The rules having been first suspended, the resolution introduced by Mr. REED, relative to newspapers, was taken up, when 66 Mr. LARRABEE moved to amend the same by striking out the words at Madison," and inserting the words, "in this territory;" Which was agreed to. Mr. WHITON moved to amend the resolution by striking out the word "sixty," and inserting in lieu thereof the word, "forty;" Mr. REED was opposed to the amendment. He thought sixty copies a sufficiently small number; at least, it was so in his case. He represented a large district of country, and the people had but limited means of information, and he feared that a less number than sixty would not go round with his constituents. The same was true of all the northern counties, and he hoped that gentlemen from the more populous counties where they had local papers, through which intelligence would be circulated, would not forget the more urgent necessities of those representing the larger areas in the northern portions of the territory. The amendment was agreed to. The resolution as amended was then adopted. Mr. SANDERS, from the committee to whom had been referred the subject of a revision of the rules, reported rules for the government of this convention. A division of the question on the adoption of said rules having been called for, Mr. JUDD moved to amend the 11th rule, by striking out the syllable "in," in the word "indivisible." Which was agreed to. And a division having been called for, There were 29 in the affirmative, and 17 in the negative. Mr. KING moved to amend the 15th rule, by striking out the words "four and one-half, P. M.," and inserting in lieu thereof, the word "five." Mr. WHITON moved to amend the amendment by substituting for the original rule; 15th. The standing time for the daily meeting of the convention, shall be ten o'clock in the morning, until the convention shall otherwise direct; Which was agreed to. Mr. GALE moved to amend the 17th rule by inserting after the words cannot be made," the following: "But a journal of the proceedings in the committee of the whole shall be kept; Which was disagreed to. Mr. JUDD moved to amend the 15th rule by adding the following: · Provided, however, That this rule shall not be so construed as to prevent a majority of the convention from taking up the report of the said committee and making any alterations or amendments thereto." Which was agreed to. The rule as amended was then adopted. The rules as amended and adopted, were as follows: RULES. 1st. The president shall take the chair at the hour to which the convention shall have adjourned; shall immediately call the members to order; and on the appearance of a quorum shall cause the journal of the preceding day to be read and corrected.. 2d. The president shall preserve order and decorum, and decide. questions of order, subject to an appeal to the convention. He shall have the right to name any member to perform the duties of the chair; but such substitution shall not extend beyond an adjournment. He shall also appoint all committees, unless otherwise directed by the convention. 3d. The president shall be required to vote on all questions, and on calling the ayes and noes his name shall be called in alphabetical order, as Mr. President. 4th. After the journal has been read and corrected, the order of business shall be as follows, viz: 1. The presentation of petitions. 2. Reports of committees. 3. The presentation and consideration of resolutions: Provided, That one hour only shall be occupied in the foregoing three orders of business. And provided further, That every motion or resolution shall be reduced to writing, if requested by the president, or any member. 4. Unfinished business; and the business which has most progressed shall be first taken up, and of that portion of business which is in the same state of progress, that which was first introduced shall be first taken up; and it shall be the duty of the president to put all questions arising in regular order, without any special motion therefor. 5th. No resolution shall be acted upon on the same day upon which it is presented. 6th. One hundred copies of all reports, petitions and resolutions ordered to be printed; be printed for the use of the convention without fur her order. 7th. No member shall speak more than twice on the same question without leave, nor more than once, until every other member rising to speak shall have spoken; and he shall confine himself to the question under debate, and avoid personality. 8th. Whenever any member is called to order, he shall sit down until it is determined whether he is in order or not; and after such determination he shall be permitted to proceed in order. 9th. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received, unless to adjourn; to lay on the table; for the previous question; to postpone to a day certain; to commit; to amend; or to postpone indefinitely; and these several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they stand arranged. A motion to postpone to a day certain, to commit, to amend, or to postpone indefinitely, being decided, shall not be again allowed on the same day, and at the same stage of the proposition. 10th. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order, and that, and a motion to lay on the table, and all motions in relation to the priority of business, shall be decided without debate. 11th. The previous question shall be in this form: "Shall the main question be now put ?" It shall only be admitted when demanded by a majority of the members present; and its effects shall be to put an end to all debate, and bring the convention to a direct vote on the amendments reported by a committee, if any, upon pending amendments, and then upon the main question. On a motion for the previous question, and prior to seconding the same, a call of the convention shall be in order; but after a majority have seconded such motion, no call shall be in order prior to a decision of the main question. On a previous question there shall be no debate. All incidental questions of order, after a motion is made for the previous question, and pending such motion, shall be decided, whether on appeal or otherwise, without debate. 12th. When a motion or question has been once put and decided in the affirmative or negative, it shall be in order for any member who voted in the majority, or when the convention is equally divided, for a member who voted in the negative, to move for a reconsideration thereof, on the same or the succeeding day; and when the motion to reconsider is not made on the same or succeeding day, at least two days' notice of intention to make such motion shall be given. 13th. Any member may call for a division of the question, when the same will admit of it. A motion to strike out and insert shall be deemed to be divisible. A motion to strike out being lost, shall not preclude an amendment, nor a motion to strike out and insert. 14th. The ayes and noes may be called upon any question, at the request of any nine members of the convention; and when the final vote shall be taken upon each distinctive article in the constitution it shall be by the ayes and noes. 15th. Nine members may make a call of the convention and require absent members to be sent for; but a call of the convention cannot be made after the voting has commenced; and the call of the convention being ordered, and the absentees noted, the doors shall be closed, and no member permitted to leave the room until the report of the sergeant-at-arms be received and acted upon, or further proceedings in the call be suspended. 16th. A member may call for a division of the convention upon any question, either before or after a decision by the president. 17th. The standing hour for the daily meeting of the convention shall be ten o'clock in the morning, until the convention shall otherwise direct. 18th. The rules of parliamentary practice comprised in Jefferson's Manual shall govern the convention in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with these rules and the order of the convention. 19th. Every article which it is proposed shall form a part of the constitution shall be considered in committee of the whole; and the rules observed in convention shall govern as far as practicable, the proceedings in committee of the whole, except that a member may speak oftener than twice on the same subject, and that a call for the yeas and nays, or for the previous question, cannot be made. Amendments made in committee of the whole shall be entered on a separate piece of paper, and so reported to the convention by the chairman, standing in his place, which amendments shall not be read by the president, unless required by one or more of the members. 20th. Every article which it is proposed shall form a part of the constitution shall be read the first and second times, and be referred to 'he committee of the whole; and after it shall have been considered in committee of the whole, and after the amendments reported by the committee of the whole shall have been acted on, it shall be open to amendment in the convention; and when there are no further amendments to be proposed, the question shall be on ordering the article to be engrossed for its third reading; and after the same shall have been engrossed, the same shall not be amended except by the unanimous consent of the convention. And after the article has been read a third time and passed, it shall be referred to the committee on revision and arrangement, who shall report to the convention all such verbal amendments as they shall deem expedient, not changing in any manner the substance of such article. Provided, however, That this rule shall not be so construed as to prevent a majority of the convention from taking up the report of the said committee and making any alterations or amendments thereto. 21st. No standing rules or order of the convention shall be changed or rescinded without one day's previous notice being given of the motion therefor. Nor shall they be altered, changed, rescinded, or suspended, unless upon the vote of two-thirds of the members pre sent. On motion of Mr. SECOR, The convention adjourned. FRIDAY, December 17, 1847. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. READ. The journal of yesterday was read and corrected. The PRESIDENT laid before the convention a communication from the secretary of the territory in accordance with a resolution adopted on yesterday, as follows: Office of the Secretary of Wisconsin Territory, Hon. M. L. MARTIN, President of the Convention, Madison, W. T.: SIR-I have the honor herewith to transmit an abstract of the votes cast on the 6th day of April last, in this territory, on the question of the adoption of the constitution, and of equal suffrage to colored persons, in compliance with a resolution passed by the convention over which you preside, on yesterday. With great respect, your obed't servant, JOHN CATLIN, Secretary Wisconsin Territory. |