that On pages 10-11, the issues of the the aspirations of the people are in the convention and how the Constitution of Constitution and that “every generation 1851 has fared over time are briefly moves to achieve those aspirations.” He discussed. admonished the audience to “spread the A chart on pages 12-14 summarizes conversation.” the content of the 1851 Constitution This issue of The Indiana Historian, and major changes from the 1816 we hope, will help to fulfill that call. It Constitution. provides only a brief introduction to an On page 15, there is the usual list of extensive topic, worthy of further bibliography and resources. Cover: When the convention adjourned investigation. Readers are encouraged to access February 10, 1851, the original handwritten The articles on pages 3 and 4 the Historical Bureau Web site constitution was given to the Secretary of explore why and how the voting citizens <www.IN.gov/history> for extensive State (Barnhart and Carmony, Century, 15). The photograph on page 1 shows the leather of Indiana finally called for amendment resources related to the 1851 Constitu- cover of one of two handwritten versions of of the Constitution of 1816. tion and convention. the 1851 Constitution located at the Indiana State Archives. Both the 1851 Indiana Constitution and the 1816 Indiana Constitution are displayed in the rotunda of You be the historian the State House annually during regular • Invite a local attorney or judge to const>. How do some changes reflect sessions of the Indiana General Assembly. speak about the Indiana Constitution changes in society? Why have other The Indiana Historian and its importance to citizens today. changes been made? June 2002 • Invite your legislators to speak about • examine in more detail the con- ISSN 1071-3301 Order Number 7053 how the Indiana Constitution governs vention delegates from your area; Editor their actions in the Indiana General As- check your local historical society or Pamela J. Bennett sembly. public library for resources. A search- Lead Researcher Paula A. Bongen • Investigate the Bill of Rights con- able database of delegates is on the Designer Dani B. Pfaff tained in Article I of the Constitution. Historical Bureau Web site Contributing Editors Compare the rights it provides to Indi- <www.IN.gov/history>. Carole M. Allen, Janine Beckley, Paula Bongen, Alan Conant, Dani B. Pfaff, ana citizens to the rights provided by • Organize a convention and write a The Indiana Historian provides resources and models the U.S. Constitution. constitution for your classroom or for the study of local history to encourage Indiana’s • Use available printed and Internet school. citizens of all ages to become engaged with the history of their communities and the state of Indiana. resources: • Using the printed Debates and Jour- The Indiana Historian (formerly The Indiana Jun- • examine in more detail the nals from the 1850-1851 convention, cre- ior Historian) is issued occasionally. Back issues are available at individual and bulk pricing. changes made from the 1816 Consti- ate a reenactment of discussions of is- Some back issues of this magazine are available to visually impaired patrons in audio format, courtesy of tution to the 1851 Constitution. Why sues that remain of interest today. Per- the Indiana History Project of the Indiana Historical were changes made or not made in haps have a person of the twenty-first Society. Tapes are available through the Talking Books Program of the Indiana State Library; contact the Talk- 1851? Both original Constitutions are century debate a delegate of the nine- ing Books Program, 317-232-3702. on the Historical Bureau Web site teenth century. The Indiana Historian is copyrighted. Educators may reproduce items for class use, but no part of the <www.IN.gov/history>. • Using materials from the Indiana publication may be reproduced in any way for profit • examine in more detail the Close Up program, consider and debate without written permission of the Indiana Historical Bureau. 140 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN changes made to the 1851 Constitu- contemporary issues related to the In- 46204; 317-232-2535. tion in the last 150 years. See diana Constitution. E-MAIL [email protected] INTERNET www.IN.gov/history <www.IN.gov/legislative/ic/code/ 2 The Indiana Historian © 2002 Indiana Historical Bureau Calling for a new state constitution Indiana’s 1816 Constitution specified in Article VIII that every twelfth year at Article VIII, Indiana Constitution of 1816 the general election for governor, a poll Sect. 1. Every twelfth year, after this constitution shall have taken effect, should be taken to determine if electors at the general election held for Governor there shall be a poll opened, in favored calling a constitutional conven- which the qualified Electors of the State shall express, by vote, whether tion. Although there was much debate, they are in favour of calling a convention, or not, and if there should be this provision was interpreted to mean a majority of all the votes given at such an election, in favour of a that the General Assembly could call for convention, the Governor shall inform the next General Assembly thereof, a convention at any time. whose duty it shall be to provide, by law, for the election of the members There were many attempts to call for to the convention, the number thereof, and the time and place of their a convention. The question of calling a meeting; which law shall not be passed unless agreed to by a majority of constitutional convention, however, all the members elected to both branches of the General assembly, and actually was submitted to voters only which convention, when met, shall have it in their power to revise, five times. amend, or change the constitution. But, as the holding any part of the In 1823, the question of calling a human Creation in slavery, or involuntary servitude, can only originate convention was widely discussed in the in usurpation and tyranny, no alteration of this constitution shall ever popular newspapers of the day. The take place so as to introduce slavery or involuntary servitude in this issues included: State, otherwise than for the punishment of crimes, whereof the party • substituting biennial or triennial shall have been duly convicted. sessions for the annual sessions of the Source: Kettleborough, 1:111-12 Indiana General Assembly; • authorizing the Governor to call special or emergency sessions of the General • a desire to end the monopoly of the Dunning addressed the General Assem- Assembly; Second State Bank; and bly and called for legislation to imple- • the impeachment of local officials by • the growing popularity of Jacksonian ment the people’s will. circuit courts rather than the State democracy which emphasized individual Sources: Carmony, Pioneer Era, 405; Senate; rights, popular election, restrictions on Kettleborough, 1:xxxv, xlii, li, lxiii-lxxii, • giving authority to grant divorce to legislative bodies, and private enterprise. lxxiii, lxxv-lxxvii, 111. circuit courts rather than General Popular interest and demand for a Assembly; and constitutional convention continued to • reorganizing the Indiana Supreme grow. When the Indiana General Court. Assembly of 1848-1849 assembled, As the chart on this page indicates, Governor James Whitcomb recom- voters did not vote in favor of a new mended calling a constitutional conven- state constitution until 1846. The tion to address several important State population and votes convention was not called, however, issues: in referenda to call for since the closeness of the vote indicated • uncontrolled growth of local and a constitutional convention that a true public mandate did not yet special legislation that the General Year population in favor opposed exist. In addition, there were questions Assembly was forced to deal with; about the validity of the vote, which • biennial rather than annual sessions of 1810 24,520 was small compared to the total votes the General Assembly; and 1820 147,178 in the election. • prohibition of public debt. 1823 2,601 11,991 The change in popular opinion The General Assembly responded 1828 10,092 18,633 reflected in the 1846 vote has been with appropriate legislation calling for 1830 343,031 credited to several factors: another constitutional referendum. 1840 685,866 12,666 62,714 • the state’s financial disaster as a result Governor Paris C. Dunning signed the 1846 32,468 27,123 of the Internal Improvement Act of 1836; act on January 15, 1849. On August 6, 1849 81,500 57,418 • increasing support for biennial sessions 1849, voters favored the referendum by 1850 988,416 of the General Assembly and for strict an indisputable majority. Sources: Kettleborough, 1:lii, lvii, lxi, lxvi, limitations on passage of local and special lxxvi; Madison, Indiana Way, 325-26 legislation by that body; On December 4, 1849, Governor © 2002 Indiana Historical Bureau The Indiana Historian 3 Calling the convention On January 18, 1850, the Indiana • Same day, delegates elect a president and General Assembly approved an act, all officers needed which outlined the process for calling • Secretary of State receives credentials of delegates for a constitutional convention.
Recommended publications
  • The Urban Frontier in Pioneer Indiana ROBERT G

    The Urban Frontier in Pioneer Indiana ROBERT G

    The Urban Frontier in Pioneer Indiana ROBERT G. BARROWS AND LEIGH DARBEE ne of the central themes of Richard Wade’s The Urban Frontier— Othat the “growth of urbanism was an important part of the occupa- tion of the West”—has been reflected in Indiana historiography only occasionally. Donald F. Carmony’s examination of the state from 1816 to mid-century is definitive on constitutional, financial, political, and transportation topics, but is much less informative concerning social and urban history; indeed, Wade’s book does not appear in Carmony’s bibliography. In his one-volume history of the state, The Indiana Way, James H. Madison echoes Wade when he writes: “Towns were an essen- tial part of frontier development . providing essential services to the rural and agricultural majority of Indiana’s population.”1 When one con- siders the history of cities and towns in pioneer Indiana in relation to Wade’s classic work, a “generation gap” becomes readily apparent. Developments in Indiana (and, notably, in Indianapolis, the closest comparison to the cities Wade examined) run two or three decades behind his discussion of urbanism in the Ohio Valley. Wade begins his __________________________ Robert G. Barrows is chair of the Department of History at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and co-editor, with David Bodenhamer, of The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis (1994). Leigh Darbee is executive assistant at the Indiana Rail Road Company, Indianapolis, and the author of A Guide to Early Imprints at the Indiana Historical Society, 1619- 1840 (2001). 1Richard C. Wade, The Urban Frontier: The Rise of Western Cities, 1790-1830 (Cambridge, Mass., 1959), 2; Donald F.
  • Directory of Indiana Libraries. INSTITUTION Indiana Univ., Bloomington

    Directory of Indiana Libraries. INSTITUTION Indiana Univ., Bloomington

    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 044 142 LI 002 178 AUTHOR Thompson, Donald E., Comp.; Rothacker, J. Michael, Comp. TITLE Directory of Indiana Libraries. INSTITUTION Indiana Univ., Bloomington. Graduate Library School. SPONS AGENCY Indiana State Library, Indianapolis. PUB DATE 70 NOTE 97p.; Indiana Library Studies Report 14 EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF-$0.50 HC-$4.95 DESCRIPTORS *Directories, *Libraries, *Public Libraries, *School Libraries, *Special Libraries, State Libraries IDENTIFIERS *Indiana, Indiana Library Studies ABSTRACT The directory was compiled as part of the Indiana Library Studies. The list is arranged by public libraries, academic libraries, special libraries, libraries of Indiana state departments and institutions, school libraries, and historical societies: The name, address and telephone number are given for all libraries. (Author/NH) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION St WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCED r\J EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINATING IT. POINTS OF ...11- VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NO7 NECES- SARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDU- T-4 CATION POSITION OR POLICY. -4" O C:2 Report Number Fourteen Uri of the Indiana Library Studies Peter Hiatt Director and General Editor DIRECTORY OF INDIANA LIBRARIES Compiled by Donald E. Thompson Librarian Wabash College Crawfordsville, Indiana and J. Michael Rothacker Doctoral Fellow Graduate Library School Indiana University Prepared June, 1970.. 00 CN, O Bloomington, Indiana k 1970 The Indiana Library Studies The Indiana Library Studies represent the first statewide exploration of Indiana libraries of all types and of the library and information needs of Indiana's citizens. A federally funded research project of the Indiana State Library, the Studies are directed by Dr.
  • Usi-Magazine-Winter-2014.Pdf

    Usi-Magazine-Winter-2014.Pdf

    Winter 2014 FOOD From the Editor Volume 47 Issue 3 • WINTER 2014 USI Magazine is published three times annually by the University of Southern Indiana for its alumni and friends. Vice President for Government I belong to a group that meets weekly to discuss food. There are five of us, and University Relations Cynthia Brinker and we come together because we’re each interested in learning more about the nutrients in food—or lack of—so we can make better choices about what we eat. Assistant Vice President for Magazine Marketing and Communications To organize our discussions, we selected a book that provides the science of Kindra Strupp foods by not only exposing the vitamins, minerals, proteins and fibers in foods, but Director of University Communications also strips away the marketers’ messages so we can comprehend the contents of John Farless ’98 what we are eating. In a world of packaged and processed foods, we no longer feel Director of Alumni and Volunteer Services MAIN COURSE Janet Johnson M’05 we are armed with the best information concerning nutrition and how our bodies benefit or are harmed. We want to know more, we want to be in charge of our Editor C. L. Stambush The Power of Food 2 choices and not be ruled by habit or marketing ploys. In other words, we want to Contributing Writers Pros and Cons of What You Eat change the way we think about food. Wendy Knipe Bredhold ’98 This issue of USI Magazine brings you a selection of thought-provoking, food- John Farless ’98 C.
  • Hoosiers and the American Story Chapter 3

    Hoosiers and the American Story Chapter 3

    3 Pioneers and Politics “At this time was the expression first used ‘Root pig, or die.’ We rooted and lived and father said if we could only make a little and lay it out in land while land was only $1.25 an acre we would be making money fast.” — Andrew TenBrook, 1889 The pioneers who settled in Indiana had to work England states. Southerners tended to settle mostly in hard to feed, house, and clothe their families. Every- southern Indiana; the Mid-Atlantic people in central thing had to be built and made from scratch. They Indiana; the New Englanders in the northern regions. had to do as the pioneer Andrew TenBrook describes There were exceptions. Some New Englanders did above, “Root pig, or die.” This phrase, a common one settle in southern Indiana, for example. during the pioneer period, means one must work hard Pioneers filled up Indiana from south to north or suffer the consequences, and in the Indiana wilder- like a glass of water fills from bottom to top. The ness those consequences could be hunger. Luckily, the southerners came first, making homes along the frontier was a place of abundance, the land was rich, Ohio, Whitewater, and Wabash Rivers. By the 1820s the forests and rivers bountiful, and the pioneers people were moving to central Indiana, by the 1830s to knew how to gather nuts, plants, and fruits from the northern regions. The presence of Indians in the north forest; sow and reap crops; and profit when there and more difficult access delayed settlement there.
  • Schuyler Colfax Collection L036

    Schuyler Colfax Collection L036

    Schuyler Colfax collection L036 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit August 03, 2015 Describing Archives: A Content Standard Rare Books and Manuscripts 140 North Senate Avenue Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204 317-232-3671 Schuyler Colfax collection L036 Table of Contents Summary Information ................................................................................................................................. 3 Biographical Note.......................................................................................................................................... 4 Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 4 Arrangement...................................................................................................................................................5 Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................6 Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................7 Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 9 Series 1: Correspondence, 1782-1927.....................................................................................................9 Series 2: Subject files, 1875-1970.........................................................................................................32
  • Administrative Records, 1972-1984

    Administrative Records, 1972-1984

    Administrative Records, 1972-1984 Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives Smithsonian Institution Archives Washington, D.C. Contact us at [email protected] Table of Contents Collection Overview ........................................................................................................ 1 Administrative Information .............................................................................................. 1 Descriptive Entry.............................................................................................................. 1 Names and Subjects ...................................................................................................... 1 Container Listing ............................................................................................................. 3 Series 1: Secretary's Files, 1972............................................................................. 3 Series 2: Secretary's Files, 1973........................................................................... 42 Series 3: Secretary's Files, 1974........................................................................... 81 Series 4: Secretary's Files, 1975......................................................................... 119 Series 5: Secretary's Files, 1976......................................................................... 157 Series 6: Secretary's Files, 1977......................................................................... 188 Series 7: Secretary's Files, 1978........................................................................
  • Seventy-First Congress

    Seventy-First Congress

    . ~ . ··-... I . •· - SEVENTY-FIRST CONGRESS ,-- . ' -- FIRST SESSION . LXXI-2 17 , ! • t ., ~: .. ~ ). atnngr tssinnal Jtcnrd. PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE SEVENTY-FIRST CONGRESS FIRST SESSION Couzens Harris Nor beck Steiwer SENATE Dale Hastings Norris Swanson Deneen Hatfield Nye Thomas, Idaho MoNDAY, April 15, 1929 Dill Hawes Oddie Thomas, Okla. Edge Hayden Overman Townsend The first session of the Seventy-first Congress comm:enced Fess Hebert Patterson Tydings this day at the Capitol, in the city of Washington, in pursu­ Fletcher Heflin Pine Tyson Frazier Howell Ransdell Vandenberg ance of the proclamation of the President of the United States George Johnson Robinson, Ark. Wagner of the 7th day of March, 1929. Gillett Jones Sackett Walsh, Mass. CHARLES CURTIS, of the State of Kansas, Vice President of Glass Kean Schall Walsh, Mont. Goff Keyes Sheppard Warren the United States, called the Senate to order at 12 o'clock Waterman meridian. ~~~borough ~lenar ~p~~~~;e 1 Watson Rev. Joseph It. Sizoo, D. D., minister of the New York Ave­ Greene McNary Smoot nue Presbyterian Church of the city of Washington, offered the Hale Moses Steck following prayer : Mr. SCHALL. I wish to announce that my colleag-ue the senior Senator from Minnesota [Mr. SHIPSTEAD] is serio~sly ill. God of our fathers, God of the nations, our God, we bless Thee that in times of difficulties and crises when the resources Mr. WATSON. I desire to announce that my colleague the of men shrivel the resources of God are unfolded. Grant junior Senator from Indiana [Mr. RoBINSON] is unav.oidably unto Thy servants, as they stand upon the threshold of new detained at home by reason of important business.
  • H. Doc. 108-222

    H. Doc. 108-222

    THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS MARCH 4, 1865, TO MARCH 3, 1867 FIRST SESSION—December 4, 1865, to July 28, 1866 SECOND SESSION—December 3, 1866, to March 3, 1867 SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SENATE—March 4, 1865, to March 11, 1865 VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES—ANDREW JOHNSON, 1 of Tennessee PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE—LAFAYETTE S. FOSTER, 2 of Connecticut; BENJAMIN F. WADE, 3 of Ohio SECRETARY OF THE SENATE—JOHN W. FORNEY, of Pennsylvania SERGEANT AT ARMS OF THE SENATE—GEORGE T. BROWN, of Illinois SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES—SCHUYLER COLFAX, 4 of Indiana CLERK OF THE HOUSE—EDWARD MCPHERSON, 5 of Pennsylvania SERGEANT AT ARMS OF THE HOUSE—NATHANIEL G. ORDWAY, of New Hampshire DOORKEEPER OF THE HOUSE—IRA GOODNOW, of Vermont POSTMASTER OF THE HOUSE—JOSIAH GIVEN ALABAMA James Dixon, Hartford GEORGIA SENATORS SENATORS REPRESENTATIVES Vacant Vacant Henry C. Deming, Hartford REPRESENTATIVES 6 Samuel L. Warner, Middletown REPRESENTATIVES Vacant Augustus Brandegee, New London Vacant John H. Hubbard, Litchfield ARKANSAS ILLINOIS SENATORS SENATORS Vacant DELAWARE Lyman Trumbull, Chicago Richard Yates, Jacksonville REPRESENTATIVES SENATORS REPRESENTATIVES Vacant Willard Saulsbury, Georgetown George R. Riddle, Wilmington John Wentworth, Chicago CALIFORNIA John F. Farnsworth, St. Charles SENATORS REPRESENTATIVE AT LARGE Elihu B. Washburne, Galena James A. McDougall, San Francisco John A. Nicholson, Dover Abner C. Harding, Monmouth John Conness, Sacramento Ebon C. Ingersoll, Peoria Burton C. Cook, Ottawa REPRESENTATIVES FLORIDA Henry P. H. Bromwell, Charleston Donald C. McRuer, San Francisco Shelby M. Cullom, Springfield William Higby, Calaveras SENATORS Lewis W. Ross, Lewistown John Bidwell, Chico Vacant 7 Anthony Thornton, Shelbyville Vacant 8 Samuel S.
  • Footfalls on the Boundary of Another World, Let Us Listen to Their Echoes and Take Note of the Indica Tions These May Afford

    Footfalls on the Boundary of Another World, Let Us Listen to Their Echoes and Take Note of the Indica Tions These May Afford

    This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com ^arbaro (College ILtbrarg FROM THE GEORGE B. SOHIER PRIZE FUND "The surplus each year over and above what shall be required for the prize shall be expended for books for the library ' ' c FOOTFALLS ON THE Boundary of Another World. WITH NARRATIVE ILLUSTRATIONS. BY ROBERT DALE OWEN", FORMERLY MEMBER OF CONGRESS, AND AMERICAN MINISTER TO NAPLES. " As it is the peculiar method of the Academy to interpose no personal judgment, 1 mt. to admit those opinions which appear must probable, to compare arguments, and to set forth all that may be reasonably stated in favor of each proposition, and so, without obtruding any authority of its own. to leave the judgment of the hearers free and unprejudiced, we will retain this custom which has l>ecn handed down from Focrates ; and this method, dear brother Quintus, if you please, w - will adopt, as often as possible, in all our dialogues together." — Cicero ds. Divin. Lib, ii. §72. PHILADELPHIA: J. B LIPPINGOTT & CO. 18G5. * Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by J. B. UPPIXCOTT & CO. in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Bantarr District of Penttsylvania. PREFACE. It may interest the reader, before perusing mis volume, to know some of the circumstances which preceded and pro duced it. • The subjects of which it treats came originally under my notice in a land where, except to the privileged foreigner, such subjects are interdicted, — at Naples, in the autumn of 1855.
  • ORGANIZED CHARITY and the CIVIC IDEAL in INDIANAPOLIS 1879-1922 Katherine E. Badertscher Submitted to the Faculty of the Univers

    ORGANIZED CHARITY and the CIVIC IDEAL in INDIANAPOLIS 1879-1922 Katherine E. Badertscher Submitted to the Faculty of the Univers

    ORGANIZED CHARITY AND THE CIVIC IDEAL IN INDIANAPOLIS 1879-1922 Katherine E. Badertscher Submitted to the faculty of the University Graduate School in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University May 2015 Accepted by the Graduate Faculty, Indiana University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ______________________________ Dwight F. Burlingame, Ph.D., Chair Doctoral Committee ______________________________ Robert G. Barrows, Ph.D. March 6, 2015 ______________________________ Nancy Marie Robertson, Ph.D. ______________________________ Philip V. Scarpino, Ph.D. ii Acknowledgments My thanks begin with my doctoral committee. Dwight Burlingame advised me throughout my entire program, chose the perfect readings for me in our dissertation seminar, helped me shape the project, and read each chapter promptly and thoughtfully. His steadfast belief in my scholarship and his infinite kindness have been invaluable. Phil Scarpino and Bob Barrows led the seminars during which my dissertation idea took shape. Nancy Robertson challenged me to look at the work from many different angles and suggested a veritable treasure trove of scholarship upon which to draw. All their questions, comments, guidance, and encouragement have helped my work more than mere words can express. My colleagues in the doctoral program and students in the undergraduate program provided unwavering support as I lovingly talked about my research, “my organization,” and “my time period.” I especially thank Barbara Duffy, who chose the Charity Organization Society of Indianapolis (1879-1883) for her History of Philanthropy doctoral seminar research project. I enjoyed talking about “our women,” sharing our emerging ideas, swapping sources, and basking in one another’s “Eureka!” moments as we made one connection after another.
  • Schuyler Colfax Papers, 1843-1884

    Schuyler Colfax Papers, 1843-1884

    Collection # M 0055 OM 0101 SCHUYLER COLFAX PAPERS, 1843–1884 Collection Information Biographical Sketch Scope and Content Note Calendar of Correspondence Series Contents Cataloging Information Processed by Charles Latham December 1988, April 1991 Chris Harter 20 January 1998 Updated by Emily Castle 19 July 2005 Manuscript and Visual Collections Department William Henry Smith Memorial Library Indiana Historical Society 450 West Ohio Street Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269 www.indianahistory.org COLLECTION INFORMATION VOLUME OF 1 manuscript box, 1 oversized folder, 2 cartes de visite COLLECTION: COLLECTION 1843-1884 DATES: PROVENANCE: Several purchases from a number of sources between 1940-1998 RESTRICTIONS: None COPYRIGHT: REPRODUCTION Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection RIGHTS: must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society. ALTERNATE FORMATS: RELATED HOLDINGS: ACCESSION 1939.0503; 2000.0308; complete list available in accession file NUMBER: NOTES: This is an open collection. Material will be added as it becomes available. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Schuyler Colfax (1823-1885) was born in New York City, the son of Schuyler and Hannah Stryker Colfax. His father died before his son's birth, and in 1834 his mother married George Matthews. Two years later the family moved to New Carlisle, Indiana, just west of South Bend. After education in local schools, Colfax began his political career by assisting his stepfather, auditor of South Bend, as deputy auditor from 1841 to 1849. He also served as assistant enrolling clerk of the state Senate in 1842-1844. He married Evelyn Chase in 1844. He combined politics with newspaper work and began working as a correspondent for the Indiana State Journal.
  • Advocacy Guide

    Advocacy Guide

    Advocacy Guide There are many ways to make a difference as an advocate for people with disabilities. Let Your Local Officials Hear Your Opinion As a citizen, your opinions help elected officials decide how to vote on issues. Let your elected officials know your opinions through letters, e-mails, phone calls, etc. Remember, they are very busy and you want your message to have as much impact as possible. For the most impact, your communication should be brief, clear and focused on just one issue. Attend Public Meetings Meetings of the city council, county council, Indiana General Assembly, school board, etc. are open to the public. Attending these meetings helps keep you informed of the way public business is transacted and how the various elected officials interact. In addition, public meetings give citizens a good opportunity to give their opinions by speaking during the public feedback section of the meetings. Nearly all elected officials host public meetings. They are at schools, libraries, churches, etc. This is your opportunity to hear from your elected official what they are working on and to give your input on issues. Letters to the Editor Writing a letter to the editor is an effective way to publicly discuss an issue and influence the decisions of local officials. Every newspaper has different requirements for letters to the editor. In general, as with letters to elected officials, it is important to be brief, clear, and concise and focus on just one issue. Join an Advocacy Group Joining an advocacy group is one way to increase your awareness to elected officials.