that door, that moment he sinks into the humble representative of a portion of the freemen of this Commonwealth. And, sir, there is no member here, who, however fine may be his talents, or lowly his situation, the moment he takes his seat here, as a delegate of this Convention, he rises, at that moment to the high and distinguished station of a representative of the freemen of this great Commonwealth. All here are equal; all the representatives of the people of Pennsylvania. No gentleman comes here, as the gentleman from Beaver asserts, to present his own crude notions. Each member is here to present, for the consideration of the whole, the amendments that the people he represents desire ;-not his own crude notions, but the matured judgment of his constituents; and, sir, when those opinions are presented here, in his own plain and unvarnished language, they are entitled to the same consideration as any report that may be presented from any committee of the most talented gentlemen of the Convention. For one, Mr. B. said, he had come here to lay before the Convention the wishes and well considered orders of his constituents on the amendments they desire to have made in the Constitution, and they should be fully and fairly presented. And no report, no matter how talented might be those who made it, should prevent him from urging their adoption. No committee, said Mr. B. could report his views, for as yet he had not had an opportunity of making them known. It would be time enough to raise committees when the sentiments of members from different parts of the state had been expressed. Then committees could report such amendments as might be expected to meet the approbation of the Convention. We have, said he, already before us, in the Constitution itself, the best report that can be given us; and we are but a committee ourselves, sent by the people to propose amendments for their consideration. Let us therefore proceed at once to the matter entrusted to us; for every gentleman must be assured that to this complexion must we come at last. And all the talented gentlemen in the Convention, how learned soever may be their reports, will not, and cannot prevent a full and free discussion of the whole subject.

Mr. STERIGERE, of Montgomery, thought committees might be of very great service to the Convention, in embodying the amendments to be proposed to the Constitution, in language so distinct and clear that there might be no dispute in relation to them, whereas, if they took up the Constitution in committee of the whole, there would be twenty amendments proposed to it embracing the same principles.

Mr. PORTER, of Northampton, remarked that as he had offered the resolution it might be expected of him to state his reasons for so doing. It was very desirable to have the opinions of the members on the amendments which were necessary. If the subject was referred to the committee of the whole, each member could express his views, as the provisions of the Constitution were taken up in order, and an expression of opinion would be elicited as to what changes the majority desired. It had been objected that thus the crude ideas of gentlemen would be brought forward, without system and without order, and that it would be best first to have the several subjects elaborated in committee, and the result laid before the Convention in the shape of reports. For his part, he thought that the project of going into committee of the whole, first, was preferable, so that

would, if necessary, embody the sentiments adopted by the majority, and put them into the appropriate form. That as much order and method would be thus observed as in any other course he doubted not, and a serious difficulty avoided. If the articles were separately referred to different committees it would very probably occur, that gentlemen holding certain opinions, on one article of the Constitution, might be unable to bring them before the appropriate committees, from the fact of being placed on a different one. He concluded with suggesting that the freedom of debate permitted in committee of the whole, was more calculated to elicit the talents of the House, and that all could hear and decide for themselves. Pending the consideration of this question, The Convention adjourned.

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1837.`

Mr. FULLER, of Fayette, offered the following resolution, which was laid on the table:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Commonwealth be requested to furnish this Convention with a statement containing the whole number of incorporated companies for banking and other purposes, within this Commonwealth; also, the amount of capital employed, and the dates of the several acts of incorporation under their respective or appropriate heads.

Mr. FULLER offered the following resolution, which was read a first and second time.

Resolved, That, when this Convention adjourns, it will adjourn to meet at nine o'clock to-morrow morning, and that to be the standing hour of meeting until otherwise ordered.

Mr. HIESTER then moved to amend by striking therefrom all after the word "Resolved", and inserting in lieu thereof the following, viz: "Until otherwise ordered, the Convention will take a recess from one to three o'clock, P. M., daily.

The amendment being under consideration,

On motion of Mr. BELL, the further consideration of the resolution and amendment was postponed for the present.

Mr. PURVIANCE offered the following resolution which was laid on the table:

Resolved, That this Convention will, on Monday next, and during the sitting of the Convention thereafter, meet at nine o'clock, A. M. and adjourn at twelve, and meet again in the afternoon at four and adjourn at six.

Mr. GRENELL offered the following resolution which was laid on the table:

Resolved, That the standing hour of meeting of this Convention, be nine A. M. on each and every day, (Sundays excepted,) until otherwise directed by the Convention. Mr. EARLE offered the following resolution which was laid on the table:

Resolved, That this Convention will hold an afternoon session on each day, (Sundays excepted,) commencing at four o'clock, except when otherwise expressly determined by the Convention.

Mr. BANKS offered the following resolution, which was laid on the table:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Commonwealth be requested to furnish the Convention with a statement or a table of the number of taxable inhabitants in the respective wards of the several cities, and the respective boroughs and townships of the several counties, in the State, according to the enumeration made in 1835-6.

Mr. BROWN, of Philadelphia, offered the following resolution, viz : Resolved, That the Secretary have printed for the use of the delegates of the Convention, a tabular statement, showing the number and official names of all the officers whose office is established by each of the Constitutions of the States of the Union, by whom appointed or elected, official tenure, salary, &c., also the official names, tenure, salary, &c. of all the officers whose office has been established by the laws of this State.

The resolution having been read, Mr. BROWN asked that it be then read a second time, and considered, which was disagreed to.

On motion of Mr. DILLINGER, the Convention proceeded to the second reading and consideration of the following resolution, offered by him on the 6th instant:

“Resolved, That the same number of copies of the debates and journals respectively, of this Convention, be printed and distributed, in the same manner as is now by law provided for the printing and distribution of the journals of the Legislature of this Commonwealth".

Mr. FLEMING moved to amend, by striking therefrom the words "the same number of copies", and inserting in lieu thereof, "three thousand copies, thirteen hundred and thirty thereof, to be bound".

Mr. STEVENS would like to know whether it was the intention of the gentleman from Lycoming (Mr. FLEMING,) to have the whole three thousand bound. That number appeared to him (Mr. STEVENS,) to be too many. They were of very little use, and a considerable expense would be incurred if they were to be printed on good paper and bound. If three thousand copies were ordered to be printed, twelve hundred, which was the usual number printed by the House of Representatives, would be sufficient to be distributed in the ordinary manner, and placed in the archives of the State. Not one of these twelve hundred copies would come into the hands of the members of the Convention. They were intended for another purpose. The better way was to have the copies that were ordered urbound, and let them be delivered in sheets as they were printed, for distribution among the people.

Mr. REIGART, of Lancaster, thought 3000 copies too many. As there was a greater number of members in this body than in the House of Representatives, it would be as well to have more than 1200 copies. He would therefore move to amend the motion by striking out "three thousand", and inserting "fifteen hundred".

Mr. FLEMING, of Lycoming, remarked that it was not his intention to have the whole number bound. If the members of the Convention were desirous to have their proceedings made known to the people, they could not do so better than by supplying them with copies of the debates.Twelve hundred copies were not sufficient to be distributed among the people of this great Commonwealth. It was of the highest importance that the constituents of every delegate on this floor, should know precisely what was doing here, in order that each of us can consult with those whom we represent. He did not think that his proposition bordered on extravagance, and he therefore hoped it would be adopted.

Mr. DUNLOP, of Franklin, observed that 1200 was a number that could

not be divided by the number of delegates. He would therefore suggest that 1330 was a better number.

Mr. FLEMING accepted the modification, and so modified his motion as to order that 1330 copies should be bound, and the remainder be delivered in sheets.

Mr. PORTER, of Northampton, moved that the resolution under consideration, together with all the other resolutions and amendments relating to the same subject, be referred to a committee, which was agreed to.Whereupon, it was

Ordered, That Messrs. DILLINGER, CAREY, KONIGMACHER, HELFFENSTEIN and M'CALL be the committee for the purpose expressed in the said resolution.

Mr. BROWN, of Philadelphia, from the committee appointed on the subject of purchasing books for the use of the Convention, reported, in part, the following resolution:

Resolved, That one hundred and thirty-three copies of the Constitution, of the United States, and of the several States of the Union; and one hundred and thirty-three copies of a book called the " Conventions of Pennsylvania", be purchased,

The resolution was then read a second time, considered and adopted. Mr. PORTER, of Northampton, on leave, introduced the following reso

lution:

Resolved, That the Secretaries be directed to pay, as part of the contingent expenses of this Convention, the expense of two thousand seven hundred copies of the Daily Chronicle and Convention Journal, to be furnished during the sitting of this body, and to be divided among the members for distribution among their constituents.

The resolution having been read a second time, Mr. PORTER, of Northampton, moved that it be referred to the committee to be appointed under the resolution relative to the printing and distributing of the debates and journals; which was agreed to.

Mr. STERIGERE, of Montgomery, offered the following resolution, which was laid upon the table:

Ordered, That the journals of the Convention, and of the committee of the whole, be printed on good paper, in royal octavo form, with long primer type-the yeas and nays to be inserted in solid paragraphs.

Ordered, That a number of copies of the English debates, corresponding with that of the English journal, and a number of copies of the German debates, corresponding with that of the German journal, be printed on good paper, in royal octavo form, with brevier type.

Ordered, That two hundred shall be considered the usual number of copies of any paper directed to be printed by the Convention.

On motion of Mr. WOODWARD, of Luzerne, the Convention proceeded to the further consideration of the resolution offered on the 8th instant, by Mr. PORTER, of Northampton, on the subject of referring the Constitution to a committee of the whole, and the amendment thereto offered by Mr. DICKEY.

Mr. STEVENS moved to amend the amendment by adding thereto the following, viz: "And the said committee shall report the several articles of the Constitution, with or without amendments, and with no other report".

Mr. STERIGERE, of Montgomery, moved to postpone for the present, the further consideration of the resolution and amendments, in order that the Convention might proceed to the consideration of the twenty-ninth

rule. He had made this motion in the hope that it would be acceded to, as he thought it must be apparent to every gentleman that it was of the highest importance that the rules of the Convention should be finished without delay, and printed for their use.

Mr. PURVIANCE, of Butler, hoped, that neither the amendment of the gentleman from Montgomery, nor that of the gentleman from Adams, would prevail. His first reflections on the subject had induced him to believe that the best course to pursue would be to adopt the amendment of the gentleman from Beaver, and go into the appointment of the committees, and then refer to them the nine articles of the Constitution.However, upon mature reflection, he had come to the conclusion to agree to the proposition of the gentleman from Northampton (Mr. PORTER). And, he was the more influenced in that determination, from an examination of the proceedings of the Convention of 1789-90, for he there found that on the 27th of November, '89, the Convention resolved itself into a committee of the whole; and having done that, they proceeded to a discussion of the several propositions submitted to special committees. Now, he (Mr. P.) thought that this was much the better course. For, when the Convention should resolve itself into committee of the whole, some gentleman would rise in his place, and propose that the Constitution be alter ed so and so (pointing out the manner in which he wishes to effect that object). Every member would thus be afforded an opportunity of making their respective propositions as to the amendments they might deem it necessary to make in the Constitution. And, after acting on the different propositions, they could then be referred to special committees. He would read an extract or two from the proceedings of the Convention of 1789:

IN CONVENTION, NOVEMBER 27, 1789.

A motion was made by Mr. M'KEAN, seconded by Mr. HoGE, in the words following viz:

Resolved, That the Convention will on Monday next resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration that part of the Constitution which relates to the department of legislation, and to report whether any or what alteration shall be made therein.

It was then moved by Mr. SITGREAVES, Seconded by Mr. M'KEAN, to strike out the words "that part of the Constitution which relates to the department of legislation, and to report whether any or what alteration shall be made therein", and in lieu thereof to insert the following words, viz: "Whether, and wherein, the Constitution of this State requires alteration or amendment."

Which was carried in the affirmative, and the resolution, as amended, was adopted, viz: Resolved, That this Convention will, on Monday next, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration whether, and wherein, the Constitution of this State requires alteration or amendment.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1789.

The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. Agreeably to the order of yesterday, the Convention proceeded to the election of a committee, to "take into consideration the Constitution of this Commonwealth, with such alterations and amendments as may be necessary therein, and to report a draught of a proposed Constitution, altered or amended as aforesaid, &c. and, that the resolutions reported by the committee of the whole, and adopted by the House, shall be instructions to the said committee so far as they extend", and the ballots being taken, it appeared that Mr. FINDLAY, Mr. HAND, Mr. MILLER, Mr. WILSON, Mr. IRVINE, Mr. Lewis, Mr.