Boyd

So it was determined in the negative.

The twenty-fourth section of the bill of rights, as reported by the committee of nine, being under consideration, viz.

That emigration from the state shall not be prohibited.

It was moved by Mr. M Kean, seconded by Mr. Lewis, to add the following words to the said section, viz. Unless in time of war." Which was determined in the negative, and the original section adopted.

The twenty-fifth section of the said bill of rights being under consideration, the same was adopted as follows, viz.

To guard against transgressions of the high powers which we have delegated, WE DECLARE, that every thing in this article expressed is excepted out of the general powers of legislation, and shall for ever remain inviolate.

A motion was made by Mr. M'Kean, seconded by Mr. Smith, to reconsider the eighteenth section of the bill of rights, in order to strike out the words "to their representatives." Which was determined in the affirmative, and the said section, as amended adopted.

The committee then rose in order to report, that they had made further progress in the business referred to them, and request leave to sit again.

FRIDAY, February 5, 1790, A. M.

The committee resumed the consideration of the seventh section of the bill of rights, with the amendments adjourned the third instant, and the amendment, moved by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Findley, being under consideration.

On the question, Will the committee agree to the same? The yeas and nays being called by Mr. Smilie, were as follow, viz.

YEAS.

So it was determined in the affirmative, and the amendment adopted. A motion was then made by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Morris, to adjourn the debates on the said seventh section, together with the amendments, in order to introduce the following, in lieu thereof, viz. That no law shall ever be made abridging the freedom of speech or the press.

On the question, "Will the committee agree to the adjournment for the aforesaid purpose?" The yeas and nays being called by Mr. T, Ross, were as follow, viz.

So it was determined in the negative, and thereupon, the said seventh section, as amended, adopted as follows, viz.

That the printing presses shall be free to every person who undertakes to examine the proceedings of the legislature or any branch of government, and no law shall ever be made restraining the right thereof. The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man, and every citizen may freely speak, write, and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. But upon indictments for the publication of papers investigating the conduct of individuals in their public capacity, or of those applying or canvassing for office, the truth of the facts may be given in evidence in justification upon the general issue.

On motion of Mr. Lewis, seconded by Mr. Findley, the following was adopted as the preamble to the said proposed constitution, viz. We, the people of Pennsylvania, having by our representatives freely chosen and in convention met, altered and amended the constitution of this commonwealth, do ordain and establish as follows.

And the said constitution being then read, the same was unanimous ly adopted.

[For the constitution as reported by the committee of the whole see page 296 of this volume.]

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MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION OF 1789--90.

On motion of Mr. Pickering, seconded by Mr. Ogden,

Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of this committee be given to general Hand, for his able and impartial conduct while chairman thereof.

The committee, having compleated the business referred to them, rose in order to report the said plan of government to the convention.

PART. V.

The act of the 28th March, 1825, for ascertaining the opinion of the people of this commonwealth, relative to the call of a convention.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in general assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That it shall be the duty of each of the inspectors of votes for the several townships, wards "and districts in this common wealth, at the next general election, to receiye tickets from the citizens thereof, qualified to vote at such general elections, and to deposit them in a proper box or boxes, to be for that purpose provided by the proper officers, which tickets shall be labelled with the word "Convention," and within, the words "For a Convention," or "Against a Convention," and folded, delivered and veceived in the usual manner.

Sect. 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said election shall, in all respects, be conducted as the general elections in this commonwealth are now conducted; and it shall be the duty of the return judges of the respective counties thereof, first having carefully ascertained the number of votes given for or against the calling of a convention, to make out duplicate returns thereof, expressed in words at length and not in figures only, one of which returns, so made out, shall be lodged in the prothonotary's office of the proper county, and the other sealed and directed to the speaker of the Senate, which shall be, by one of the said judges, delivered to the sheriff, with the other returns required by law to be transmitted to the secretary of the commonwealth, whose duty it shall be to transmit the same therewith; and the speaker of the Senate shall open and publish the same, in the presence of the members of the two houses of the legislature, on the second Tuesday of December next.

JOEL B. SUTHERLAND, Speaker

of the House of Representatives.

THOMAS BURNSIDE,

Speaker of the Senate.

APPROVED-The twenty-eighth day of March, one thousand eight

hundred and twenty-five.

J. ANDW. SHULZE.