I was for amending the Constitution, and not for obliterating every vital principle in contained."[19] He especially opposed creating an elective judiciary.[20] His antagonism to the constitution put him at odds with his father-in-law, Benjamin Hardin.[19] The two did not reconcile until 1852, as Hardin lay on his deathbed.[19] The new constitution was adopted in 1850, and in June of that year Helm encouraged the people to accept it.[21]