Mr. COATES presented the petition of fifty females, citizens of Pennsylvania, praying that the right of trial by jury may be extended to every human being.

Laid on the table.

Mr. SELLERS presented a petition from citizens of Montgomery county, praying that the right of suffrage may not be extended to negroes. Laid on the table.

Mr, CHAMBERS Submitted the following resolution, which lies over one day.

Resolved, That so much of the thirty-third rule of the the convention, as dispenses with the yeas and rays on questions of daily adjournment, be rescinded.

Mr. CHAMBERS said, that before proceeding to the consideration of the orders of the day, on the second article of the constitution, he would ask the attention of the convention to the motion to re-consider the vote adopting the amendment submitted by a delegate from Chester, on the subject of divorces.

It was true, that on Friday, the convention had ordered the first article to be engrossed, and referred to the committee of revisal, yet, after a motion to re-consider had been made, within the time prescribed by the rule, and pending, he thought, the amendment thus adopted, must be considered as inchoate, imperfect, and not as coming within the consideration or action of that committee, until it was acted upon definitely. He had no desire to throw any embarrassment in the way of the first article of the constitution, or consume the time of the convention on this question, but he desired to have that vote re-considered, with a view of disposing of that amendment differently.

He saw, however, that the gentleman from Chester, who had proposed this amendment, was absent from his seat, and, in consequence of that absence, he should decline calling up the question for the present. He would give notice, however, that he would call up that question, in order that it might be disposed of, as soon as the gentleman appeared in his seat, and an opportunity offered.

SECOND ARTICLE.

Agreeably to order,

The report of the committee, to whom was referred the second article of the constitution, as reported by the committee of the whole, was read the second time.

The first section was in the words following, viz:

"SEC. 1. The supreme executive power of this commonwealth, shall be vested in a governor,"

Was considered, and no amendment having been offered, the same was agreed to.

The second section of the said report, as amended by the committee of the whole, being under consideration as follows, viz:

SEC. 2. The governor shall be chosen by the citizens of the commonwealth, at the time and place where they shall respectively vote for representatives. The returns of every election for governor, shall be

sealed up, and transmitted to the seat of government, directed to the speaker of the senate, who shall open and publish them in the presence of the members of both houses of the legislature. The person having the highest number of votes shall be governor. But, if two or more, shall be equal and highest in votes, one of them shall be chosen governor by the joint vote of the members of both houses. Contested elections shall be determined by a committee, to be selected from both houses, of the legislature, and formed and regulated in such manner as shall be directed by law."

And the question being, on concurring in the amendment of the committee of the whole,

Mr. Scort said, that, in the first article, the convention had fallen back upon the old constitution, and had agreed upon the old day of election. He thought that, with a view to make the second article correspond with the first, this amendment should be non-concurred in..

Mr. M'SHERRY said, that if this amendment was disagreed to, the provision of the old constitution would be restored.

And, after some desultory coversation,

The said amendment was disagreed to.

The third section of the said report, as amended by the committee of the whole, being under consideration, as follows, viz:

"SEC. 3. The governor shall hold his office during three years, from the third Tuesday of January, next ensuing his election, and shall not be capable of holding it longer than six, in any term of nine years." A motion was made by Mr. REIGART,

To amend the said section, by striking therefrom, the word "three," where it occurs in the first line, and inserting in lieu thereof, the word "four;" and by striking therefrom the word "six," in the third line, and inserting in lieu thereof, the word "four;" and by striking therefrom the word "nine," in the last line, and inserting in lieu thereof, the word eight."

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Mr. STERIGERE rose to inquire of the Chair, if this amendment was in order; and whether all amendments now offered, must not be confined to amendments to the committee of the whole?

Mr. REIGART said, that he thought if the gentleman from Montgomery, (Mr. Sterigere) would look more closely at this proposition, he would discover that it was in order; and that it went to the amendment made in committee of the whole.

My reasons, said Mr. R., for offering this amendment, are few and simple. When this subject was under consideration at Harrisburg, I offered an amendment of a similar character to this, which, however, went a little further than I now propose to go. At the time alluded to, there was no direct vote taken on this question; the yeas and nays were not called, and it is merely with a view to test the sense of the convention that I now propose this amendment. I will state one or two of the reasons which have influenced my mind in regard to this particular subject.

So far as I have understood public opinion in the state of Pennsylvania, it has always been a subject of complaint with our citizens, that, after an individual had been elected governor for one term, and looked to retain the office during a second term, all his appointments were made, and all his acts were performed, with reference to that especial object. The amendment which I propose, extends the time, during which the office may be held, but removes the objection complained of, because the same individual cannot be re-eligible in any term of eight years. It strikes me, and always has struck my mind, that this would be a great improvement in our system. I do not know how the opinions of the members of this body may be disposed towards the amendment, but I have felt it to be my duty to bring it before them, and to have an expression of their sentiments upon it as a distinct, substantive proposition. I shall be happy if I can prevail on a majority of this body to acquiesce in the view which I have taken, as to the good results which may be anticipated from a provision confining the governor to a single term.

Mr. EARLE rose to ask the decision of the Chair on the point of order, raised by the gentleman from Montgomery, (Mr. Sterigere.)

The CHAIR decided that the amendment of the gentleman from Lancaster (Mr. Reigart) was in order.

Mr. READ moved to amend the amendment by striking out all after the word.. election" in the second line, and inserting the words "but shall not be re-eligible."

The CHAIR said, that the amendment of the gentleman from Susquehanna (Mr. READ) was not in order at this time, inasmuch as an amendment was pending to the report of the committee of the whole.

Mr. READ said, that although he differed from the Chair, and was of opinion that his amendment would be in order at this time, inasmuch as the convention were now considering this as an original section, still he would not consume any time in the discussien of that point.

I will, however, said Mr. R., make one or two brief observations on the questien before us. I hope that the report of the committee of the whole will not be agreed to, and, although I think the amendment of the gentleman from Lancaster (Mr. Reigart) is better, still I believe is preferable to both.

my own

I will state two reasons why my amendment should he adopted. In the first place, it would take away from the governor all motive to act on any other principle upon earth, save that of the general good alone.

In the second place, it would take away from the party which had opposed his election, all possible motive for mis-representing his measures, or obstructing the course of policy which he might think most proper, and which he might believe was best calculated to promote the welfare and the happiness of the people. It would induce the governor to look solely to the public good, and it would induce the party which had exerted their strength against him, at the time of his election, to treat his measures fairly, and not to misrepresent his purposes with a view to political effect. Both parties, therefore, would have an interest to act lairly and honestly, one towards the other. For these reasons, I shall

offer my amendment, in case that of the gentleman from Lancaster should not obtain the votes of a majority of the convention.

Mr. DUNLOP said, he should feel very much gratified, if gentlemen would place these amendments before the convention in such a manner, as that there would be no conflict between them. This might be effected, if the gentleman from Lancaster (Mr. Reigart) would consent to withdraw the latter part of his amendment, or the whole of it, temporarily, in order to afford an opportunity to the gentleman from Susquehanna, (Mr. Read) to have a vote taken on that which he had intimated his intention to offer, when it should be in order. It was something like taking the question on the longest time.

The votes 'should be first taken on the longest time, or the widest proposition-which, in this instance, would be that of the gentleman from Susquehanna;—and, if that was decided in the negative, then the vote should be taken on the more limited proposition of the gentleman from Lancaster, (Mr. Reigart.) He threw out this suggestion, in the hope that the two gentlemen would be enabled to come to an understanding with each other, of this nature.

Mr. READ urged on the gentleman from Lancaster, (Mr. Reigart) the propriety of yielding to the suggestion of the gentleman from Franklin, (Mr. Dunlop); because, said Mr. R., if he will give me an opportunity to offer my amendment, and that should be rejected, I will certainly give my vote in favor of his. By adopting this course, we might be enabled to get a vote on each proposition, uninfluenced by the other.

Mr. REIGART said, that if a part of the amendment which he had offered could be withdrawn, so as to allow a distinct vote to be taken on the proposition of the gentleman from Susquehanna, (Mr. Read) he, Mr. Reigart, would not make any objection. For example, if all after the word "election" can be withdrawn, I am willing it should be so, in order to afford an opportunity to the gentleman from Susquehanna to offer, and have a vote taken, on his amendment.

The CHAIR said, that it was in order for the gentleman from Lancaster so to modify his amendment, if he thought proper to do so.

Mr. REIGART then modified his amendment accordingly; remarking, at the same time, that he reserved to himself the right to renew this portion of the amendment at a future time.

Some debate here arose on a point of order, growing out of this modification; some delegates contending that it was not in order thus to mutilate the section.

And the debate was brought to a close by Mr. REIGART, who moved to restore the amendment, so as to place it before the convention in the form in which he had originally presented it.

Mr. WOODWARD said, that if he understood the proposition of the gentleman from Lancaster, (Mr. RRIGART) it provided that the governor should be elected for the term of four years, and that he should be ineligible for one term afterwards.

I rise, said Mr. W., merely to say that this is precisely the amendment of which I am in favor, and for which I am willing to vote; and also,

that I am opposed to the proposition of the gentleman from Susquehanna. I hope the former will receive the unanimous vote of this body, if indeed, it is not too much to hope that any amendment will be unanimously agreed to here. It appears to me, from such consideration as I have given to the matter, that all the reasons which can be brought forward, are entirely in favor of this amendment. I will not detain the convention by entering into those reasons; to my mind, they are so obvious and so forcible, as to bring conviction at once to the understanding of every member of this body. I need not, therefore, allude to them further. I will only say, that the prevailing reason with me for supporting this amendment, is, because it will dignify and elevate the executive office. It is for this reason, as well as for others which I need not mention, that I am prepared to go for the specific amendment of the gentleman from Lancaster.

Mr. CHAMBERS said, he was in favor of the proposition of the gentleman from Lancaster, and that he preferred it to that which had been brought to the notice of the convention by the gentleman from Susquehanna. To limit the governor to one term, said Mr. C., will be to adopt a provision, under which, the administration of our state government will be carried on, with reference exclusively to the public interests, and not with a view to subserve the interests of a particular party, or the interests of the individual who, for the time being, may be placed at the head of our government.

But, although, as a matter of sound policy, I would confine the gov ernor to one term, still I would not exclude from holding that office for ever afterwards. The object of excluding the governor from being re-elected for a certain period of time is, that he may have no object in using his situation for party purposes, or for the advance of party interests; and when this object is accomplished by the adoption of a provision in the constitution, requiring that he shall be elected only for four years in any term of eight years, all will be done that need be done. Such a provision will be amply sufficient to guard and protect us against his influence, inasmuch as he will not be able to turn it to any available purpose. But, after a lapse of an interval of four years or more, I am not able to discover any good reason why he should not be re-eligible, in case the people of the commonwealth should be desirous again to elect him.

What is the mischief we propose to avert, by confining the governor to one term? It is to prevent him from using the influence of his station to promote the objects and the interests of the party, by whom he may have been brought into power, and from thus withdrawing his attention from the duties of his office.

But, when he has again resumed the character of a private citizenwhen, for the space of four years, he has again been placed on an equality with all the other citizens of the commonwealth-he has nothing but his merits to stand upon, and if he has been a good and faithful officer for a term of four years-if he has administered the affairs of the state, so as to promote the interests, and secure the approbation, of the people, I say, I can see no reason, why we should prohibit him from being again elected to the same office, for another term. This would, in fact, be to