Essentials of United States history . if so,to form a state constitution. The memorial declared the opposi-tion of the people to slavery and their desire that the proposednew state should rest on the basis of freedom set forth in theOrdinance of 1787. The Enabling Act. — Congress then passed an act enablingthe people, through the proposed convention, to form a con-stitution and government, provided they would make the newstate republican and in harmony with the principles of theOrdinance of 1787. The election forchoosing delegatesw^as to be held onMay 13, 1816. Thenotice of the electionwas sen
Essentials of United States history . if so,to form a state constitution. The memorial declared the opposi-tion of the people to slavery and their desire that the proposednew state should rest on the basis of freedom set forth in theOrdinance of 1787. The Enabling Act. — Congress then passed an act enablingthe people, through the proposed convention, to form a con-stitution and government, provided they would make the newstate republican and in harmony with the principles of theOrdinance of 1787. The election forchoosing delegatesw^as to be held onMay 13, 1816. Thenotice of the electionwas sent to the peo-ple on May 2. Itwas short notice; butthe principal ques-tion at issue wasslavery, and it hadbeen thoroughly dis-cussed. The partiesfavoring and oppos-ing slavery wereready for a vigorous campaign, each trying to secure a majority of the the election was over, it proved a victorv for freedom. The Convention. — The convention assembled in the state-house at Corjdon, June 10. Jonathan Jennings was chosen. Indianas First Capitol at Corydon. 30 A SHORT SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF INDIANA chairman. The delegates were plain, patriotic men, most ofwhom were farmers. They were accustomed to hard work,beginning at sunrise and continuing till it was dark. They wentat the making of a constitution with their usual \igor and in-dustry. The convention was divided into a dozen or morecommittees, to each of which was assigned the duty of preparingsome part of the constitution. The delegates were all familiarwith the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution ofthe United States, and a number of them had studied the con-stitutions of the older states. Work progressed rapidly, and innineteen days their work was done — and it was well done. Congress did not require them to submit their work to thepeople, but it must be submitted to Congress. On December11, 1816, Congress approved the constitution, and Indiana wasat once declared a state of the Union. The Consti
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