The motion was then decided in the negative.

Mr. DARLINGTON, of Chester, moved to amend the report by adding the following words:

"And no other oath, declaration or test, shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust".

The committee then rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again to-morrow.

The Convention then adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1837.

Mr. CUMMIN, of Juniata, submitted the following resolution, which was ordered to be laid on the table, and printed.

Resolved, That the committee on the sixth article of the Constitution be instructed to amend the second section of the said article, so that the freemen of this Commonwealth be armed and disciplined for its defence, and that the militia officers be appointed in such manner and for such time as shall be directed by law.

Mr. FARRELLY, of Crawford, submitted the following resolution, which was ordered to be laid on the table, and printed.

Resolved, That the committee on the ninth article of the Constitution be instructed to enquire into the expediency of striking out said article, and substituting therefor, the fol lowing: "The powers not delegated by this Constitution, are retained by the people”.

Mr. CRUM, of Huntingdon, submitted the following resolution, which was ordered to be laid on the table, and printed.

Resolved, That the committee on the ninth article of the Constitution be instructed to enquire into the expediency of a Constitutional provision, requiring the observance of the Sabbath day.

Mr. WOODWARD, of Luzerne, submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Secretaries of the Convention purchase one copy of Purdon's Digest, (Stroud's edition,) for each member of the Convention, and that the expense of the same be paid out of the contingent fund.

The resolution having been read, and the question being put on the second reading, it was ordered, on motion of Mr. DICKEY, that the question be taken by ayes and noes.

Mr, BROWN, of Philadelphia, stated, lest blame should be thrown on the committee, that the subject of this resolution has been under consideration before the committee, but that it had not been deemed expedient to make any report upon it.

Mr. STEVENS presumed the object of the gentleman from Beaver, in calling for the ayes and noes, was to shew whether any of the members of the last Legislature, who had received copies of this Digest, would be found voting for the resolution. Every member of the two Houses had received a copy.

Mr. DICKEY replied that this was one object. Another was to shew who would be found voting for the expenditure of money on useless objects. He could not discover any propriety in adopting this resolution, unless it could be shewn that the Convention had been sent here to digest the laws of Pennsylvania, instead of to form a fundamental law for the

state.

Mr. WOODWARD said he had not intended to say a word on the subject. He had thought that no lawyer would oppose this resolution, the object of which was to obtain a work which would afford great assistance to the labors of the Convention, and without the aid of which he had felt himself greatly at a loss. He considered it necessary to have a digested view of the acts of the Legislature before the Convention; and many very important acts, which had passed within the last few years, were to be found in this Digest, and could not be so conveniently refered to in any other place. Many of the amendments which had been submitted, are calculated to exert great influence on some of these acts. He did not desire to go blindly to work, but wished to see how the land lay round him, before he shaped his course. The call for the ayes and noes should but deter him from voting for the work, and he hoped it would not deter any other member. On the ground of economy, it would be wise to purchase this book, for, to proceed without the light which it would afford, would subject the people to a much greater cost. If any member was not provided with the work, he ought to be; and he was sure there was no one among the people who would object to an expense which would have the effect of greatly facilitating the labors of the Convention. Mr. DICKEY did not understand how the Digest of the laws of Pennsylvania could help the Convention. The gentleman said he could not get along withont Stroud's edition of Purdon's Digest. What had the Convention to do with the Digest? The business it had to perform was with the fundamental law, to frame a Constitution. Any work which would throw a light on that subject he would willingly vote for. If this were a proposition to obtain the reports of the proceedings of the Convention of 1790, it would be deserving of support, but this Digest would be useless. He cared no more for the expense of the work than many others. Every lawyer should have a copy, but he should have it at his own expense.

Mr. REIGART, of Lancaster, said he would endeavor to shew that there was a connexion between the matter of the Digest and the business in the Convention, and consequently that there would be a propriety of obtaining the work. If this was a book which the Legislature ought to have, it was one which the Convention ought to have. If gentlemen would turn to the Digest they would find that there were numerous references to the Constitution, as well as to the laws of the State. The Convention could not get on understandingly without it. He agreed with the gentleman from Luzerne, that it was indispensible to a proper performance of the duties of the Convention. It exhibited the constructions given to every part of the Constitution, and there was, consequently, an intimate connexion between it and the business before this body. The expense was nothing, and he feared no blame from his constituents, when he placed his name on record in favor of the resolution.

Mr. DARLINGTON, of Chester, thought it entirely proper that members should be acquainted with the course of legislation, and the guards and checks which the Legislature had enacted. He did not himself feel prepared to act without the aid of this work.

Mr. Cox, of Somerset, said, if there were any members of the Legislature here who had received the work, they did not want a copy, and would, of course, inform the Secretary, who would not procure it.

The motion was then decided in the negative.

Mr. DARLINGTON, of Chester, moved to amend the report by adding the following words:

"And no other oath, declaration or test, shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust".

The committee then rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again to-morrow.

The Convention then adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1837.

Mr. CUMMIN, of Juniata, submitted the following resolution, which was ordered to be laid on the table, and printed.

Resolved, That the committee on the sixth article of the Constitution be instructed to amend the second section of the said article, so that the freemen of this Commonwealth be armed and disciplined for its defence, and that the militia officers be appointed in such manner and for such time as shall be directed by law.

Mr. FARRELLY, of Crawford, submitted the following resolution, which was ordered to be laid on the table, and printed.

Resolved, That the committee on the ninth article of the Constitution be instructed to enquire into the expediency of striking out said article, and substituting therefor, the fol lowing: "The powers not delegated by this Constitution, are retained by the people".

Mr. CRUM, of Huntingdon, submitted the following resolution, which was ordered to be laid on the table, and printed.

Resolved, That the committee on the ninth article of the Constitution be instructed to enquire into the expediency of a Constitutional provision, requiring the observance of the Sabbath day.

Mr. WOODWARD, of Luzerne, submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Secretaries of the Convention purchase one copy of Purdon's Digest, (Stroud's edition,) for each member of the Convention, and that the expense of the same be paid out of the contingent fund.

The resolution having been read, and the question being put on the second reading, it was ordered, on motion of Mr. DICKEY, that the question be taken by ayes and noes.

Mr, BROWN, of Philadelphia, stated, lest blame should be thrown on the committee, that the subject of this resolution has been under consideration before the committee, but that it had not been deemed expedient to make any report upon it.

Mr. STEVENS presumed the object of the gentleman from Beaver, in calling for the ayes and noes, was to shew whether any of the members of the last Legislature, who had received copies of this Digest, would be found voting for the resolution. Every member of the two Houses had received a copy.

Mr. DICKEY replied that this was one object. Another was to shew who would be found voting for the expenditure of money on useless objects. He could not discover any propriety in adopting this resolution, unless it could be shewn that the Convention had been sent here to digest the laws of Pennsylvania, instead of to form a fundamental law for the

state.

Mr. WOODWARD said he had not intended to say a word on the subject. He had thought that no lawyer would oppose this resolution, the object of which was to obtain a work which would afford great assistance to the labors of the Convention, and without the aid of which he had felt himself greatly at a loss. He considered it necessary to have a digested view of the acts of the Legislature before the Convention; and many very important acts, which had passed within the last few years, were to be found in this Digest, and could not be so conveniently refered to in any other place. Many of the amendments which had been submitted, are calculated to exert great influence on some of these acts. He did not desire to go blindly to work, but wished to see how the land lay round him, before he shaped his course. The call for the ayes and noes should but deter him from voting for the work, and he hoped it would not deter any other member. On the ground of economy, it would be wise to purchase this book, for, to proceed without the light which it would afford, would subject the people to a much greater cost. If any member was not provided with the work, he ought to be; and he was sure there was no one among the people who would object to an expense which would have the effect of greatly facilitating the labors of the Convention. Mr. DICKEY did not understand how the Digest of the laws of Pennsylvania could help the Convention. The gentleman said he could not get along withont Stroud's edition of Purdon's Digest. What had the Convention to do with the Digest? The business it had to perform was with the fundamental law, to frame a Constitution. Any work which would throw a light on that subject he would willingly vote for. If this were a proposition to obtain the reports of the proceedings of the Convention of 1790, it would be deserving of support, but this Digest would be useless. He cared no more for the expense of the work than many others. Every lawyer should have a copy, but he should have it at his own expense.

Mr. REIGART, of Lancaster, said he would endeavor to shew that there was a connexion between the matter of the Digest and the business in the Convention, and consequently that there would be a propriety of obtaining the work. If this was a book which the Legislature ought to have, it was one which the Convention ought to have. If gentlemen would turn to the Digest they would find that there were numerous references to the Constitution, as well as to the laws of the State. The Convention could not get on understandingly without it. He agreed with the gentleman from Luzerne, that it was indispensible to a proper performance of the duties of the Convention. It exhibited the constructions given to every part of the Constitution, and there was, consequently, an intimate connexion between it and the business before this body. The expense was nothing, and he feared no blame from his constituents, when he placed his name on record in favor of the resolution.

Mr. DARLINGTON, of Chester, thought it entirely proper that members should be acquainted with the course of legislation, and the guards and checks which the Legislature had enacted. He did not himself feel pre

pared to act without the aid of this work.

Mr. Cox, of Somerset, said, if there were any members of the Legislature here who had received the work, they did not want a copy, and would, of course, inform the Secretary, who would not procure it.

Mr. DICKEY said, he had one in his desk, at the service of any gentle

man.

Mr. M'DowELL, of Bucks, moved to amend the resolution by adding the words

« And that, when this Convention adjourns, the books so purchased shall be placed in the State Library, for the use of the Legislature".

Mr. HIESTER, of Lancaster, moved a further amendment to make the number of copies "fifty", which was accepted by the mover, as a modification of his amendment.

We

Mr. CLARKE, of Indiana, expressed a hope that this amendment would not prevail, because, if it did, the next Legislature would take the books and distribute them. We may as well (said he) do this ourselves. He had got along through the world so far without having recourse to popularity traps. He did not mean to say, the gentleman from Beaver, in calling for the ayes and noes, had intended to have recourse to one. (continued Mr. C.) may as well have these books, and make them useful to our neighbors. In my time, I have got some copies of Smith's Laws, and other books; some of them were given me in the Legislature. But I have not one of all these at home. They have all been lent out among my neighbors, Justices of the Peace, and others of my fellow-citizens. And if I have this work, I shall take it home and use it in the same way, and this gives all the citizens an opportunity of knowing what the law is. I shall certainly vote for the resolution, without being detered by the ayes and noes.

The question was then taken on the motion to amend, and decided in the negative.

The question was then taken on the resolution, and decided in the negative, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Ayres, Baldwin, Barclay, Barnitz, Biddle, Bigelow, Bonham, Brown, of Northampton, Chandler, of Philadelphia, Clarke, of Indiana, Cleavinger, Cochran, Cope, Cox, Cummin, Cunningham, Curll, Darlington, Donagan, Donnell, Doran, Farrelly, Fleming, Forward, Foulkrod, Gamble, Gearhart, Grenell, Hamlin, Hastings, Helffenstein, Henderson, of Allegheny, Hyde, Long, Lyons, Maclay, Magee, Martin, Meredith, Merrill, Myers, Nevin, Overfield, Pollock, Porter, of Lancaster, Reigart, Scott, Sellers, Scheetz, Shellito, Stevens, Stickel, Swetland, Todd, Weidman, Woodward, Sergeant, President,-57.

NAYS-Messrs. Agnew, Banks, Barndollar, Bayne, Bedford, Bell, Brown, of Philadelphia, Carey, Chambers, Clapp, Clarke, of Beaver, Clark, of Dauphin, Cline, Coates, Craig, Crain, Crawford, Crum, Darrah, Denny, Dickey, Dickerson, Dillinger, Dunlop, Earle, Fry, Fuller, Harris, Hayhurst, Henderson, of Dauphin, Hiester, High, Hopkinson, Houpt, Ingersoll, Jenks, Keim, Kennedy, Kerr, Konigmacher, Krebs, Mann, M'Call, M'Dowell, M'Sherry, Merkel, Miller, Montgomery, Purviance, Read, Ritter, Riter, Rogers, Royer, Russell, Saeger, Serrill, Sill, Snively, Taggart, Weaver, White, Young, -63.

Mr. FULLER, of Fayette, submitted the following resolution, which was laid on the table, and printed.

Resolved, That the committee on Corporations, Currency, &c., be instructed to enquire into the expediency of so amending the Constitution as to prohibit the Legislature from granting any act or acts of incorporation for banking purposes, to any company or companies, without making the stockholders thereof accountable, jointly or seve rally, in their personal, real and mixed estates, for all the debts and liabilities of such institution or institutions.