SCHEDULE.

The convention resumed the second reading and consideration of the report of the committee appointed to prepare and report a schedule to the amended constitution, to whom was referred the resolution instructing said com mittee to report when it will be most expedient for the citizens of the state to vote upon the amendments to the constitution, which may be submitted to them for their approbation.

The amendment to the amendment to the said report being under consideration, as follows, viz:

To strike from the amendment the werds "second Tuesday of October." and insert in lieu thereof the words "first Tuesday of November.'

Mr. REIGART of Lancaster, said. I presme we may take the ques. tion very soon on the matter now before us, and I will give my reason. If the election is to take place in November, according to the amendment now immediately under consideration, it seems to me that it will be more likely to beget political excitement, than if held at any other time, aud that parties will array themselves one against the other in reference to these amendments. The election for governor will then have passed, and the parties, according to the success of their respective candidates, will arouse themselves for or against the amendments. Every thing of this kind has been properly deprecated by the gantleman from the city, (Mr. Scott) an I concur with him in the views he has expressed on that point. But I do not agree with him in the position, that a day in November, will be better than the second Tuesday in October. I do not see how political considerations can be mixed up with the question of the amendments, if we fix on the latter day. It is uncertain who will be elected governor, and we may suppose that the election if held at that time, will go according to the merits or demerits of the amendments them. selves. I, therefore, go in favor of the second Tuesday in October ; and moreover, I think that a greater number of votes will be polled, than on any other day that can be fixed upon. It is true, that in the cities and towns, the people can go out to the polls at any time, but it is not so with the agricultural interests.

There is another matter which may seem unimportant to the minds of some gentlemen, but which in my estimation is not so. I allude to the expense of a special election. We may differ as to which day will be best; but if we do not differ as to the day on which the greatest number of votes will be given, it seem to me that the expense, although a small matter, should be allowed to enter into the computation.

I shall vote for the second Tuesday in October.

Mr. FULLER, of Fayette, said:

I believe there are only three objects connected with this question. The first is, to have a fair and full expression of the opinions of the voters on the amendments which may be agreed to by this convention. This is the first and most important object; because if there should not be such an expression of opinion, I take it for granted that the minority of the voters of this commonwealth, not being satisfied with many, or most, of

the amendments that may be adopted by the people, will be more willing to make application for further changes in the constitution. But if the amended constitution should be adopted by the vote of a large majority of our people-as I have no doubt it will be, if the election shall be held at a proper time-I believe that all questions of this kind will be put at rest for many years to come.

The question then presents itself, what is the proper time at which to obtain the largest number of votes? So far as any thing has transpired in the course of this debate, it seems to me that no gentleman on either side has objected to the position, that more voters would turn out on the second Tuesday of October, than at any other time. As to the propriety of accomplishing that great and important object, it does not appear that there is any difference of opinion among the members of this convention. The only point of difference in reference to that particular, is, on what day can the object be best accomplished.

It is true that the gentleman from the city of Philadelphia, (Mr. Scott) who proposed the amendment immediately under consideration, objects to the second Tuesday of October, on the ground that the people may become so excited, as he terms it, upon the general election day, that they will not vote calmly and considerately; that their feelings will be wrought up to such a pitch by party excitement as to warp their better judgment. There has been as much excitement in a governor's election and in county elections as ever will be got up by this important subject; and will the gentleman say, that the minds of the independent voters of this commonwealth have been so led away by party excitement, and the heat of party warfare, as to cause them to vote improperly?

If the gentleman intends to advance this doctrine, I should like him to carry it out, and see where it will land him. I should like him to propose some remedy, by means of which, the people can vote clearly and understandingly; but at all events, I think he must concur with me on one point-that is to say, that this whole subject is a proper subject for deliberation and decision, whether coolly or otherwise, by the people themselves.

I

As to the convenience of the people, that is another point to be considered. How the facts may be in the cities and large towns, I do not so well know; but I should suppose that to people residing there, it will make little difference whether these amendments are passed upon at the general election, or upon a day specially set apart for the purpose. know, however, that this is not the case in the small towns and villages with the country people, as they are termed.. This fact has been sufficiently demonstrated in the elections which have taken place during the last fifteen or twenty years. The result may be seen in the general elec tions which take place on the second Tuesday of October, and the elec tion for electors of president of the United States which is held in November.

If gentlemen will examine the list of returns, they will see that, in the election for electors of president of the United States, the number of votes polled, is infinitely less than the number taken on the second Tuesday of October. It is reasonable that it should be so; we can not expect any thing else. A large portion of the voters of Pennsylvania are agricultural

sts, or labourers. They do not generally take so lively an interest in the elections as I could desire. They live far from the polls; they are unwilling to spend their time in travelling there, and the consequence is, that many stay at home on the second election. And I have no doubt that this will be the case in the present instance.

As to the proposition for the first Tuesday of June, that appears to me equally as objectionable as the proposition of the gentleman from the city of Philadelphia. It is undoubtedly proper that the people should have time allowed them to examine the amended constitution, and to compare its provisions with those of the constitution of 1790. This I believe to be requisite. They will then be better able to possess themselves of information, and to come to the polls prepared to vote understandingly and wisely.

The next objection which I have to urge against a special election, is the additional expense which must be thereby entailed upon the people. There are in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, one thousand and four wards, boroughs and townships. Each of these election districts will cost about fifteen dollars upon an average. That will amount to an additional expense of about fifteen thousand and sixty dollars to be imposed upon the people. But is this all the additional expense which will be incurred? I hold that it is not. Take the average time of the voters— for to the industrious and hard working population of this state, time is money-and a special election will cost every man at least fifty cents. How many voters are there in the state? Say two hundred thousand. So that the whole would amout to a sum of one hundred thousand dollars. It is true that this sum is not actually paid out of pocket by a majority of the voters, but it is a greater loss than if the money were actually so paid. By this calculation, therefore, a special election would involve an additional expense of one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars. Is this nothing? Surely it is a matter worthy of some consideration at the hands of this body.

Now Mr. President, taking into view the first and greatest object which it is our duty to accomplish-that is to say to procure a full expression of the will of the voters of this commonwealth, it is agreed, I believe, upon all hands, that that object can be better accomplished by holding the election on the second Tuesday of October than on any other day.

The next object which we should have in view, is the convenience of the voters. The second Tuesday of October is a convenient day to them. It is a time when the voters arrange their business so as to attend the polls on that particular day-and I repeat, that I suppose all gentlemen must be satisfied that a larger vote will be polled on that day than on any other.

For these reasons, I hope that the convention will fix upon the second Tuesday of October. It will give the most satisfaction to the people.

I shall, therefore, go against the amendment of the gentleman from the city of Philadelphia, and in favor of the second Tuesday of October. Mr. MILLER, of Fayette, demanded the immediate question. But there was no second.

And the amendment to the amendment being again under consideration,

Mr. Cox, of Somerset, said:

There are some gentlemen who do not choose either to think themselves, or to let others think. I do not know whether the gentleman from Fayette (Mr. Miller) is one of that class. He may be so; but whether he is so, or not, I shall give my opinion on this question.

My own views are favorable to the report of the majority of the com mittee. I believe that the first Tuesday in June is the proper day on which these amendments should be submitted to the people. I shall, however, vote for the amendment of the gentleman from the city of Philadelphia. (Mr. Scott) considering, as I do, that the first Tuesday of November is preferable to the second Tuesday in October.

I propose briefly to notice the objections which have been urged against the first Tuesday in June, as well as those which have been urged against the first Tuesday of November.

The gentleman from Luzerne, (Mr. Woodward) says, that June would be too early a date; that the people of the commonwealth would not have the opportunity between this time and the first Tuesday in June, to come to a proper conclusion on the subject. In this respect I think he is in error.

The convention, I take it for granted, will adjourn on the twenty-sec ond day of the present month, according to its resolution. There will then be an interval of upwards of three months, between the day of the adjournment of this body and the day fixed upon by the report of the majority of the committee to wit, the first Tuesday in June. If that day should be agreed upon, those of both political parties who are in favor of the amendments will commence their examination and make all exertions to disseminate information; and they will use such arguments as they may think are best calculated to make the people turn out on that day and vote in favor of the amendments.

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They would do so, because they could do it and not be liable to that political influence which is exercised at the October election. He felt sure that they would desire to act upon them at that time, as they would be free from, and unbiased by, party interests and feelings. But, on the contrary, if the amendments were submitted at the October election, those opposed to them would avail themselves of every argument and device to induce their friends to turn out and vote against the amendments. contended, therefore, that they should be subinitted at an earlier day, when the exclusive attention of the whole people of the commonwealth would be directed to that one object. And, no doubt, this would be the case, because between now and June next, the controversy as to who shall be the next governor, would have closed, and which had already become very warm.

There being, then, but one object before the people, they would attend the polls, in a body, and give their votes for or against the amendments, as they might deem them good or bad. This they could do consistently, and without the least prejudice to their party But if submitted in October, he apprehended that they could not do so.

The gentleman, (Mr. Woodward) objected to the proposition, on the ground that on account of its being a special election, the judges and inspectors, who served at the last October election, would be compelled to officiate there, although many of them might have removed.

Now, he (Mr. Cox) conceived that this objection was entitled to no weight, inasmuch as the law has provided for the filling of all vacancies of this sort. He believed that there was a provision in the act of assem bly, relative to the filling of all vacancies on the morning of the election. If any officer or officers were absent, the voters could immediately select individuals to officiate in their stead. In his opinion, there could be no difficulty on that account, and consequently, the objection fell to the ground.

The gentleman from Luzerne, had also made another objection, and he (Mr. C.) must confess that he was astonished to hear a gentleman so well versed in political matters, and so zealous a politician as he was, commit so gross a mistake.

He had remarked that at the time when the delegates to this convention were elected, forty thousand voters did not go to the polls, who had atten ded them at the governor's election. The gentleman, however, should recollect that, although forty thousand did not give their votes for or against the calling of a convention, yet they did cast their votes on the other questions submitted to them at the same time. He thought the gen tleman rather unfortunate in offering this objection. Yes, so little was the interest and anxiety felt by the people in regard to the calling of a convention, that forty thousand voters did not vote at all!

It occurred to him (Mr. C.) that exactly the same state of things might again happen, if the amendments were to be submitted on the second Tuesday of October, as the attention of the people would be directed to other objects. On that day, a new governor was to be elected, or the present executive magistrate be re-elected, and from the present aspect of things, the contest was likely to be a very warm one. Besides, there were likewise members of congress, members of the legislature, and other offi cers to be elected, at the same time; consequently, the political parties, on both sides, would use every exertion, and employ every means to accomplish their purposes. There had always been a great deal of warmth and party feeling displayed at a governor's election, and as in all proba bility there would be again at the next, he would ask if, under these cir cumstances, it would not be highly probable that the people would not come forward and give their votes coolly, calmly and dispassionately, for or against the amendments? He would ask if there was not danger to be apprehended that what had happened in relation to the calling of the convention, might not again happen? He confessed that he thought there was. Indeed, it would not surprise him in the least to hear that thirty or forty thousand of those who voted at the governor's election, should not vote for or against the amendments. He felt assured that this consequence would follow, because the election of a governor would be regarded as of more consequence. He thought, too, that we had a right to infer such would be the result, on account of the little interest manifested by the people of the commonwealth in the labour of this convention. Notwithstan ding the frequent notices given by the press of the proceedings of this body, but little attention was paid to them by the people, certainly not near so much as to those of the legislature.