HARTFORD, August 26, 1818,

FOR THE PURPOSE OF FORMING

A CONSTITUTION

Of CIVIL GOVERNMENT for the PEOPLE OF THE

STATE OF CONNECTICUT.

15

Hartford, Connecticut, PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE COMPTROLLER,

I 90 I

STATE OF CONNECTICUT,

COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,

HARTFORD, December, 1901.

The Legislature of 1873 ordered the publication of the Journal of the Convention which framed the Constitution of this State in the year 1818.

As this publication is now exhausted, and another Constitutional Convention is to be held in January next, anticipating the interest which is likely to arise concerning the proceedings of this Convention of 1818, I have thought best to reprint an edition of the same.

Note.

THE Journal of the Convention, which, in 1818, framed the Constitution of Connecticut, was never engrossed, but remains as it was written from day to day. It is contained in two paper books of unequal size, the first embracing the proceedings to September 9th, inclusive, and the other the remainder; and each of these books is certified by the Clerks of the Convention.

There is annexed to the Journal a list of Delegates, with their votes on several questions, taken by yeas and nays; as also printed copies of the Reports of the Committee of Twenty-four appointed to draft a Constitution. It has not been thought necessary to reproduce the alterations of these drafts made by the Convention, indicated by pen-marks on the printed reports, because they will appear from the Journal, and by a comparison of the drafts with the Constitution as adopted.

A report of the Debates in the Convention may be found in the newspapers of the period printed in Hartford.

To the Journal as now published is prefixed the Resolve of the General Assembly by which the Convention was called; and there is added the Constitution as adopted, the Votes upon its Ratification, and the proceedings of the Legislature, with the Proclamation of the Governor thereupon.

STATE LIBRARY, Hartford, June 2d, 1873.

C. J. H.

136537

Resolve calling a Constitutional Convention.

At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, holden at Hartford in said State, on the second Thursday of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen: Resolved by this Assembly, That it be, and it is hereby recommended to the people of this state, who are qualified to vote in town or freemen's meetings, to assemble in their respective towns on the fourth day of July next at nine o'clock in the morning, at their usual place of holding town or freemen's meetings, and after having chosen their presiding officer, then and there to elect, by ballot, as many delegates as said towns now choose representatives to the General Assembly, who shall meet in convention at the state-house in Hartford, on the fourth Wednesday of August next; and when so convened, shall, if it be by them deemed expedient, proceed to the formation of a constitution of civil government for the people of this state; a copy of which constitution, when so formed, shall be by said convention forthwith transmitted to each town clerk in this state, to be by him submitted to the qualified voters in the town to which he belongs, assembled at such time as said convention may designate, which time shall not be less than one week, nor more than three weeks from the rising of said convention, for their approbation and ratification: and said constitution, when ratified and approved by such majority of said qualified voters convened as aforesaid as shall be directed by said convention, shall be and remain the supreme law of this state.

And be it further Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the selectmen in the several towns aforesaid to give legal notice of the time, place, and object of holding town meetings as aforesaid, whether for the election of delegates, or for the ratification of the constitution; and the votes in the meetings