Yesterday afternoon, in the Convention of this state, it was moved by Mr. M'Kean, seconded by Mr. Chambers, That this Convention do now proceed to consider the proposed Constitution by articles.
After some debate it was moved by Mr. Whitehill, seconded by Mr.
Lincoln, that the aforesaid motion be postponed in order to introduce the following, viz., That this Convention resolve itself into a committee of the whole, for the purpose of investigating and considering the aforesaid Constitution by articles and sections, and to make report thereon.
A debate considerable length now took place, which turned principally on the expediency resolving the Convention into a committee of the whole. In favor of this measure it was urged, that it would subject the Constitution to a more free and candid discussion, that it would allow more time for the members to make up their minds, and that it would be more consonant to the practice of the legislature of Pennsylvania. Against the motion was urged that, by going into a committee of the whole, no minutes could be taken of the proceedings, and that the people at large would thereby be kept in ignorance of them; that as full liberty was given to each to speak as often as he pleased, there would be the same time given for deliberation in Convention as in the committee; that the practice of the Assembly of Pennsylvania was no precedent for the Convention; that this was a body without a precedent in the history of mankind; and that as the whole Constitution was a single proposition, and that proposition alone before the Convention, it was unnecessary to go into a committee, especially as no question could be taken upon any part of the Constitution, nor any additions made to it, agreeably to the recommendation of the Assembly, under which the Convention sat; although objections to every part of it might be made before the question of ratification was proposed.
The question being at length put, Mr. Whitehill's motion for post- ponement was lost, the yeas and nays being as follow.
The question on Mr. M'Kean's motion was then put, and the motion adopted.
The speakers in favor of the motion for a committee [of the whole] were Mr. Findley, Mr. Smilie and Mr. Whitehill. The speakers against it were Mr. M'Kean, Mr. Wilson, Doctor Rush, and Mr. Chambers.