laying it on the table, to commit it, or to adjourn; and a motion for adjournment shall be decided without debate.

The 8th, 9th and 10th rules were then adopted, as follows:

8. If the question in debate contain several points, any member may have the same divided.

9. A motion for commitment, until it is decided, shall preclude all amendments of the main proposition.

10. Every bill shall be introduced by motion for leave, or by order of the senate on the report of a committee; and one day's notice at least shall be given of an intended motion for leave to bring in a bill.

The 11th rule being read, Mr. Britain moved to strike out the word 'unanimously,' and insert before 'the senate,' the words 'three-fourths,' which was agreed to; and the rule, as amended, was then adopted:

11. Every bill shall receive three readings previous to its being passed, and the president shall give notice at each, whether it be the first, second or third; which readings shall be on three different days, unless three-fourths of the senate direct otherwise: No bill shall be amended or committed, until it shall have been twice read; and all resolutions to which a concurrence of the house of representatives is requisite, which directs the payment of money on the incurring any expense, or which propose any amendment to the constitution, shall be treated in the form of proceedings on them in a similar manner with bills, except that it shall not be necessary to commit such resolutions to a committee of the whole.

The 12th rule being under consideration, Mr. Ellis moved to strike out the words 'if two members require it,' which was agreed to.

And Mr. Britain then moved to insert instead thereof, if one member require it,' which was also agreed to: and the rule was adopted, as follows:

12. Upon a division in the senate, the names of those who voted for or against a question, shall be entered alphabetical

ly on the minutes, if one member require it; and each mem ber called upon, unles for special reasons he be excused by the senate, shall declare openly and without debate his assent or dissent to the question.

Mr.Hascall then moved to amend the 13th rule, by inserting after the word 'president,' the words 'unless otherwise directed,' which was carried; and the rule thereupon adopted as follows:

13. The president, unless otherwise directed, shall appoint all ordinary committees, which shall consist of three members, unless a different number shall be directed by the sen ate.

The 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th rules, as reported, were then adopted without amendment, being as follows:

14. In forming a committee of the whole senate, a chairman, to be named by the president, shall preside.

15. The rules of the senate shall be observed in the committee of the whole, so far as they may be applicable, cxcept limiting the times of speaking, and except that the yeas and nays shall not be taken.

16. A motion that the committee rise, shall always be in order, and shall be decided without debate.

17. No amendment shall be received for discussion at the third reading of any bill, resolution or amendment of the constitution, unless by a majority of the senate, but it shall,at all times, be in order before the final passage of any bill, resolution, or constitutional amendment, to move its commitment or recommitment.

The 18th rule being then read, Mr. Davis moved to strike out the word 'two;' carried: and the rule was then adopted, reading as follows:

18. When a member shall be called to order he shall sit down until the president shall have determined whether he is in order or not; and every question of order shall be decided by the president, subject to an appeal to the senate by any member; and if a member be called to order for words

D

spoken, the exceptionable words shall be immediately taken down in writing, that the president or the senate may be better able to judge of the matter.

The 19th, 20th and 21st rules were then successively adopted, as follows:

19. When a blank is to be filled, and different sums or times shall be proposed, the question shail be first taken on the highest sum or the longest time.

20. No member shall absent himself from the senate without leave first obtained; and in case a less number than a quorum of the senate shall convene, they are hereby authorized to send the sergeant-at-a. ms for any or all absent members.

21. Before any petition or memorial addressed to the senate shall be received or read, a brief statement of the contents thereof shall be endorsed on the same, with the name of the member introducing it.

On motion of Mr. Hascall,

The 22nd rule of the report was amended by striking out the word 'three,' and inserting 'two;' and the rule was adopted, as follows:

22. Where a question has been once put and decided, it shall be in order for any member to move for the reconsideration thereof; but no motion for the reco.sideration of any vote shall be in order after the bill, resolution, message, report, amendment, or motion upon which the vote was taken, shall have gone out of the possession of the senate, nor after the usual message shall have been sent from the senate, announcing its decision. Nor shall any motion for reconsideration be in order unless made on the same day in which the vote was taken or within the two next days of the actual session of the senate thereafter; nor shall any question be reconsidered more than once, and the vote on the final passage of any bill appropriating the public moneys or property, or creating, continuing, altering, or renewing any body politic or corporate, shall not be reconsidered whenever such bill shall be lost.

Mr. Hascall moved to amend the 23d rule, by inserting after the word 'president,' in the 2nd line, 'unless otherwise directed,' which was agreed to: and on motion of Mr. Davis, the secretary was directed to strike out the word 'clerk,' where it occurs in the report, and insert 'secretary.'

Mr. Stockton moved to strike out the title of the 15th committee, viz., 'on Indian affairs:' lost.

Mr. Britain moved to amend by striking out after '9th' the words 'on banks and insurance companies,' and inserting in lieu thereof, 'on incorporations,' which motion prevailed; and the rule, being as follows, was then adopted :

23. The following standing committees to consist of three members cach shall be appointed by the president, unless otherwise directed, at the commencement of each session:-1st on claims, 2d on finance, 31 on the judiciary, 4th on the militia, 5th on internal improvement, 6th on roads and bridges, 7th on literature, 8th on state prisons, 9th on incorporations, 10th on the division of towns and counties, 11th on agriculture, 12th on manufactures, 13th on privileges and elections, 14th on enrolled bills, 15th on Indian affairs, 16th on expiring laws, to report such as have expired or are near expiring and what new laws they may conceive necessary, 17th on expenditures. The committee on enrolment shall examine all bills, amendments, and resolutions before they go out of session of the senate, and make report when they find them correctly engrossed; and the secretary of the senate shall present such bills as shall have originated in the senate and been passed by both houses to the governor, and enter the same upon the journals.

pes

The 24th and 25th rules, as reported, were thereupon. adopted:

24. When an amendment to the constitution or any bill requiring the concurrence of a majority of two-thirds of the senators is under consideration, the concurrence of a majority of two thirds shall not be requisite to decide any ques

tion for amendments or extending the merits, being short of the final question.

25. The question on the final passage of all bills which by the constitution require the assent of two thirds of the senators, and of all amendments to the constitution requiring such assent, shall be taken on a division and entered on the journals; and unless two thirds of the members vote in the affirmative, the bill or amendment shall be declared lost; and whenever such bill or amendment shall receive the assent of two thirds as aforesaid, the president shall certify the fact upon the said bill or amendment; and he shall certify the passage of all other bills.

The 26th rule being read, Mr. Ellis moved to add after the ward 'secretary,' the words 'sergeant-at-arms;' carried.

Mr. Stockton moved to strike out 'a motion made and seconded,' and insert any order of the senate,' which motion prevailed.

Mr. McDonell moved a reconsideration of the vote last taken, which was agreed to.

A message from the house of representatives was recei ved.

Mr. McDonell moved a postponement of the consideration of the report of the committee to draft rules, which was lost.

The question being then taken on the amendment offered by Mr. Stockton, it was declared lost; and the rule, as previously amended, was then adopted, being as follows:

26. On a motion made and seconded to shut the doors of the senate on the discussion of any business which may in the opinion of any member require secrecy, the president shall direct all persons, excepting the members and secretary and sergeant at arms of the senate to withdraw; and during the discussion of said motion, the doors shall remain shut; and every member and officer of the senate shall keep secret all such matters, proceedings and things whereof secrecy shall be enjoined by order of the senate.