HKB
"And that Effectual Arrangements should also be made for giving Operation to the present powers of Congress in their Requisitions upon the States for National purposes.--
"As the Object of this Letter is chiefly to prevent any impressions unfavorable to the Commercial Interest of this State, from taking place in our Sister States from the Circumstance of our being unrepresented in the present National Convention, we shall not presume to enter into any detail of the objects we hope your deliberations will embrace and provide for being convinced they will be such as have a tendency to strengthen the Union, promote Commerce, increase the power & Establish the Credit of the United States.
"The result of your deliberations tending to these desireable purposes we still hope may finally be Approved and Adopted by this State, for which we pledge our Influence and best exertions.--
"In behalf of the Merchants, Tradesmen &c.
"We have the Honour to be with perfect Consideration & Respect "Your most Obedient & "Most Humble Servant's
"JOHN BROWN JABEZ BOWEN } THO^S LLOYD HALSEY NICHO^S BROWN } JOS. NIGHTINGALE JOHN JENCKES } LEVI HALL WELCOME ARNOLD } Comtee. PHILIP ALLEN WILLIAM RUSSELL } PAUL ALLEN JEREMIAH OLMY } WILLIAM BARTON } "The Hon^{ble} the Chairman of the General Convention "PHILADELPHIA" --Const. MSS.
Both letters are printed in the Documentary History of the Constitution, i., 277 and 275.
M^r Butler moved that the House provide ag^{st} interruption of business by absence of members,[26] and against licentious publications of their proceedings--to which was added by--M^r Spaight[27]--a motion to provide that on the one hand the House might not be precluded by a vote upon any question, from revising the subject matter of it, When they see cause, nor, on the other hand, be led too hastily to rescind a decision, which was the result of mature discussion.--Whereupon it was ordered that these motions be referred for the consideration of the Committee appointed to draw up the standing rules and that the Committee make report thereon.
[26] "Mr. Butler is a character much respected for the many excellent virtues which he possesses. But as a politician or an Orator, he has no pretensions to either. He is a Gentleman of fortune, and takes rank among the first in South Carolina. He has been appointed to Congress, and is now a Member of the Legislature of South Carolina. M^r Butler is about 40 years of age; an Irishman by birth."--Pierce's Notes, Am. Hist. Rev., iii., 333.
[27] "Mr. Spaight is a worthy Man, of some abilities, and fortune. Without possessing a Genius to render him brilliant, he is able to discharge any public trust that his Country may repose in him. He is about 31 years of age."--Pierce's Notes, Id., iii., 332.
Adj^j till tomorrow 10. OClock.
TUESDAY MAY 29.
John Dickenson and Elbridge Gerry, the former from Delaware, the latter from Mass^{ts} took their seats. The following rules were added, on the report of M^r Wythe from the Committee--
That no member be absent from the House, so as to interrupt the representation of the State, without leave.
That Committees do not sit whilst the House shall be or ought to be, sitting.
That no copy be taken of any entry on the journal during the sitting of the House without leave of the House.
That members only be permitted to inspect the journal.
That nothing spoken in the House be printed, or otherwise published or communicated without leave.
That a motion to reconsider a matter which has been determined by a majority, may be made, with leave unanimously given, on the same day on which the vote passed; but otherwise not without one day's previous notice: in which last case, if the House agree to the reconsideration, some future day shall be assigned for that purpose.
M^r C. Pinkney[28] moved that a Committee be appointed to superintend the Minutes.