tuted, it is customary to accept the new draft as a substitute for the original paper, and treat it accordingly.

The Secretary may deliver the communications and resolutions referred to a committee, to any member of the committee, but it is usual to deliver them to him who is first named.

Journal of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, March 4, 1843.

The House resumed the consideration of the motion, to print one thousand copies of the report of the majority, in connection with the report of the minority of the committee, on the subject of preferring articles of impeachment against the Governor of this Commonwealth.

And the question recurring "Will the House agree to the motion?" A motion was made by Mr. Sherwood, to postpone the further consideration of the motion, together with the subject, indefinitely. And on the question "Will the House agree to the motion?" Mr. James put the question to the

chair, "Whether that part of the report which relates to Morrow B. Lowry,' is in order ?"

The Speaker decided that the minority of the committee, appointed to examine the subject of the impeachment of David R. Porter, Governor of this Commonwealth, in their report to this House, in alluding to a report made last session by the gentleman from Crawford, calls that gentleman by name, which part of the said report, the Speaker decided is not in order, and is unparliamentary; and that it is a matter of no difference, whether the gentleman from Crawford was acting in the capacity of a legislator, either during the past or present

session.

From this decision Mr. Morris and Mr. Hinchman appealed to the House, and on the question, "Is the decision of the Speaker correct?" the yeas and nays were required by Mr. Kennedy, of Beaver, and Mr. Sherwood, and were-yeas 52, nays 30. So the question was determined in the affirmative.

OF A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

Going into a committee of the whole is a matter of almost daily occurrence in all Legislative bodies. The leading advantages of so doing are, that the members may speak oftener than twice; that the debate cannot be stopped by the previous question; and that much labor is saved to the clerk, who is not obliged to insert the amendments offered in committee upon the journal. Societies sometimes resort to this order of business, but the instances in which there is any real necessity for so doing, are, I apprehend, exceedingly rare.

The mode is as follows. A motion is made and seconded, "that the Society resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, for the purpose of considering the resolution relating to," naming the subject. The President puts the question, and if it prevails, he will call some member to the chair, or the members may themselves appoint a chairman. The President will then vacate the chair, which will be taken by the Chairman-who will say, "the Committee of the

whole have referred to them the resolution relating to -; it will be read." And after being read by the Secretary, he will say, "the resolution is before the committee," which announcement opens the subject for discussion.

The rules and proceedings observed in the society, are to be observed, as far as practicable, in committee of the whole. Neither the yeas and nays, nor the previous question, can, however, be called, nor can an appeal from the decision of the chair be taken-the power of the Chairman, on points of order, being absolute. A quorum in committee is the same as a quorum in the society, and if the Chairman finds, at any time, no quorum present, the committee must immediately rise, and report the fact to the society.

When the lower house of Congress is resolved into committee of the whole, no member is allowed to speak more than once, until every member choosing to speak shall have spoken. This rule does not prevail in the Legislature of this state, where a member may speak as often as he can obtain the floor.

When the committee have gone through the resolution or resolutions referred to

them, the Chairman will say, "the committee will rise," whereupon the Chairman will leave the chair, and the President resume his seat. The Chairman should then proceed to his seat in the society, and, addressing the President, say, "The committee of the whole have had under consideration the resolution relating to and have instructed me to report the same with certain amendments,” “ or without amendment," or "negatived," as the case may be. The Pre ́sident repeats this report, and says: "the resolution is before the meeting." In case the resolution has been negatived in committee of the whole, he will say: "will the meeting agree to the report of the committee?"

When a committee wish to rise before they have gone through with their business, they can do so upon a motion to that effect being seconded and carried-whereupon the Chairman will report "progress, and ask leave to sit again." If leave is granted, the time is named; and to kill a bill effectually, the members sometimes name a day beyond the session;* if refused, the effect is to bring

* Another way to kill a bill is, to postpone the motion for agreeing to the report of a committee.