But the people were attached to the old Constitution.

There was a special dread of any change in the independent tenure of the judiciary.
So although the coalition had a majority in the State the proposition for a Constitutional Convention was defeated.
The scheme was renewed the next year in the Legislature of 1852, of which I was a member.

Several of the Free Soilers, among which I was included, were unwilling to have the matter tried again without a distinct assurance that there should be no meddling with the judiciary.

This assurance was given in the report of a joint committee of the Legislature to whom the matter was committed, consisting of the leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties, who reported that there was no purpose to change the judicial tenure with which the people were well satisfied.

Accordingly I voted for it.