Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Mr. PORTER, of Northampton, suggested, that the amendment was inconsistent with the object of the resolution.

The PRESIDENT decided that it was in order.

Mr. MANN said: Mr. President, I do not consider this amendment from the delegate from Lancaster in order. JEFFERSON's Manual says, that no amendment can be accepted that tends to destroy the sense or purport of the original motion. Now, my resolution is for a temporary adjournment, and the amendment is, we shall not adjourn until we have done the business. I shall not appeal, butI consider the amendment unfair and unparliamentary. Mr. President, I have been induced to offer this resolution to-day, for various reasons, some of which I will briefly state. In the first place, a number of delegates have leave of absence, and if this resolution should prevail, they will not avail themselves of the privilege, but will remain until the temporary adjournment; and, another is, that from the course of business this week, it must be obvious nothing is to be done but making speeches. This whole week has been spent without deciding one section; this is greatly worse than any of the preceding weeks. I had hitherto believed that we intended, at some distant day, to do something in relation to the amendments proposed by the several committees, but I now despair. I see a settled determination with the majority to procrastinate, to delay; in fact, to do nothing. That it is impossible, if the speech mania continues, to get through committee before the sickly season, which must inevitably send many to their beds, and perhaps, to their graves; upwards of twenty are missing now, and many more will go home on leave of absence, and is it right that we should sit here through the heat of summer, on such important business, with barely a quorum? The delegate from Lancaster (Mr. HIESTER) thinks it would be unwise to go home without coming to a close. I hold a different opinion; I believe we should come together with a full knowledge of the wishes of our constituents, which we should derive from mingling among, and conversing with them during the recess, and prepared to act cool, deliberately, and dispassionately, on the various subjects before us.

Mr. FULLER, of Fayette, was not in favor of the amendment to the amendment, not that he was unwilling to remain, if the Convention was likely to get through by the first of August. If we were to judge of the future by the past, we should not get through committee by that time.If we fix on a day, it may be that we cannot get through the fifth article; and, it is desirable that the people should know what limitation we propose to make to the tenure of office in that article. He thought it would scarcely do to fix on the 7th of July, at this time. By postponing the resolution for the present, and calling it up again, we should be better able to decide on the practicability of getting through the fifth article by that day. He did not not think the people would expect us to remain to finish the business. At first, they might have expected it; but, they will not now expect the Convention to remain here through August and September, when the place is sickly. As to the farmers withdrawing: a great proportion of the members were farmers, and he hoped they would not withdraw, but remain here until all the important questions were disposed of. He believed but few would ask leave to go. He moved to postpone, for the present, the further consideration of the resolution and amend

ments.

C

Mr. JENKS, of Berks, said he would prefer to act on the amendment.He was in favor of the amendment of the gentleman from Luzerne, (Mr. WOODWARD) and against that of the gentleman from Lancaster, Mr. HIESTER). There was important parts of the Constitution yet to be considered, and few of us are instructed as to the points to be discussed. He was not informed as to the particular amendments which his constituents wished. It was a matter of sound discretion that we should proceed through the committee of the whole; then print the amendments, and spread them before the people, and afterwards adjourn for the time being. We should then re-assemble under advantageous circumstances, and should know what amendments our constituents require, and what they do not. We should thus act advisedly, and in two weeks after re-assembling should be able to accomplish every thing. The people did not require all the amendments which had been offered here. What they required were few and simple. There was some he was disposed to go for, which he wished to be disconnected from others, to which they had been attached, and to which he was opposed. There was also another consideration which had its important bearings. Who are the delegates? Fathers, and heads of families-families, in many instances, young and growing, who have a great interest in the health and longevity of those who are here. Would the people expect us to remain here, at the risk of sickness, pain, and death? No; they are not so unreasonable, They do not expect it. It is in vain to tell him that they are not exposed to malign influences here. Accustomed to an active life at home-here they have no exercise. Here they live on a full diet, instead of the plain and wholesome food of the farmer. Instead of that wholesome diet, they now have that which generates and promotes disease. He hoped the Convention would not pass by the consideration of the resolution, without paying due respect to these reasons. Our own safety may depend on an adjournment as early . as is compatible with our duties. According to his experience, legislation had always advanced more rapidly after the day was fixed. He would go for the amendment of the gentleman from Luzerne, and, if that succeeded, he would vote for the resolution.

Mr. BAYNE, of Allegheny, moved the indefinite postponement of the resolution and amendments, and asked for the yeas and nays on his motion, which were ordered.

Mr. EARLE, of Philadelphia, hoped the motion to postpone would succeed. The Convention would sit twice as long, if they determine to meet again. He had taken pains to enquire of the people of Harrishurg, and had been informed that the borough is a perfectly healthy place until the middle of August, and after that period, that ordinary care is sufficient to keep off sickness. The gentleman from Bucks said we want exercise.It might be well to appoint a committee to prepare Gymnastic exercises, as the better mode of remedying the defect. He had made up his mind, that if we come back, we shall have all the long speeches over again, and if we go on with our business, that we should get through by the middle of August.

Mr. HOPKINSON, of Philadelphia, said it was time the Convention expressed some opinion on this point. He hoped they would now come to the vote on the resolution, and not consent to postpone it. It was, in his opinion, less important which of the propositions was taken, than that this

frequent recurence of the question should not be permited to consume the time of the Convention. But how could we say, that on the 7th of July we would adjourn. Suppose we should then be just were we are now, and he saw no reason why we should not. If we have been already here seven weeks, and have not yet reached any of the important subjects, we may as well be in the same situation two weeks to come. Gentlemen had said, we have not yet reached what we were called here to do. He did not pretend to know what we were called here for; he did not know, when he came here, and he was no wiser now. It would be better not to adjourn before the articles had been carried through committee, and, therefore, he would take the amendment of the gentleman from Luzerne, in preference to that of the gentleman from Lancaster, which was too uncertain. He was willing to take the amendment of the gentleman from Luzerne, because it presented an honest available reason to give for adjournment. If the reports are gone through in committee of the whole, there is some reason for presenting them to the people. He would further say, that he had no faculty in finding out the opinions of the people. There were many who were more gifted in this respect. If we go through all the reports, gentlemen would have an opportunity of discovering how they conformed to the opinions and wishes of their constituents. They would have a good reason to give to their constituents, if they were asked why they had adjourned. Unless they had some such reason, what would they reply? One would say, I wanted to attend to my harvest; another, I wished to attend court; and, a third, I was afraid I should be sick.These would not be sufficient reasons. The reason of the gentleman from Luzerne is sufficient, and if his amendment were adopted, all would have that reason to give. There was another reason which had its weight. If gentlemen knew we are to adjourn on the 7th of July, if we get through, it will be a great means of getting us through. It was well said, by a great philosepher-" what must be done, will be done". Our duties have been hard and laborious. What has made them so? It is the afternoon sessions, which impose more labor than our constitutions can bear. These are not only injurious to health, but to business. Let gentlemen give up their useless afternoon sessions, and more business will be done-and what is done, will be better done.

Mr. MANN accepted the amendment of Mr. WOODWARD as a modification.

Mr. WOODWARD would state to the Convention, an occurence which would enable it to judge of the recommendation of the gentleman from the county of Philadelphia.

Mr. EARLE called the gentleman to order. He had no right to state on this floor, any thing which had transpired out of this Hall.

The CHAIR said, there was no rule which would prevent the gentleman from giving to the Convention any information which he might have received.

Mr. WOODWARD then said, that, in order to enable the Convention to appreciate properly the recommendation of the gentleman from the county of Philadelphia, (Mr. EARLE) urged in reply to the gentleman from Bucks, he would mention, that the gentleman, the other day, attempted to convince him (Mr. W.) that, with a chill on him, he ought not to shake Mr. EARLE said, if the gentleman had taken his advice at the time al

luded to, he would have been benefited by it; but, he went on in the usual course in the chills, and consequently, he complains of his health. As to whether his opinion was equal to that of the gentleman from Bucks, (Mr. JENKS) he thought the proof of the pudding was in the eating of it. In consequence of pursuing the course he had recommended to the gentleman, neither himself nor any of his children, the oldest of whom was sixteen, had ever been troubled with the chills. He had told the gentleman how he might have prevented his chill, and been able to attend the sitting of the Convention, but the gentleman took other advice, and was confined to his room. As to the farmers who were members of this body, to suit whose convenience this adjournment had been urged, he would say that, that if they can trust a Governor with the affairs of the Commonwealth for three or four years, and other officers with important trusts for life, they ought certainly to be willing to trust the management of their own private affairs in the hands of agents for one summer, or part of a summer. He did not believe, however, that the convenience of a majority of the Convention would be consulted, by this proposed adjournment, and he hoped it would not take place. He believed the health of Harrisburg to be as good, at this season of the year, as it is generally in the winter season. Mr. BAYNE said, as his motion to postpone the subject indefinitely was likely to occasion much debate, he would withdraw it.

Mr. FULLRR then withdrew his motion to postpone.

Mr. CHAMBERS urged the propriety of coming to a decision on this question immediately. It ought now to be ascertained, whether a majority of the Convention were of opinion, that we must adjourn before we finish the work we have in hand. If we take a recess at all, he thought we ought to consult the interests of the farmers in fixing the time. For himself, he had no farming or professional interest to attend to, and he was in favor of such an arrangement as would promote the convenience, and preserve the healths of the members, without sacrificing the public interest. He did not think it possible for the Convention to finish their business without a recess, unless we abandoned all considerations in relation to our healths. He hoped that, in a week hence, we might be able to fix upon a day for the adjournment of the Convention, and with a view of giving gentlemen time to make up their minds on the subject, he moved to postpone the further consideration of the resolution till this day week.

Mr. MERRILL was of opinion, that our healths would be as much exposed here in October, as in July and August. The days were then warm, and the nights cold, and he would submit it to gentlemen of the medical profession, whether that season would not be as hazardous, or even more hazardous to us than the summer months. If, therefore, we adjourn at all, he hoped it would be until the next spring.

Mr. MANN considered a postponement as equivalent to a rejection of the resolution, he would, therefore, call for the yeas and nays on the motion, which were ordered.

Mr. SMYTH, of Centre, said, the interests of the farmer, and the interests of the professional gentleman, had been advocated entirely in the discussion of this question. In his opinion, gentlemen ought to consult the interests of the people who sent us here, more than their own individual interests. It is not to be supposed that pending the elections, any gentlemen held out the idea, that when he came here he was only to con

sult his own interests, and to leave the interests of the people entirely out of view. It has been urged, that we have been here seven weeks, and have done nothing, and consequently, we ought to adjourn. This, he took it, ought to be an argument in favor of continuing in session for some time longer, and try to do better than we have done. He thought the better plan would be to postpone this subject for a week, and perhaps, by that time, we may be better able to say what chances there will be of getting through with our labors in a reasonable time this summer At any rate, he was opposed to fixing a day of adjournment, until we get through committee of the whole. When we get all our propositions passed through committee, he thought we might go home, and ascertain what the opinions of the people were in relation to them, but before we have accomplished that, he must oppose fixing the day for adjournment.

Mr. BELL would vote against the motion to postpone, in order to get the vote on the amendment. If the motion to postpone was disagreed to, he should then move to strike out this place, and insert Philadelphia, and strike out October, and insert November.

The question was then taken on the motion to postpone, and decided in the negative-yeas, 28; nays, 80-as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Barnitz, Chambers, Clark, of Dauphin, Clarke, of Indiana, Cleavinger, Cochran, Crain, Cummin, Cunningham, Dickerson, Dillinger, Donagan, Fuller, Gilmore, Kerr, Konigmacher, Magee, M'Call, M'Sherry, Merrill, Read, Ritter, Seltzer, Smith, Smyth, Snively, Taggart, Young-28.

NAYS-Messrs. Agnew, Ayres, Banks, Barndollar, Bayne, Bedford, Bell, Biddle, Bigelow, Brown, of Northampton, Brown, of Philadelphia, Butler, Chandler, of Chester, Chauncey, Clapp, Clarke, of Beaver, Cline, Coates, Cope, Cox, Craig, Crum, Curll, Darlington, Darrah, Denny, Dickey, Doran, Earle, Farrelly, Fleming, Forward, Foulkrod, Fry, Gamble, Gearhart, Grenell, Hastings, Hayhurst, Henderson, of Allegheny, Henderson, of Dauphin, Hiester, Hopkinson, Houpt, Hyde, Jenks, Kennedy, Long, Lyons, Maclay, Mann, Martin, M'Cahen, Merkel, Miller, Montgomery, Myers, Overfield, Pollock, Porter, of Lancaster, Porter, of Northampton, Purviance, Reigart, Rogers. Royer, Russell, Saeger, Scott, Sellers, Scheetz, Shellito, Sterigere, Swetland, Thomas, Todd, Weaver, Weidman, White, Woodward, Sergeant, President.-80.

ment.

Mr. HIESTER said, as the Convention had determined not to postpone the resolution, but to meet the question, he would withdraw his amendHe hoped the resolution would be modified, so as to make the time for adjournment definite. As it stood now, that we would adjourn, provided the Constitution was gone through with in committee of the whole, there would be no certainty as to whether we would adjourn at the time mentioned, or not. Although he was opposed to an adjournment, still, if we were to fix a day at all, he hoped it would be fixed definitely, so that we might make our arrangements accordingly, and not be left in as much doubt in relation to it, as if no day had been fixed.

Mr. REIGART moved to amend the resolution, so as to provide that the Convention, when they meet in October, should meet in the city of Lancaster. Mr. R. said, that while up, he would state, that the vestrymen of the Lutheran church of Lancaster, had offered the church for the use of the Convention, which was much larger than this Hall, and he took it, that it would be necessary to meet some where else, than in this place, in October. It might be possible that the Governor would convene the Legislature immediately after the election, which would deprive us of the use of this Hall. and it would be impossible to get another convenient

« AnteriorContinuar »