FRIDAY MORNING, 28th, 10 o'clock. The Rev. Mr. CLARKE opened the Convention with prayer. It was then moved, and seconded, that a Committee be appointed to wait on the ministers of the Gospel of the several denominations through the town, requesting them to pray in rotation with the Convention, previously to entering upon business, every morning during the session. Which, being put, passed in the affirmative. On a motion, made and seconded, Voted, That the Committee consist of three. The following gentlemen, viz:-Mr. GRAY, Col. CUMMING, and Col. DAWES, were nominated and appointed a Committee for that purpose. The Committee appointed to prepare and report an arrangement of the business proper for the Convention to proceed upon at this time, made report as follows: "The Committee chosen to make an arrangement of the business proper for the Convention to proceed upon immediately, beg leave to recommend that the following articles, in the report of the Committee, be considered in the following succes sion. 1. The 2d paragraph in the 1st article in the first section of the 2d chapter. 2. The 2d article of the same section-do. 3. The 3d article in the same section, excepting the clause which respects the issuing monies out of the Treasury. 4. The 4th article in the 3d section in the same chapter. 5. The 5th article of the same section. 6. The 8th article in the same section. 7. The 10th article in the same section. 8. All the paragraphs but the first in the 8th article of the 3d section of the 3d chapter. 9. The 2d article in the 4th chapter. Which report, being read, it was moved, and seconded, that the same be accepted. Which, being put, passed in the affirmative. The 2d paragraph under the 1st article, 1 sect. 2d chapter, was then read and accepted, with the temporary substitution of the words "The Legislature," instead of the word "they," at the beginning. The 2d article in the same section, being read, was accepted. The 3d article in the same section, excepting (as above,) the words "to be issued," &c. as far as the words "within the same," being read, On a motion, made and seconded, Voted, That the same be taken up by paragraphs. The 1st paragraph being read as far as "the government thereof," was accepted. The 2d paragraph, as far as the words "provided for,” being read, On a motion, made and seconded, Voted, That the words "such officers excepted," be expunged. The paragraph with the amendment, being then put, was accepted. The 3d paragraph, as far as the word "Constitution," being read, was accepted, after inserting the words "or affirmations," immediately after “oaths.” The 4th, as far as the word "punishment," read, and voted to be postponed. The 5th, from the words "to impose and levy," to the words "the same," being read, and after inserting the words "duties, excises," after the word "rates," and expunging the words "persons of," On a motion, made and seconded, Voted, That this paragraph be committed. On a motion, made and seconded, Voted, That the Committee consist of three. A nomination being called for, The Hon. Mr. PICKERING, Mr. LowELL, and Judge LINCOLN, were appointed. The 6th paragraph being read, from the words "and to dispose," to "defended," inclusively : On a motion, made and seconded, Voted, That the same be expunged. The 7th and last paragraph, respecting valuation of estates, being read, it was moved, and seconded, that the term for taking the same be contracted, which motion, after some debate, was superseded by a motion, made and seconded, that this paragraph be recommitted, which, being put, passed in the affirmative. On a motion, made and seconded, Voted, That the Committee consist of three. A nomination being called for, the following gentlemen were appointed, viz. Mr. LOWELL, Mr. JACKSON, and Mr. APPLETON. The 4th article, in the 3d section, in the same chapter, was then taken up, and read ; after debates had on the same, it was moved, and seconded, that the further consideration of this article be postponed until there shall be a fuller Convention. Which, being put, passed in the affirmative. The 5th article was then read; when it was moved, and seconded, that the words " from among the wisest, most prudent and virtuous of the freeholders," be expunged. Which, being put, passed in the affirmative. The article was then put, with the amendment, and accepted. The 8th article, respecting adjournments of the House of Representatives was read, and accepted. The 10th article being read, On a motion, made and seconded, Voted, That the same be taken up and considered by paragraphs. The 1st paragraph, as far as the words, "in their own House," being read, was accepted. The 2d, as far as the word "behaviour," after large debate, was, On a motion, made and seconded, Voted, To be passed over for the present. It was then moved, and seconded, That the Convention be adjourned to the afternoon, at 3 o'clock. The Convention was accordingly adjourned. Three o'clock, P. M. Met according to adjournment. The 10th article being resumed, and the several paragraphs distinctly considered, and largely debated, it was moved, and seconded, that the whole of this article be recommitted. Which, being put, passed in the affirmative. On a motion, made and seconded, Voted, That the Committee consist of five. A nomination being called for, The Hon. Brig. DANIELSON, Mr. LOWELL, Mr. JACKSON, The Hon. Mr. PICKERING, and The Rev. Mr. THATCHER, were appointed. On a motion, made and seconded, Voted, That the above Committee be instructed to bring in one or more clauses, by which the privileges, &c. of the Legislature shall be fully and explicitly stated and secured, the extent of the protection of its members ascertained, and its power of expulsion prescribed and limited. The Committee on the 5th paragraph, of the 3d article, 1st section, and 1st chapter, made report as follows: Instead of the words "to impose and levy," to "the same," that the following paragraph be substituted, viz: "And to impose and levy proportional and reasonable assessments, rates and taxes, upon all the inhabitants of, and persons resident and estates lying within the said Commonwealth ; also to impose and levy reasonable duties and excises upon any produce, goods, wares, merchandize, and commodities whatsoever, brought into, produced, manufactured or being within the Which amendment, being put, passed in the affirmative. The Committee on the last paragraph in the same article made report, that the following be substituted in lieu of the same; viz. "And while the public charges of government, or any part thereof, shall be assessed on polls and estates, in the manner that has hitherto been practised, in order that such assessments may be made with equality, there shall be a valuation of estates within the Commonwealth, taken anew once in every ten years, at the least; and as much oftener as the General Court shall order. " Which report, being put, was accepted. It was then moved, and seconded, That the Secretary be directed to insert in the Saturday's, Monday's, and Thursday's newspapers, and in those printed in Worcester, Providence and Hartford, an advertisement, purporting that the Convention have entered upon the business assigned them; but that the most important subjects are not yet taken up, in expectation of the attendance of much larger numbers of the Convention soon, and earnestly requesting as early and general an attendance as possible. Which, being put, passed in the affirmative. On a motion, made and seconded, Voted, That Mr. LowELL be joined with the Secretary in the above advertisement. It was then moved, and seconded, That the Convention be adjourned to to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock, and the Convention was adjourned accordingly. Pursuant to the above vote, the following advertisement was inserted, viz. "The Delegates of the several Towns throughout this State, for forming a new Constitution of Government, who are absent, are hereby notified, that the Convention, on the 27th inst. after repeated adjournments, resolved upon proceeding to the business assigned them, and are accordingly now engaged in the same." "The most important articles, such as Representation ;-the several Departments of Government, with their respective powers and checks ;-the mode of appointing militia and other of ficers; and other matters of great weight, have not, as yet, been taken up, from the expectation of a more general attendance." "It is, therefore, most earnestly requested, that gentlemen |