Mr. PORTER moved to dispense with the reading of the resolution, and submited the following resolution:

"Resolved, That the said resolution, together with the resolution submited by Mr. STEVENS, the resolution submited by Mr. PURVIANCE, on the 30th ultimo, and all amendments agreed to in committee of the whole, be refered to a select committee, to take the same into consideration, and to report thereon".

The resolution (after having been modified, so as to be in this form) was read a second time.

Mr. BROWN, of Philadelphia, moved the indefinite postponement of this resolution.

Mr. FULLER, of Fayette, asked whether it was the intention of the mover, or whether it would be the effect of the resolution, to interfere with the proceedings on the various reports of the standing committees ?

Mr. PORTER said, that was not the object he had in view, nor could such be the effect of the resolution. He desired to get a committee togeth er of nine members, from different parts of the State, and representing the different views of this body, to settle some general principles, with a view to shorten our labors. It would enable us to see whether, by consultation and some mutual concession, some satisfactory conclusion could be arri ved at.

Mr. BROWN said, that his object in moving the indefinite postponement, was to prevent an interminable discussion on the resolution. We had already before us, a volume of reports, which were now of no use, and we are called to refer to a select committee all these amendments. That committee would report all these in one amendment, and we should be plunged into endless difficulty, without the possibility of leading to any advantage. If we choose to depute to any other body of men, the task which we are sent here to perform, was it likely, that when they came to report, there would not be dissatisfaction and discord? He apprehended, there would. This had been the business of the committees from the beginning instead of which, had the whole Constitution been taken up at first, and refered to the committee of the whole, we should now have been almost through our work. We had gone on, and there had been no attempt to bring forward the intervention of a committee, until now, when we were just entering on the great battle ground-the subject of theJudiciary-now, when every man was prepared to act, and ready to compromise minor differences, now a new Committee was to be appointed to examine the whole ground again, with a view to prevent any change in the tenure of the Judiciary. It could not be, that the resolution was introduced to save time by the suppression of speeches, for if gentlemen had made up their minds to speak, they would speak at one time, if not at another.Already two reports were before us on the subject of the Justices, one made by the Chairman of the Judiciary committee, (Mr. HOPKINSON) and another by the gentleman from Luzerne (Mr. WOODWARD); and a third proposition was to be expected. Members themselves, might as well meet the question, as send it to select committee. Shall the tenure of the Judiciary be limited to a term of years? If so, shall it be for fifteen, for ten, for seven, for five years, or for a shorter term? The subject may as well be received in this, as in any other way. The whole proceeding appeared to him, to be anomalous. If it should be settled in the committee

ought to be made. A report from the committee, that amendments ought not to be made, would not avail. It would not prove to be a labor saving machinery; but, on the contrary, might occasion considerable loss of time. He thought it better to go through with the machinery we had become accustomed to.

Mr. KEIM, of Berks, asked for the yeas and nays, and they were ordered.

Mr. READ, of Susquehanna, expressed the hope that the Convention would not now appoint a committee, for the sake of considering all which had been said in the last two months. If we did not go on in the regular process, in which we had gone on for the last two months, and which would bring us through, the effect will be to retard, to an indefinite period, the termination of our labors. The effect would only be mischievous-to throw all into a hotch-potch, or into the fire. He hoped the motion would be indefinitely postponed.

Mr. STEVENS, of Adams, said the object was to save time. The resolutions were laid on the table with a view to save time, and the vast expense which was daily accumulating. The adoption of this resolution, might lead to a compromise, which would enable us to close our labors, in reasonable time. What loss of time would be caused by such reference? There could be no loss of time; but if this motion prevail, we should have to offer the various propositions here in Convention, and to discuss them in succession, and at large, unless prevented by the previous question. If the committee could not agree, they would so report. If they were unanimous in recommending any measure, in a spirit of concession, yielding to each other on some points, and leaving what could not be settled, for the people to dispose of, under the provision for future amendments, great expenses would be saved, and the people would be better satisfied. He thought so, and that no harm could possibly be done. When the report of the committee should be called up for action, then the motion for indefinite postponement might be made. But, pressed at this time, the motion would put an end to all hope, and condemn us to a session of six months longer, and an expenditure of a quarter of a million. What should induce gentlemen to be so jealous of each other, and so suspicious of the operations of this body, that they cannot consent to have a committee? Gentlemen were not acting so as to produce harmony of action here. Instead of harmony of action, there was no indication of any thing but the most acrimonious feeling, and the bitterest opposition.

Mr. PORTER said, he was endeavoring to bring our labors to a point by concession. He never expected, that any proposition which he brought forward, would meet with the acquiescence of all. But he wished to do his part towards a peace-offering. He had thought his proposition would recommend itself to all parties, and he was always disposed to yield his share for the sake of peace and harmony. He found that his course met with the approbation of other gentlemen; and others might be induced to offer their suggestions, so that the committee might send forth something like the views of all brought together, and not those of any individual. No one could hope to carry all his views. He may endeavor, but would assuredly fail. Another individual would oppose him with his views, and he also would fail. This course was taken for the purpose of bringing the opinions

Mr. PORTER moved to dispense with the reading of the resolution, and submited the following resolution:

66

Resolved, That the said resolution, together with the resolution submited by Mr. STEVENS, the resolution submited by Mr. PURVIANCE, on the 30th ultimo, and all amendments agreed to in committee of the whole, be refered to a select committee, to take the same into consideration, and to report thereon".

The resolution (after having been modified, so as to be in this form) was read a second time.

Mr. BROWN, of Philadelphia, moved the indefinite postponement of this resolution.

Mr. FULLER, of Fayette, asked whether it was the intention of the mover, or whether it would be the effect of the resolution, to interfere with the proceedings on the various reports of the standing committees ?

Mr. PORTER said, that was not the object he had in view, nor could such be the effect of the resolution. He desired to get a committee togeth er of nine members, from different parts of the State, and representing the different views of this body, to settle some general principles, with a view to shorten our labors. It would enable us to see whether, by consultation and some mutual concession, some satisfactory conclusion could be arri ved at.

Mr. BROWN said, that his object in moving the indefinite postponement, was to prevent an interminable discussion on the resolution. We had already before us, a volume of reports, which were now of no use, and we are called to refer to a select committee all these amendments. That committee would report all these in one amendment, and we should be plunged into endless difficulty, without the possibility of leading to any advantage. If we choose to depute to any other body of men, the task which we are sent here to perform, was it likely, that when they came to report, there would not be dissatisfaction and discord? He apprehended, there would. This had been the business of the committees from the beginning instead of which, had the whole Constitution been taken up at first, and refered to the committee of the whole, we should now have been

almost through our work. We had gone on, and there had been no attempt to bring forward the intervention of a committee, until now, when we were just entering on the great battle ground-the subject of theJudiciary-now, when every man was prepared to act, and ready to com promise minor differences, now a new Committee was to be appointed to examine the whole ground again, with a view to prevent any change in the tenure of the Judiciary. It could not be, that the resolution was introduced to save time by the suppression of speeches, for if gentlemen had made up their minds to speak, they would speak at one time, if not at another.Already two reports were before us on the subject of the Justices, one made by the Chairman of the Judiciary committee, (Mr. HOPKINSON) and another by the gentleman from Luzerne (Mr. WOODWARD); and a third proposition was to be expected. Members themselves, might as well meet the question, as send it to select committee. Shall the tenure of the Judiciary be limited to a term of years? If so, shall it be for fifteen, for ten, for seven, for five years, or for a shorter term? The subject may as well be received in this, as in any other way. The whole proceeding appeared to him, to be anomalous. If it should be settled in the commitee

ought to be made. A report from the committee, that amendments ought not to be made, would not avail. It would not prove to be a labor saving machinery; but, on the contrary, might occasion considerable loss of time. He thought it better to go through with the machinery we had become accustomed to.

Mr. KEIM, of Berks, asked for the yeas and nays, and they were ordered.

Mr. READ, of Susquehanna, expressed the hope that the Convention would not now appoint a committee, for the sake of considering all which had been said in the last two months. If we did not go on in the regular process, in which we had gone on for the last two months, and which would bring us through, the effect will be to retard, to an indefinite period, the termination of our labors. The effect would only be mischievous-to throw all into a hotch-potch, or into the fire. He hoped the motion would be indefinitely postponed.

Mr. STEVENS, of Adams, said the object was to save time. The resolutions were laid on the table with a view to save time, and the vast expense which was daily accumulating. The adoption of this resolution, might lead to a compromise, which would enable us to close our labors, in reasonable time. What loss of time would be caused by such reference? There could be no loss of time; but if this motion prevail, we should have to offer the various propositions here in Convention, and to discuss them in succession, and at large, unless prevented by the previous question. If the committee could not agree, they would so report. If they were unanimous in recommending any measure, in a spirit of concession, yielding to each other on some points, and leaving what could not be settled, for the people to dispose of, under the provision for future amendments, great expenses would be saved, and the people would be better satisfied. He thought so, and that no harm could possibly be done. When the report of the committee should be called up for action, then the motion for indefinite postponement might be made. But, pressed at this time, the motion would put an end to all hope, and condemn us to a session of six months longer, and an expenditure of a quarter of a million. What should induce gentlemen to be so jealous of each other, and so suspicious of the operations of this body, that they cannot consent to have a committee? Gentlemen were not acting so as to produce harmony of action here. Instead of harmony of action, there was no indication of any thing but the most acrimonious feeling, and the bitterest opposition.

Mr. PORTER said, he was endeavoring to bring our labors to a point by concession. He never expected, that any proposition which he brought forward, would meet with the acquiescence of all. But he wished to do his part towards a peace-offering. He had thought his proposition would recommend itself to all parties, and he was always disposed to yield his share for the sake of peace and harmony. He found that his course met with the approbation of other gentlemen; and others might be induced to offer their suggestions, so that the committee might send forth something like the views of all brought together, and not those of any individual. No one could hope to carry all his views. He may endeavor, but would assuredly fail. Another individual would oppose him with his views, and he also would fail. This course was taken for the purpose of bringing the opinions

Mr. PORTER moved to dispense with the reading of the resolution, and submited the following resolution:

“ Resolved, That the said resolution, together with the resolution submited by Mr. STEVENS, the resolution submited by Mr. PURVIANCE, on the 30th ultimo, and all amendments agreed to in committee of the whole, be refered to a select committee, to take the same into consideration, and to report thereon".

The resolution (after having been modified, so as to be in this form) was read a second time.

Mr. BROWN, of Philadelphia, moved the indefinite postponement of this resolution.

Mr. FULLER, of Fayette, asked whether it was the intention of the mover, or whether it would be the effect of the resolution, to interfere with the proceedings on the various reports of the standing committees ?

Mr. PORTER said, that was not the object he had in view, nor could such be the effect of the resolution. He desired to get a committee together of nine members, from different parts of the State, and representing the different views of this body, to settle some general principles, with a view to shorten our labors. It would enable us to see whether, by consultation and some mutual concession, some satisfactory conclusion could be arrived at.

Mr. BROWN said, that his object in moving the indefinite postponement, was to prevent an interminable discussion on the resolution. We had already before us, a volume of reports, which were now of no use, and we are called to refer to a select committee all these amendments. That committee would report all these in one amendment, and we should be plunged into endless difficulty, without the possibility of leading to any advantage. If we choose to depute to any other body of men, the task which we are sent here to perform, was it likely, that when they came to report, there would not be dissatisfaction and discord? He apprehended, there would. This had been the business of the committees from the beginning instead of which, had the whole Constitution been taken up at first, and refered to the committee of the whole, we should now have been almost through our work. We had gone on, and there had been no attempt to bring forward the intervention of a committee, until now, when we were just entering on the great battle ground-the subject of theJudiciary-now, when every man was prepared to act, and ready to compromise minor differences, now a new Committee was to be appointed to examine the whole ground again, with a view to prevent any change in the tenure of the Judiciary. It could not be, that the resolution was introduced to save time by the suppression of speeches, for if gentlemen had made up their minds to speak, they would speak at one time, if not at another.— Already two reports were before us on the subject of the Justices, one made by the Chairman of the Judiciary committee, (Mr. HOPKINSON) and another by the gentleman from Luzerne (Mr. WOODWARD); and a third proposition was to be expected. Members themselves, might as well meet the question, as send it to select committee. Shall the tenure of the Judiciary be limited to a term of years? If so, shall it be for fifteen, for ten, for seven, for five years, or for a shorter term? The subject may as well be received in this, as in any other way. The whole proceeding appeared to him, to be anomalous. If it should be settled in the commitee