INDIANA TRAILS
ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE

    The last regular session of the territorial legislature of Indiana was held at Corydon convening in December 1815. Owing to the sickness of Governor Posey, who lived at Jeffersonville, he was unable to be present, but his regular message was delivered to both houses in joint session by his private secretary, Colonel Allen D. Thorn. In this message he congratulated the people of the territory upon the general success of the settlements, upon the great increase of immigration to the territory; recommended light taxes, and a careful attention to the promotion of education and the improvement of the State roads and highways. He also recommended a revision of the territorial laws, and an amendment of the militia system. During this session, which lasted only a month, several laws were passed, and measures adopted, most of which were calculated to promote the desired change from a territorial to a State government. On the fourteenth of December a memorial was adopted praying for the authority to adopt a constitution and State government. This was laid before Congress by the territorial delegate, Mr. Jennings. on the twenty eighth of the same month, and on the nineteenth of April, 1816, the President approved the bill, enabling the people of Indiana territory to form a constitution and State government, and providing for the admission of such State into the union on an equal footing with the original  States. Agreeably to the
provisions of this law an election for members of a convention to form a State constitution, was held in the several counties of the territory on Monday, the thirteenth day of May, 1816,
with the following result:

Wayne county: Jeremiah Cox, Patrick Baird, Joseph Holman, and Hugh Cull.
Franklin county: William H. Eads, James Brownlee, Enoch McCarty, Robert Hanna, Jr., and James Noble.
Dearborn county: James Dill, Solomon Manwaring, and Ezra Ferris.
Switzerland county: William Cotton.
Jefferson county: David H. Maxwell, Samuel Smock, and Nathaniel Hunt.
Clark county: Jonathan Jennings, James Scott, Thomas Can, Jno. K Graham, and James Lemon.
Harrison county: Dennis Pennington, Davis Floyd, Daniel C. Lane, John Boone, and Patrick Shields.
Washington county: John DePauw, Samuel Milroy, Robert Mclntire, William Lowe, and William Graham.
Knox county; John Johnson, John Badollet, William Polke, Benjamin Polke, and John Benefiel.
Gibson county: David Robb, James Smith, Alexander Devin, and Frederick Rappe.
Warrick county: Daniel Grass
Perry county: Charles Poke.
Posey county: Dann. Lynn.

The population of the territory of Indiana, as given in the official returns, certified by the clerks of the various counties and transmitted to the territorial legislature of 1815, was as follows

COUNTIES	WHITE MALES OF 21 AND OVER	TOTAL
Wayne County	1,225	6,407
Franklin County	1,430	7,370
Dearborn County	902	4,424
Switzerland County	377	1,832
Jefferson County	874	4,270
Clark County	1,387	7,150
Washington County	1,420	7,317
Harrison County	1,056	6,975
Knox County	1,391	8.068
Gibson County	1,100	5,330
Posey County	320	1,619
Warrick County	280	1,415
Perry County	350	1,720
Total		63,897

    The first constitutional convention convened at Corydon on the tenth of June, 1816, and continued its session until the twenty ninth, when, having ably completed the important work
assigned to it, it adjourned. Jonathan Jennings presided over the deliberations of the convention, and William Hendricks acted as secretary.
    In reference to the first State constitutional and the honorable gentlemen who constituted the convention that framed it Mr. Dillon, in his history of the Indiana territory, says:
 “The convention that formed the first constitution of the State of Indiana was composed, mainly, of dear minded, unpretending men of common sense, whose patriotism was
unquestionable, and whose morals were fair. Their familiarity with the theories of the Declaration of American Independence, their territorial experience under the provisions of the
ordinance of 1787, and their knowledge of the principles of the constitution of the United States, were sufficient when combined, to lighten, materially, their labors in the great work
of forming a constitution for a new State. Wit such landmarks in view, the labors of similar conventions in other States and territories have been rendered comparatively light In the
clearness and conciseness of its style, in the comprehensive and just provisions which it made for the maintenance of civil and religious liberty, in its mandates, which were designed
to protect the rights of the people, collectively and individually, and to provide for the public welfare, the constitution that was formed for Indiana in 1816, was not inferior to any of the
State constitutions which were in existence at that time.”
    The first State election took place on the first Monday of August, 1816, and Jonathan Jennings was elected Governor, Christopher Harrison, Lieutenant Governor, and William
Hendricks was elected to represent the new State in the house of Representatives of the United States.
    The first general assembly elected under the authority of the State constitution, commenced its session at Corydon on the fourth of November, 1816. John Paul was called to the chair of the Senate pro tem., and Isaac Blackford was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. On the seventh of November the oath of office was administered to Governor
Jennings and Lieutenant Governor Harrison, in the presence of both house.  On this occasion Governor Jennings delivered his first message to the general assembly, in which,
among other things, he remarked: “The result of your deliberation will be considered as indicative of its future character, as well as of the future happiness and prosperity of its citizens.
The reputation of the State, as well as its highest interest, will require that a just and generous policy toward the general government, and a due regard to the rights of its members
respectively, should invariably have their proper influence. In the commencement of the State government the shackles of the colonial should be forgotten in our united exertions to
prove. by happy experience, that a uniform adherence to the first principles of our government, and a virtuous exercise of its powers, will best secure efficiency to its measures and
stability to its character. Without a frequent recurrence to those principles, the administration of the government will imperceptibly become mOre and more arduous, until the simplicity
of our republican institutions may eventually be lost in dangerous expedients and political design. Under every free government the happiness of the citizens must be identified with
their morals; and while a constitutional exercise of their rights shall continue to have its due weight in the discharge of the duties required of the constituted authorities of the State, too
much attention can not be bestowed to the encouragement and promotion of every moral virtue, and to the enactment of laws calculated to restrain the vicious, and prescribe
punishment for every crime commensurate to its enormity. In measuring, however, to each crime its adequate punishment, it will be well to recollect that the certainty of punishment has generally the surest effect to prevent crime; while punishments unnecessarily severe, too often produce the acquittal of the guilty, and disappoint one of the greatest objects of
legislation and good government. The dissemination of useful knowledge will be indispensably necessary as a support to morals, and as a restraint to vice; and, on this subject, it will
only be necessary to direct your attention to the plan of education as prescribed by the constitution. I recommend to your consideration the propriety of providing by law, to prevent
more effectual any unlawful attempts to seize and carry into bondage persons of color legally entitled to their freedom; and, at the same time, as far as practicable, to prevent those
who rightfully own service to the citizens of any other State or territory from seeking within the limits of this State a refuge from the possession of their lawful owners. Such a measure
will tend to secure those who are free from any unlawful attempts (to enslave them) and secures the rights of the citizens of the other States and territories as far as ought reasonably
 to be expected.”
    Thus was the territorial government of Indiana exchanged for a State government on the seventh of November, 1816. During the session of the legislature, James Noble and Walter
Taylor were elected to represent the State of Indiana in the Senate of the United States. Robert A. New was elected Secretary of State; W. H. Lilley, Auditor of State; and Daniel C.
Lane, Treasurer of State. The, session was adjourned sine die on the third of January, 1817.
    If, in their progress tom one event to another, along the current of the civil and political history of the State, readers should wish to learn more of the incidents of pioneer life, the
progress of the settlements, the social condition of the people, and the like, it will only be necessary to remind them that these things are treated in detail in the second part of this
volume, under the head of “County Histories,” to relieve them of their impatience.