Idaho Constitutional Convention

Idaho Constitutional Convention
Seal of the Idaho Territory
DateJuly 4 to August 6, 1889
LocationBoise, Idaho
North America
Participantssee below
OutcomeCreated Idaho Constitution

The Idaho Constitution Convention drafted the Idaho Constitution in 1889 in preparation for the Idaho Territory to become a U.S. state.

History

Background

On April 2, 1889, outgoing Territorial Governor Edward A. Stevenson, who had successfully prevented the territory from being absorbed by neighboring territories, issued a proclamation calling for an election to be held on June 3 of that year, to elect 72 delegates to a constitutional convention. On May 11, Stevenson's successor, George L. Shoup, issued a proclamation endorsing the convention, which was scheduled to meet on July 4 in Boise. Idaho, like its fellow statehood-seeking territory, Wyoming, was not the subject of an enabling act, as other statehood-seeking territories usually were before holding a constitutional convention. However, an enabling act for Idaho had been introduced in December 1888 by Oregon Senator John H. Mitchell, and its potential statehood was discussed over the remainder of the 50th Congress.[1]

Proceedings

The convention met as scheduled on July 4, 1889. John T. Morgan was elected temporary president while the convention organized and settled membership disputes. The following day, William H. Clagett was elected as permanent president of the convention. On July 8, the standing committees of the convention were assigned, and from then until July 17, the committees proceeded to write the bulk of what would eventually be adopted as the state constitution. From July 18 through August 5, the convention engaged in debate over the particulars of the constitution. On the twenty-eighth day of the convention, August 6, 1889, the constitution was approved by delegates by a vote of 51–0, and 64 of the 72 delegates (of whom one was deceased) proceeded to sign the constitution.[2][3]

Approval of constitution

On November 5, 1889, Idaho Territory voters approved of the new constitution by a margin of 12,398 to 1,773. North Idaho had the strongest returns for adoption, while central and southeast Idaho had the weakest returns for adoption, with southeast Idaho falling in between.[4] On July 3, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed the law admitting Idaho as the 43rd U.S. state.

County Votes for adoption Votes against adoption Approval %
Ada 1,331 443 75%
Alturas 290 51 85%
Bear Lake[a] 44 39 53%
Bingham 716 171 81%
Boise 539 80 87%
Cassia 130 92 59%
Custer 498 33 94%
Elmore 795 26 97%
Idaho 199 137 59%
Kootenai 1,032 24 98%
Latah 2,523 117 96%
Lemhi 890 30 97%
Logan 380 71 84%
Nez Perce 112 103 52%
Oneida 278 95 75%
Owyhee 388 37 91%
Shoshone 1,811 51 97%
Washington 442 173 72%
Territory total 12,398 1,773 87%

List of delegates

Delegate Representing Residence
[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]		 Party
[14][15][16]		 Signatory?
[17]
George Ainslie Boise County Idaho City D yes
W. C. B. Allen Logan County Shoshone R yes
Robert Anderson Bingham County Eagle Rock D yes
Norman I. Andrews Lemhi County Salmon R yes
Henry Armstrong Logan County Broadford R yes
James W. Ballantine Alturas County Muldoon R yes
Orlando B. Batten Alturas County Ketchum D yes
Frank W. Beane Bingham County Blackfoot D yes
James H. Beatty Alturas County Hailey R yes
A. D. Bevan Shoshone County Wardner D yes
Henry B. Blake Latah County Moscow D yes
John W. Brigham Latah County Moscow R yes
Fred Campbell Boise County Placerville R yes
Frank P. Cavanah Elmore County Rocky Bar D yes
A. S. Chaney Latah County Kendrick D yes
William H. Clagett Shoshone County Osburn R yes
Charles A. Clark Ada County Boise D yes
Isaac N. Coston Ada County Boise D yes
A. J. Crook Custer County Clayton R no
James I. Crutcher Owyhee County Silver City D yes
Stephen S. Glidden Shoshone County Burke R yes
John S. Gray Ada County Boise R yes
Albert Hagan Kootenai County Coeur d'Alene D no
William W. Hammell Shoshone County Wallace R yes
Hiram S. Hampton Cassia County Shoshone R yes
H. O. Harkness Bingham County McCammon R yes
Frank Harris Washington County Weiser D yes
Sol Hasbrouck Washington County Weiser R yes
Charles M. Hays Owyhee County Silver City R yes
Wilbur A. Hendryx Kootenai County Kootenai County R no
Weldon B. Heyburn Shoshone County Murray R yes
John Hogan Lemhi County Salmon D yes
J. M. Howe Nez Perce County Lewiston R yes
Edward S. Jewell Washington County Salubria D yes
George W. King Shoshone County Wallace D yes
Harry Kinport Bingham County Pocatello D yes
J. W. Lamoreaux Cassia County Albion D yes
John Lemp Ada County Boise R yes
John Lewis Oneida County Malad City R yes
W. C. Maxey Ada County Caldwell R yes
Alexander E. Mayhew Shoshone County Murray D yes
William J. McConnell Latah County Moscow R yes
Patrick McMahon Alturas County Ketchum D no
Henry Melder Kootenai County Rathdrum R yes
John T. Morgan Bingham County Blackfoot R yes
A. B. Moss Ada County Payette R yes
John H. Myer Boise County Placerville D yes
Thomas F. Nelson Idaho County Cottonwood D no
Aaron F. Parker Idaho County Grangeville D yes
P. J. Pefley Ada County Boise D no
A. J. Pierce Custer County Challis D yes
A. J. Pinkham Alturas County Ketchum R yes
James W. Poe Nez Perce County Lewiston D yes
Samuel J. Pritchard Owyhee County Silver City R yes
Thomas Pyeatt Lemhi County Salmon R yes
James W. Reid Nez Perce County Lewiston D yes
Warren D. Robbins Latah County Moscow R yes
O. J. Salisbury Custer County Bayhorse R no
W. H. Savidge Bingham County Pocatello R yes
James M. Shoup Custer County Challis R yes
August M. Sinnott Elmore County Glenns Ferry R yes
Drew W. Standrod Oneida County Malad City D yes
Frank Steunenberg Ada County Caldwell D yes
Homer Stull Elmore County Mountain Home D yes
Willis Sweet Latah County Moscow R yes
Samuel F. Taylor Bingham County Eagle Rock D yes
John L. Underwood Bear Lake County Montpelier R yes
Lycurgus Vineyard Alturas County Hailey D yes
James S. Whitton Logan County Bellevue R yes
Edgar Wilson Ada County Boise R yes
Charles A. Wood[b] Lemhi County Salmon R no
William W. Woods Shoshone County Murray D yes

Committees

Over the course of the convention, 37 committees were established. The Republican majority controlled most committees, including those that set the framework for the state government.[18][19]

Committee Date established Majority party Majority members Minority members
Credentials July 4, 1889 56% D Democrats: Crutcher, Poe, Cavanah, Standrod, Hagan Republicans: Heyburn, Savidge, Shoup, Allen
Committee to receive the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs July 4, 1889 60% R Republicans: Sweet, Clagett, McConnell Democrats: Beane, Ainslie
Committee to escort the President to the Chair July 5, 1889 67% D Democrats: Cavanah, Batten Republican: Morgan
Committee on Committees July 6, 1889 60% R Republicans: Heyburn, Allen, Hays Democrats: Standrod, Batten
Rules July 6, 1889 60% R Republicans: Shoup, Beatty, Morgan Democrats: Reid, Mayhew
Committee to wait upon the Chief Justice July 8, 1889 67% D Democrats: Ainslie, King Republican: McConnell
Ways and Means July 8, 1889 50%–50% Republicans: Hasbrouck, Wilson, Shoup Democrats: Crutcher, Harris, Blake
Executive Department July 8, 1889 57% R Republicans: Gray, Savidge, Allen, Hampton Democrats: Ainslie, Coston, Poe
Legislative Department July 8, 1889 56% R Republicans: Morgan, Pinkham, Robbins, Lewis, Glidden Democrats: Blake, Pefley, Pierce, Stull
Judiciary July 8, 1889 53% R Republicans: Heyburn, Sweet, Beatty, Wilson, Howe, Hampton, Morgan, Savidge Democrats: Mayhew, Ainslie, Woods, Reid, Stull (to July 16), Harris, Batten, Hagan (from July 16)
Preamble and Bill of Rights July 8, 1889 50%–50% Republicans: Shoup, Morgan, Hammell Democrats: Standrod, Clark, Steunenberg
Names, Boundaries and Organization of Counties July 8, 1889 60% D Democrats: Reid, King, Jewell Republicans: Crook, Hasbrouck
Seat of Government, Public Institutions, Buildings and Grounds July 8, 1889 57% D Democrats: Cavanah, Crutcher, Kinport, McMahon Republicans: Gray, McConnell, Melder
Education, Schools, School and University Lands July 8, 1889 56% R Republicans: Shoup, Pinkham, Harkness, Armstrong, McConnell Democrats: Batten, Chaney, Hogan, Bevan
Elections and Right of Suffrage July 8, 1889 57% R Republicans: Beatty, Salisbury, Heyburn, Hays Democrats: Ainslie, Mayhew, Beane (to July 18), Hagan (from July 18)
Revenue and Finance July 8, 1889 56% R Republicans: Hays, Sweet, Hasbrouck, Crook, Glidden Democrats: Blake, Hogan, Lamoreaux, Steunenberg
Legislative Apportionment July 8, 1889 56% R (to July 20)
61% R (from July 20)		 Republicans: Shoup, Underwood, Heyburn, Ballantine (to July 10), Pyeatt, Hendryx (to July 16), Whitton, Brigham (to July 31), Hays, Maxey, Pinkham (from July 10), Melder (from July 16), Sinnott (from July 20), Sweet (from July 31) Democrats: Myer, Kinport, Parker, Stull (to July 16), Poe, Lamoreaux, Standrod, Jewell, Cavanah (from July 16 to July 20)
Militia and Military Affairs July 8, 1889 57% R Republicans: Hammell, Pyeatt, Campbell, Pinkham Democrats: Clark, Myer, Hogan
Public and Private Corporations July 8, 1889 56% R Republicans: Ballantine, Andrews, Savidge, Glidden, Pritchard Democrats: Mayhew, Kinport, Chaney, Bevan
Federal Relations July 8, 1889 60% R Republicans: Sweet, Salisbury, Moss Democrats: Nelson, Anderson
Municipal Corporations July 8, 1889 56% D Democrats: Woods, Hagan, Pierce, Pefley, Vineyard Republicans: Beatty, Harkness, Crook, Wilson
Labor July 8, 1889 56% R Republicans: Armstrong, Sinnott, Howe, Heyburn, Robbins Democrats: King, Lamoreaux, McMahon, Pefley
Schedule July 8, 1889 56% R (to July 29)
56% D (from July 29)		 Republicans: Gray, Sweet, Howe (to July 29), Savidge, Hampton Democrats: Woods, Beane (to July 18), Blake, Vineyard, King (from July 18), Reid (from July 29)
Manufactures, Agriculture and Irrigation July 8, 1889 56% D Democrats: Stull (to July 16), Coston, Jewell, Beane (to July 17), Taylor, Cavanah (from July 16), Anderson (from July 17) Republicans: Allen, McConnell, Harkness, Moss
Mines and Mining July 8, 1889 56% D Democrats: Crutcher, Cavanah, Bevan, King, Standrod Republicans: Glidden, Ballantine, Salisbury, Hays
Live Stock July 8, 1889 60% R Republicans: Harkness, Underwood, Pyeatt Democrats: Myer, Pierce
Printing and Binding July 8, 1889 57% R Republicans: Allen, Hays, Lemp, Sinnott Democrats: Clark, Parker, Steunenberg
Revision and Enrollment July 8, 1889 56% R Republicans: Beatty, Hammell (to July 27), Morgan, Shoup, Howe, Sweet (from July 27) Democrats: Hagan, Vineyard, Harris, Standrod
Salaries of Public Officers July 8, 1889 60% D Democrats: Poe, Coston, Reid Republicans: Wilson, Hasbrouck
Public Indebtedness and Subsidies July 8, 1889 60% D Democrats: Hagan, Batten, Taylor Republicans: McConnell, Harkness
Committee to escort the ladies of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union July 9, 1889 100% D Democrats: Pefley, Mayhew, Ainslie —
Special Committee on Finance July 18, 1889 100% R Republicans: McConnell, Harkness, Lemp —
Committee to receive the delegation of Members of Congress July 20, 1889 50%–50% Republicans: Hays, Clagett Democrats: Ainslie, Reid
Engrossing July 26, 1889 67% R Republicans: Hasbrouck, Sweet Democrat: Mayhew
Special Committee on Revision of the Minutes and Proceedings of the Convention July 27, 1889 67% R Republicans: Wilson, Moss Democrat: Clark
Select Committee to draft Article VIII, Section 6 July 30, 1889 60% D Democrats: Ainslie, Reid, Mayhew Republicans: Hays, Clagett
Address to the People August 3, 1889 50%–50% Republicans: Clagett, Pinkham, Hays, McConnell, Armstrong Democrats: Ainslie, Reid, Taylor, Clark, Cavanah

See also

Notes

  1. ^ County results were not officially returned.
  2. ^ Died June 14, 1889, as a delegate-elect.

References

  1. ^ Hart, I. W., ed. (1912). Proceedings and Debates of the Constitutional Convention of Idaho 1889. Vol. 1. p. III-X.
  2. ^ Hart, I. W., ed. (1912). Proceedings and Debates of the Constitutional Convention of Idaho 1889. Vol. 1. p. 1, 18, 64, 315.
  3. ^ Hart, I. W., ed. (1912). Proceedings and Debates of the Constitutional Convention of Idaho 1889. Vol. 2. p. 2037, 2090.
  4. ^ "Official Vote: Adopting the Constitution". The Idaho Statesman. December 4, 1889.
  5. ^ "Constitutional Convention List of Members". Territory of Idaho. August 6, 1889.
  6. ^ "Shoshone Delegates". The Idaho Statesman. June 1, 1889.
  7. ^ "Overland". The Idaho Statesman. July 4, 1889.
  8. ^ "Overland". The Idaho Statesman. July 6, 1889.
  9. ^ "The Wagon Road Bill". Idaho County Free Press. April 5, 1889.
  10. ^ "Washington County Letter". Idaho Semi-Weekly World. May 3, 1889.
  11. ^ "Personal". The Idaho Statesman. July 3, 1889.
  12. ^ "Judge J. T. Morgan". The Ketchum Keystone. May 18, 1889.
  13. ^ "Delegates Elected". Wood River Times. August 16, 1888.
  14. ^ "Delegates to the Constitutional Convention". Idaho Semi-Weekly World. July 12, 1889.
  15. ^ "Delegates to Constitutional Convention". Blackfoot News. June 15, 1889.
  16. ^ "The Republican Convention". The Idaho Statesman. September 2, 1888.
  17. ^ "Constitution of the State of Idaho". Territory of Idaho. August 6, 1889. p. 181-184.
  18. ^ Hart, I. W., ed. (1912). Proceedings and Debates of the Constitutional Convention of Idaho 1889. Vol. 1. p. 3-4, 19, 23, 33, 60, 64-70, 77, 84, 94, 163, 181, 203, 209, 518.
  19. ^ Hart, I. W., ed. (1912). Proceedings and Debates of the Constitutional Convention of Idaho 1889. Vol. 2. p. 1058, 1272, 1275-1276, 1279, 1284, 1493, 1896, 2096.