Tuesday,] CLARKE EDWARDS-PARVIN-MARVIN. resolution, I thought it would answer every purpose. The question was then taken upon the motion to appoint a committee of five to report upon the number and character of the standing committees, and it was agreed to. On motion of Mr. HARRIS the several propositions relating to that subject was referred to that committee. The PRESIDENT announced as the members! of that committee the following gentlemen: Messrs. Clarke of Henry, Johnston, Parvin, Traer and Wilson. On motion of Mr. CLARK, of Johnson, the convention proceeded to consider the following resolution, laid upon the table this morning. Resolved, that John Teasdale be authorized to print 100 copies of the Constitution of this State for the use of members of this Convention. Mr. CLARKE, of Johnson. I move to amend by inserting after the word "State," the words "and also 100 copies of the act authorizing the calling of this Convention." The amendment was agreed to. Mr. CLARKE, of Henry, moved to amend by striking out the words "one hundred," and inserting the words "two hundred," which was agreed to. The resolution as amended was then adopted. Mr. TODHUNTER then offered the following resolution: "Resolved, that he reporter of this Convention be furnished with stationery and documents such as is furnished to the members of this body. The resolution was adopted. Mr. EDWARDS. Several members of this Convention have expressed a desire to have the question of the removal of the sitting of this body from this place, settled this afternoon if possible. I will therefore move to take from the table the report of the committee upon that subject, which was laid upon the table upon my motion. The question being taken upon taking up the report of the committee, upon a division, ayes 11 noes 15, it was not agreed to. Mr. CLARKE, of Johnson, offered the follow-; ing resolution; Resolved that the Secretary of State be authorized to purchase for the use of the members of this Convention thirty-seven copies of the "Constitution of the United States" published by Barnes. Mr. PARVIN. I do not like to oppose the motions and resolutions offered by fellow members here. I think every member ought to have a copy of the work referred to in this resolution; but let them do as some of the rest of us have done, purchase them themselves. I do not think the State ought to be called upon to furnish these things to members. Mr. CLARKE, of Johnson. I hold in my hand a copy of this work which members can examine. I think it will be of immense importance to us in our labors. [January 20th. Mr. MARVIN. We have been furnished with other things here which we do not need so much as we do this work. I had a very good knife when I came here, but the State has furnished me with one that cost some two or three dollars. I have not any copy of this work and I think we should have one. If I can get it in no other way I would be willing to exchange my knife for a copy. (laughter.) The question being taken the resolution was adopted. On motion of Mr. EDWARDS, The Convention then adjourned until to-morrow morning at ten o'clock. THIRD DAY-WEDNESDAY, Jan. 21, 1857. The Convention met at ten o'clock and was called to order by the President. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Kynett. The journal of yesterday was read and approved. Mr. HALL presented the credentials of Mr. Peters from the 31st senatorial district which were read. Mr. PETERS then came forward and after being qualifed took his seat in the Convention. RULES OF THE CONVENTION. Mr. CLARKE, of Johnson. The committee to draft rules for the government of this Convention have instructed me to make the following report, viz: Your committee recommend the following rules for the government of the convention: 1. The President shall take the chair every day precisely at the hour to which the Convention shall have adjourned on the preceding day; shall immediately call the Convention to order, and on the appearance of a quorum shall cause the journal to be read. 2. He shall preserve order and decorum, and may speak to points of order in preference to other members, rising from his seat for that purpose; and shall decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to the Convention by any two members. 3. He shall rise to put a question, but may state it sitting. 4. Questions shall be distinctly put in this form: "As many as are of opinion that (as the case may be) say 'aye;'" and after the affirmative voice is expressed "as many as are of If the Presthe contrary opinion say "no." ident doubt, or a division be called for, the Convention shall divide; those in the affirmative of the question shall first rise from their seats, afterwards those in the negative. 5. The President shall examine and correct the journal before it is read. 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. 6. All committees shall be appointed by the President, unless otherwise especially ordered by the Convention, in which case they shall be elected vira voce. Mr. CLARKE, of Henry, made the following report. The committee on standing committees for the Convention have had the same under consideration and report the following: "That there be twelve committees of five each to be appointed by the President, viz: 1. A committee on the preamble and bill of A committee on the right of suffrage. A committee on the distribution of powers aights. 2. 11. When a question is under debate no motion shall be received, but to adjourn, to lie on the table, for the previous question, to postpone to a day certain, to commit or amend and to postpone indefinitely, which several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they and Legislative deportment. are here arranged. 12. A motion to adjourn, and a motion to fix a day on which the Convention shall adjourn, shall always be in order; the motion to adjourn and the motion to lie on the table shall be decided without debate: 13. The previons question shall be put in in this form: "Shall the main question now be put." It shall only be admitted when demanded by a majority of the members present, and its effect shall be to put an end to all debate, and bring the Convention to a direct vote upon amendments reported by a committee, if any, then upon pending amendments, and then upon the main question; on a motion for the previous question, and prior to the demanding the same a call of the Convention shall be in order, but after a majority shall have demanded such motion, no call shall be in order prior to the decision of the main question. 14. All incidental questions of order arising after a motion is made for the previous question and pending such motion, shall be decided by the President without debate, but subject to an appeal. 15. When a motion has been made and carried in the affirmative or negative, it shall be in order for any member voting with the majority to move for a reconsideration thereof, on the same or the succeeding day, of the sitting of the Convention, and such motion shall take precedence of all other motions, except the motion. 3. 4. A committee on the executive department 5. A committee on the judicial department. 6. A committee on militia. 7. A committee on State debts. 8. 9. Lands. A committee on incorporations. A committee on education and School 10. A committee on amendments to the Constitution. 11. A committee on miscellaneous sucjects. 12. A committee on the Schedule." standing committee for each seperate article of Your committee intend hereby to provide a the Constitution to which appropriate committee the same shall be referred, together with such other matters as shall relate to the same. R. L. B. CLARKE, Chairman. The question being taken, the report of the committee was adopted. The report of the committee on rules was then taken up and amended by inserting as "rule ten" the list of committees just adopted, and then as amended was agreed to. The PRESIDENT announced the following gentlemen as composing the standing committees of this Convention; Committee on the Preamble and Bill of Rights. J. T. Clark. Committee on the Right of Suffrage. 16. The rules of parlimentary practice comprised in Jeffrie's Manual shall govern the Convention in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the stauding rules and orders of the Con- Committee on the Distribution of Powers and Legvention. Wednesday] TODHUNTER-SKIFF-CLARKE-WINCHESTER--HALL. REMOVAL FROM IOWA CITY. The Convention then proceeded to consider the report of the committee to which had been referred the invitations of the cities of Davenport and Dubuque to the Convention to remove their sittings from Iowa City. The Convention on yesterday adopted a resolution reported from the committee, which had been amended to read as follows: [January 21st. the city authorities of this city to tender to the Convention the use of either the Masonic Hall or Odd Fellows' Hall, both fine and commodious rooms, which will be fitted up by this city for the use of the Convention. There are three or four good rooms in the Masonic Hall which will make good committee rooms, and with those we have here will be amply sufficient. Mr. WINCHESTER. I move that the whole subject of removal be indefinitely postponed. Upon this motion the yeas and nays were demanded. The question being taken by yeas and nays upon the motion to postpone indefinitely, it was agreed to, yeas 20 nays 16 as follows: Yeas-The President, Messrs. Ayres, Bunker, Clark of A., Clarke of J., Edwards, Gibson, Gower, Gray, Harris, Hollingsworth, Marvin, Palmer, Parvin, Skiff, Todhunter, Traer, Wilson, Winchester and Young. Nays-Messrs. Clarke of H., Cotton, Day, Ells, Emerson, Gillaspy, Hall, Johnston, Patterson, Peters, Price, Robinson, Scott, Seeley, Solomon and Warren. Mr. CLARKE. of Johnson. In order that the Convention may have choice of the two rooms offered to them in this city, I move that a committee of two members of this Convention be appointed to visit these rooms and select the one to be occupied by this body until we can have one of the halls above. I think both of the halls are fine rooms, but one may suit the committee better than the other. After one shall have been selected, the City Council will proceed at once to provide the necessary desks and furniture which may be desired. I would say here, that I desire not to be upon this committee. The motion was agreed to. The PRESIDENT announced Messrs. Todhunter and Hall as the committee. Mr. HALL asked to be excused from serving on the committee, and the President appointed Mr. Harris in his stead. Miscellaneous. Mr. PATTERSON offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the President of this Convention be, and is hereby authorized and requested to invite a minister of the Gospel to open the sessions of this Convention each morning with prayer. Mr. PATTERSON stated that he offered that resolution to obviate the necessity of a special motion every morning for that purpose. The resolution was adopted. Mr. WINCHESTER offered the following res "Resolved, that we duly appreciate the pa-olution: triotic motives of the city authorities of Daven- Resolved, That a committee of five be appointport and Dubuque in thus tendering the hospi-ed by the Chair to take into considerrtion and talities of their respective cities, and that we report the course to be adopted in publishing the deem it expedient to accept one of those invita- proceeding of this Convention. tions at this time." Mr. SKIFF moved to reconsider the vote by which the Convention adopted that resolution. Mr. CLARKE, of Johnson. Upon that subject I desire only to say that I am authorized by Mr. CLARKE, of Johnson. I move to lay that motion upon the table, and for this reason: the Committee upon Reporting have this subject under consideration, and will, perhaps, be able to report to-morrow morning upon it. They Wednesday,] WINCHESTER-PALMER-PATTERSON-WILSON-CLARKE. [January 21st. contemplate reporting a plan for publishing seat upon this floor as the reporter for "The these debates and proceedings during the session of this Convention. Mr. WINCHESTER. I withdraw my resolution. I did not understand that that committee had this matter in charge. The resolution was accordingly withdrawn. Mr. PALMER moved to take up the reeolution providing a certain number of newspapers for the members and officers of the Convention. Mr. PATTERSON called for the. reading of the resolution, and it was read as follows: Resolved, That the Secretary of this Convention be instructed to procure for each member and officer of this Convention twenty-five daily newspapers, or their equivalent in other newspapers, at their option. Mr. WILSON. I hope that resolution will not be taken up at present. I understand that by to-morrow the Committee on Reporting and Printing will have completed a plan for publishing the debates and proceedings of this Convention, and that will, to some extent, take the place of the newspapers. Mr. CLARKE, of Henry. I cannot conceive how any arrangement that may be made for printing the reports of this Convention can affect the objects of this resolution; we shall want the newspapers most certainly, whether any arrangement is made for publishing the debates or not. Mr. CLARKE, of Johnson. I have no doubt the Convention will need a certain quantity of newspapers, but I apprehend if we adopt the plan suggested for the publication of these debates, members will find it to their advantage to take a large number of copies of the debates for circulation among their constituents. The question being taken, the resolution was taken up, and the Convention proceeded to its consideration. The question was, upon the adoption of the resolution . Mr. EDWARDS moved to amend by striking out the words "twenty-five daily newspapers,' and inserting the words "five copies each of the Iowa City Republican and Capitol Reporter." Mr. HALL. I hope that amendment will not be adopted. I should, at least, desire the privilege of selecting my newspapers. Mr. PALMER. I think twenty-five newspapers is a small number, if we wish to distribute any among our constituents. Five copies will be of but little service to us for that purpose. The question being taken upon the amend ment it was not agreed to. Mr. CLARK, of Alamakee, moved to amend by striking out "twenty-five" and inserting "ten." The question being taken upon the amend. ment, upon a division, it was agreed to, ayes, 21; noes not counted. The resolution as amended was then adopted. North West," published at Dubuque. Mr. CLARKE, of Johnson, offered the following resolution: Resolved, That John Teesdale be employed to print 200 copies of the rules of this Convention, together with the list of Standing Committees. The resolution was agreed to. Mr. WILSON offered the following resolution: Resolved, That there be appended to the printed rules of this Convention a list of the names of the members and officers of this Convention, together with the age, occupation, nativity, and Post Office address of the respective members and officers. The question being taken, the resolution was agreed to. Mr. WARREN offered the following resolu tion: Resolved, That P. Moriarty be admitted to a seat upon this floor as reporter for the Maquoketa Excelsior. The resolution was agreed to. On motion of Mr. CLARKE, of Johnson, it was ordered that the various articles of the constitution be and are hereby referred to their appropriate and respective standing committees. Mr. WILSON offered the following resolution: Resolve, That it is expedient to amend the 16th section of article three of the present Constitution, relating to the legislative department, by inserting between the words "either" and "and" in the fourth line of said section, the words "and on the final passage of all bills the vote shall be by yeas and nays and entered upon the journal; and no bill shall become a law without the concurrence of a majority of all the members elect in each House." Referred to the committee on the legislativo department. Mr. CLARK, of Alamakee, offered the following resolution : Resolved, That the proprietor of any newspaper in this State shall be entitled to have a reporter in this hall without a special order to that effect. The resolution was agreed to. Mr. GILLASPY submitted the following resolution : Resolved, That the Convention continue to meet in this Hall until the general assembly shall have adjourned. Mr. GILLASPY. I offer this resolutiou because upon reflection I have become satisfied that it will be very inconvenient for the many fat gentlemen we have in this body to be climbing up and down the stairs of either of the halls offered for our use in this city. Mr. WILSON. I move to lay the resolution upon the table until we can get the report from the committee we appointed to examine these rooms. Mr. GILLASPY. I would suggest another reason for the adoption of this resolution. It will obviate the necessity of the city council fit Thursday,] PALMER-GILLASPY-JOHNSTON-CLARKE-HARRIS-ELLS. [January 228. ting up a hall at considerable expense for this that in the opinion of your committee, it is inConvention. The question being taken upon the motion to lay the resolution on the table it was not agreed to. The question was upon adopting the resolution. expedient to remove to either of said halls. The PRESIDENT. The Chair would state for the information of the gentlemen, that while they were absent yesterday, the Convention adopted a resolution to continue their sessions in this hall until otherwise ordered, and therefore no action upon this report is necessary. The report was received and laid upon the ta Mr. PALMER. I would suggest that the resolution be modified by striking out the words “until the general assembly shall have adjourn-ble, and the committee discharged. ed," and inserting the words "until otherwise ordered." It is not certain when the legislature will adjourn, and it may be necessary to hold our sessions in some other place. Mr. GILLASPY. I accept the amendment. The resolution as modified was then adopted. Mr. JOHNSTON. The only important preliminary matter we have now to settle is this question of printing, and I understand from the chairman of the committee on reporting and printing that they will be prepared to report tomorrow morning. I therefore move that this Convention do now adjourn until to-morrow morning at ten o'clock. The question being taken, the motion was agreed to, and The Convention accordingly adjourned. THURSDAY, January 22, 1857. The Convention met at ten o'clock, A. M., and was called to order. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. KYNETT. Standard of Parliamentary Law. Mr. ELLS. I move to amend the standing rules of this Convention by striking out the words "Jefferson's Manual," and inserting the words "Cushing's Manual" as our standard of parliamentary law. I do this because Jefferson's Manual is out of print now, and cannot be obtained. Besides Cushing's Manual is now most commonly used. The PRESIDENT. The Chair would say that he has a copy of Jefferson's Manual to guide him in his decisions of parliamentary questions. Mr. PARVIN. I care but little which standard is adopted, still I rather prefer Jefferson. There is some difference between the two standards, and I hope the rules will not be changed. Mr. ELLS. Jefferson's Manual is not used by any parliamentary body with which I an familiar. Cushing's Manual is used by our own Legislature, and almost universally in other parliamentary bodies. It is substantially the same as The journal of yesterday was read and ap- Jefferson's Manual, with the improvements and proved. The PRESIDENT laid before the Convention the correspondence between himself and the Rev. Alpheus Kynett, of this city, in reference to the daily opening of the Convention by prayer, which was read and laid upon the table. The PRESIDENT also laid before the Convention the petition of sundry citizens of Delaware county in reference to a constitutional provision relating to banking, and one also in relation to township and county officers. changes which time and experience have suggested. I do not know much about either of these works, but from all I can learn, I believe Cushing's to be the best work. Mr. CLARKE, of Johnson. It seems to me that resolving that we will be governed by Jefferson's or Cushing's Manual will not be of much use to us, unless we can have the work here for reference. I would suggest as an amendment to the resolution that a sufficient number be ordered for the use of this Convention. Many of us here, I think I may say all of us, have acquired our knowledge of parliamentary law from observation rather than study. I am sure I have never studied either of these works. If we are going to become parliamentaMr. CLARKE, of Johnson, offered the follow-rians I trust we may have the books furnished ing resolution: The petition was read, and on motion of Mr. WILSON, it was referred to the Committee on incorporations. Miscellaneous. Resolved, That John Teesdale be employed to do the incidental printing of the Convention at the prices now paid the State Printer for similar kinds of work. The resolution was agreed to. Mr. CLARKE also offered the following resolution: Recolved, That John Quaintance be appointed Assistant Fireman to this Convention, whose duty it shall be to attend to the committee rooms. The resolution was agreed to. Mr. HARRIS made the following report: The committee appointed to examine the halls tendered by the city authorities of Iowa City, for the use of this Convention, have discharged the duty assigned them, and beg leave to report, us to study. Mr. ELLS. It is my intention, if this amendment to the rules is adopted, to move for a sufficient number of Cushing's Manual for the use of this Convention. The resolution of amendment, and the rules was then adopted. Mr. ELLS offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Secretary of State be required to furnish each member and officer of this Convention with a copy of Cushing's Manual of Parliamentary Practice. Mr. PATTERSON. I would enquire if that resolution would embrace all our officers, firemen, messengers, &c.? Mr. ELLS. It was not intended to embrace those officers. The PRESIDENT. The Chair understands |