cable thereto, to which they propose no amendments or alterations, and in such sections as they propose to amend and alter, they shall incorporate such amendments and alterations.

one of the main difficulties in doing business in Legislative bodies was in getting ready to do business. It is generally thirty days after the Legislature meets that the business of the session fairly commenMr. McC. said the object he had in view | ces. One week had been spent in organiwas, so far as practicable, to produce uni-zing the Convention. The committees formity in the mode of reporting the amendments.

If the alterations proposed are arranged and drawn up in connection with the parts proposed to be amended, every member can compare and decide more promptly on the amendment, than if he had to refer to another document.

· Mr. REDFIELD-The object is merely to preserve the present excellent form of our constitution, so that when the committees report, the several parts may be placed together in harmony. The resolution was adopted.

· Mr. WITHERELL rose and stated that he did not shun any labor in connection with the Convention. He declined to serve in the place proposed by the President on the committee on the punishment of crime. Mr. N. PIERCE offered the following: Resolved, That this Convention will on Monday next proceed to revise and amend the constitution of this State; that this Convention will resolve itself into the committee of the whole Convention, and take the present constitution up by articles and by sections, and in such other sub-divisions as will best suit the convenience of the committee, and proceed from day to day to revise and amend said constitution, in committee and in Convention, until the labors of this Convention shall be finished.

Mr. WHIPPLE-The resolution proposed by the gentleman from Calhoun [Mr. N. PIERCE] would be in conflict with the resolution just adopted, and would embarrass exceedingly the business of the Convention. After the committees which have been appointed, under the resolution intro duced by the gentleman from Monroe, shall have reported, then the Convention may with propriety go into committee of the whole on the constitution, under some such resolution as the gentleman proposes. To go at present into committee of the whole, would bring the Convention into direct conflict with the committees.

Mr. N. PIERCE thought it was obvious to every member of the Convention, that

were now appointed, but it might be four weeks before they reported, during which time the members of the Convention not engaged on those committees would have nothing to do but walk the streets of Lansing. It appeared to him that the most proper mode of proceeding would be to take up the old constitution, and every man propose the amendment he wished to make. He thought the business would sooner be completed by the adoption of this mode, than by referring the several subjects embraced in the constitution to the committees. It would be found 'more difficult to connect the different parts reported by the committees, than by taking up the whole at once.

The object for which the Convention had assembled was to amend. The old constitution was a good one. If any alterations were required in the constitution, they were such as would tend to effect a reduction in the expenses of the government and the mode and manner of footing up the bills. It was desirable to accomplish this work in the least possible time; and as he believed the plan of proceeding he proposed would effect a saving of time, he had been induced to offer the resolution to the consideration of the Convention. It had been a long established custom in Legislative bodies and in conventions, to refer to committees and get their reports; but we live in a day of improvement-great improvement and old established usages are not held in so much reverence as formerly. It appeared to him that there might be no impropriety in deviating from the ancient practice, by taking up at once the whole constitution itself. If difficulties should arise on any particular subject, it might be referred to a committee for more special consideration. Perhaps he was wrong in his calculation, but it appeared to him that in thirty days all the amendments required in the constitution might be made, and the revision completed.

Mr. WITHERELL-The object of the gentleman is accomplished already. The

constitution is referred to the several committees under the different heads. The only difficulty seems to be that the gentleman wants something to do something to talk about. It is probable that some of the committees will report back the subjects referred to them, without proposing any change, and that they will report immediately. The time of the Convention may then be occupied until the committees engaged on those subjects in which important alterations are contemplated, may be able to report.

J

Mr. BACKUS had come into the Convention with the disposition to accomplish the work for which they were assembled as speedily as possible. The main object for which the delegates were assembled, was to revise the constitution, and incorporate such amendments as were required by the people. A large proportion of that instrument was such as the people were perfectly satisfied with, and would require no alteration. In his view, some such mode as the gentleman proposed would have been appropriate, and might have been made applicable; but as the various subjects had been distributed among the several committees for their consideration, upon which they would be required to report, the adoption of the resolution proposed by the gentleman from Calhoun would impede materially the business as arranged. The object of the gentleman might be accomplished by the introduction of resolutions instructing those committees to embody, specific amendments in their reports. Gentlemen could indicate all the various modes of amendment they thought proper, and in that way call the attention of the committees to them. Had the whole constitution been referred to the committee of the whole in the first, instance, it might have been proper; but he [Mr. B.] should hesitate to adopt the proposition now, after the Convention had appointed 23 committees to act and report on the matter.

The resolution was not adopted.

On motion of Mr. STOREY, the resolution relative to the printing of the reports of the proceedings of the Convention was taken from the table and referred to the committee on printing.

was referred the duty of inviting the resident clergy to officiate at the opening of the daily sessions, be instructed to report what arrangement has been made, if any, for the payment of their services.

*

Mr. M. said he offered the resolution, not with the intention of exciting any feeling amongst the members, but that some arrangement might be made, either among the members themselves or by some other mode, for the payment of the clergymen who had been invited to open the morning sessions of the Convention with prayer. Arrangements made now might prevent trouble hereafter.

Mr. McLEOD-We have no such committee in existence.

Mr. RAYNALE-The committee has been dischaged, having reported that they had accomplished the object for which they had been appointed.

Mr. RAYNALE offered, the following as a substitute:

Resolved, That the Sergeant-at-Arms be directed to invite the resident clergy of this village to attend alternately and open the sessions with prayer; and that no other compensation be allowed for the services of clergymen than the members of the Convention may deem proper to pay from their own private funds.

Mr. MOORE withdrew his resolution, and Mr. RAYNALE offered his substitute as an original resolution.

Mr. EATON moved to strike out that part which directs the Sergeant-at-Arms to give the invitation.

Mr. DANFORTH moved to lay on the table, which was negatived.

Mr. ROBERTS submitted the following substitute:

Resolved, That the services of the resident clergymen be dispensed with, and that the Rev. J. D. PIERCE and Rev. Mr. WEBSTER, members of this body, be requested to officiate alternately.

Mr. WITHERELL moved to indefinitely postpone.

Mr. RAYNALE hoped the motion would not prevail. He believed the Convention was laboring under some misunderstanding on the subject. It was true that a committee had been appointed to inMr. MOORE offered the following reso-vite the resident clergy to meet the Conlution: vention, and open the daily sessions with religious exercises. It was also true that

Resolved, That the committee to whom 6

the committee had reported that they had performed that duty, and that the committee had been discharged; but it was also true that all the resident clergy had not been invited. He knew of one to whom the invitation had not been extended. He had been told by the chairman of the committee that he should not invite that clegyman.

been driven to the necessity of doing. something. Dissatisfaction existed among the members of the Convention. He considered this the most proper mode of having the matter settled. He was opposed to appropriating money from the treasury to pay for the services of the clergymenhe thought it unconstitutional. The resolution he proposed, if adopted, would dispose of the matter more satisfactorily.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD-No arrangement having been made for the services of the clergymen who had been invited, one object in bringing this subject again before the Convention was to have that question settled. It was desirable to know whether the clergymen were to be paid by the State or by private subscription. He should prefer that the question be settled, rather than leave it indefinite. He understood, also, that there was one clergyman, a resident of the place, who had not been invited. If the committee did not know of it, they are excusable-if they did, the object of the resolution had not been carried out by the committee.

Mr. VAN VALKENBURG-I regret the committee to whom this duty was assigned, have failed so to discharge it as to meet the approbation of my honorable colleague from Oakland. The committee, sir, were strangers in this community, and sought information from respectable residents of the place, by whom they were referred to the clergymen who have officiated for us, and were informed they were the only resident clergymen in the place; and now, Mr. PRESIDENT, is the first time I have ever heard the name of any other person mentioned as a resident clergyman. The committee were both strangers to the gentlemen who have, since their invitation, conducted our devotional exercises; and intended in all good faith to Mr. J. D. PIERCE had not been aware, discharge their duties, and can but regret till he saw the journal of this morning, that that their action has failed to satisfy any the committee had been discharged, he havmember of this Convention. The resolu- ing been out of the Hall at the time the tion offered by my worthy colleague, cast- report was made. He had suggested to ing censure upon the committee, I consid- the chairman to report in part. In reply er neither kind nor courteous, and think to the question whether the committee had its adoption would leave the Convention in made any proposition in respect to the pay a fickle position before the public, having of the ministers invited, he had only to already, through their committee, invited say, that it was no part of the business of the resident clergy, enjoyed their services, the committee to do any such thing. They and discharged their committee. True, were not instructed, either by the resolu my friend, Mr. RAYNALE, told me he had a tion, or by the Convention in any other Universalist minister here, but he did not form, to make any provision or terms in reinform me he was a resident, and I sup-gard to payment. When he came here he posed he was retained for his own special benefit. I trust the resolution in its present form will not pass.

Mr. RAYNALE was sorry to see any feeling excited upon the subject. He should not have called out the gentlemen [Mr. VAN VALKENBURG] if he could have avoided it. The gentleman seemed to intimate that he did not know there was a Universalist clergyman in the place, and that he must invite that clergyman in order to give satisfaction. He would again repeat that the gentleman said he did not recognize him as a clergyman, and that he would not invite him. He [Mr. R.] had

was wholly unacquainted with the clergymen of the place. He had inquired and was informed that there were two laboring here, and the committee invited them. Af ter the report was made, which he had supposed to be only in part, others were said to be here as residents; but he had no knowledge of their names or residence till this morning. Such was his position in regard to this whole matter.

Mr. ROBERTS had sent up the substitute to the resolution offered by the gentleman from Oakland, under an impression, as the Convention cannot make any appro priation for the payment of those clergy

men who may officiate here, that the next legislature will be applied to, and an expense of one or two thousand dollars in curred in debate on the subject. He should be glad to retain the services of the resident clergy in the manner pointed out, but should be opposed to it if they were to be paid by an appropriation hereafter to be made.

Mr. BUSH said he had not intended to rise on this occasion; but as a resident, it must be presumed that he knew the facts. He would state the facts as he knew them. As a resident, he knew of but two clergymen who were such by profession. A Mr. Sanford, who conducts a paper, preaches sometimes, but does not make it a profess

ion.

There is another person who preaches occasionally; a Mr. Tooker, who is a very intelligent man and a respectable citizen, but does not follow preaching as a profession. He [Mr. B.] knew of but two who did.

vexed point is this: that two only of the resident clergymen have been invited under the rule, while, in reality, there are three or four to whom the invitation should have been extended. It is not to be supposed that this exclusion was the result of a mere difference of opinion in matters of relgious belief. I cannot suppose that the committee would venture to prostitute the delegated sovereignty of Michigan, which we hold in our hands, to the cause of either party or sect. We are free, and shall remain so, to worship the Great God as we will, without let or hinderence from any created being, be our creed as broad as the winds of heaven. I do not mean to oppose the usage of prefacing our deliberations with prayer. Far from it! I look upon it rather as a tribute to the moral sentiment of the people, precisely as I viewed the proposition of my friend from Chippewa, as a tribute to national pride. In that case I voted that our broad flag should be given to the breeze; and in this case I shall vote for the ceremony of devotion. But, to my view, all that we need and all that we should require of a model chaplain is this: a well-dressed, gentleman-like person, who shall make a brief, business like prayer, and when his task is finished, shall retire

Mr. BRITAIN said that since his arrival at Lansing he had inquired of several of its citizens the number and names of their resident clergymen, and in every instance he had been informed that there were four. He supposed, of course, that four would be invited by the committee; and he heard this morning with disappoint-to-parts unknown. ment the declaration of the honorable chair

man that but two had been invited. The Reverened Mr. Tooker, of the Baptist denomination, had been universally spoken of as a worthy man. He had both seen and heard him, and appearances certainly were in accordance with these statements. That he lives at the lower town is true, but Mr. Sapp, one of the invited clergymen, lives there also, and farther from this capitol han Mr. Tooker's residence. If Mr. Took er labors at his trade a portion of his time to support himself and family, and thus make lighter the burthens of his people, he is certainly none the less entitled to consideration on that account.

Mr. WITHERELL had no objection to the invitation of more clergymen, if there were any more in the place; but he objected to sending the Sergeant-at-Arms after them. It seems to be assuming too menacing an attitude.

Mr. MCLEOD-Mr. President-If I have rightly apprehended this discussion, the

Mr. BAGG would briefly define his position: as an individual, he thought he could suit himself best in prayer; but as the Convention was a public body, he had voted for the resolution to invite the clergy to engage in devotional exercises in deference to public opinion, and he should go for the people paying them. If it is the public opinion that the Convention should have clergymen to open the daily sessions with prayer, the public should pay for their

services.

Mr. RRITAIN moved to strike out the words "the Sergeant-at-Arms," and insert "a committee of three," which Mr. RayNALE accepted.

Mr. WITHERELL-It is proposed to say in the outset how we are to pay them. Who has asked for pay? They have been merely invited. Whenever the question comes up for payment, the Convention can decide on the mode.

Mr. EATON said he saw the propriety of having the question settled. The ser

Mr. VAN VALKENBURG moved to add, that the clergymen who have been invited, be informed of the action of the Convention on the subject. Which was accepted by Mr. RAYNALE.

The question recurring on Mr. CLARK'S motion to strike out,

Mr. FRALICK_had hoped when the subject was brought up this morning, that the Convention would have come to some