After debate by Messrs. Cushman, of Bernardston, and Hathaway, of Freetown,

Mr. Hathaway moved that the Committee rise, report progress, and ask leave to sit again; but afterwards withdrew the motion.

Mr. Hallett, member for Wilbraham, moved to amend the amendment, by striking out all after the word "extend," in the second paragraph thereof, and inserting the following: "to the hearing or trial of any causes or issuing of warrants;" and also by inserting the word "not," before the word "extend."

At the suggestion of Mr. Morton, of Taunton, Mr. Cushman modified his amendment, by inserting, after the word "deeds," in the second paragraph, the following: "the taking of depositions."

After debate by Messrs. Cushman, of Bernardston, and Butler, of Lowell,

Mr. Weston, of Duxbury, moved that the Committee rise, report progress, and ask leave to sit again.

The motion was adopted by a vote of seventy in the affirmative, and thirty in the negative.

And the Committee accordingly rose.

Mr. MORTON, of Andover, in the chair.

MONDAY, July 25, 1853.

By direction of the Convention, the Committee resumed the consideration of the unfinished business of the last session-the Resolves concerning Justices of the Peace, the pending question being upon the amendment of Mr. Hallett, member for Wilbraham, to the amendment of Mr. Cushman, of Bernardston.

Mr. Hallett modified his amendment, by adding to the words to be inserted, the following words: "in criminal cases."

The amendment as modified, was then adopted.

The question then recurring upon the amendment, as amended, Mr. Hallett further moved to amend the amendment, by striking out, in the third line, (printed copy,) of the Resolve, the following words: "There shall be two classes of justices of the peace, viz.:" and also the word "who," in the first line of the first paragraph; also the word "who," in the first line of the second paragraph.

After remarks by Mr. Bishop, of Lenox,

The amendment was adopted.

Mr. Hallett moved further to amend the amendment, by inserting, after the words "justices of the peace," in the fifth line, (printed copy,) of the second paragraph, the following words: "and justices of the peace and of the quorum, and justices throughout the Commonwealth, and commissioners to qualify civil officers."

After debate by Messrs. Chapin, of Worcester, Davis, of Plymouth, Lord of Salem, and Griswold, member for Erving,

The question was taken upon the amendment, and seventy-four gentlemen voted in the affirmative, and thirteen in the negative. A quorum not having voted,

On motion of Mr. Earle, of Worcester, it was

Voted, That the Committee rise, and report to the Convention that a quorum was not present.

And the Committee accordingly rose.

Afterwards, Mr. SCHOULER, of Boston, in the chair.

By direction of the Convention, the Committee proceeded to consider a series of Resolves, reported from the Standing Committee on the Preamble and Declaration of Rights, (printed Document No. 107.)

Also, a Report from the Committee to whom was referred the Order relating to remedies to the representatives of persons killed by the negligence or misconduct of Railroad Corporations, (printed Document No. 114.)

Also, a Report from a Minority of the Committee on the Preamble and Declaration of Rights, (printed Document No. 115.)

The Resolves relating to the Bill of Rights were first taken up and considered.

Mr. Sumner, member for Marshfield, proceeded to address the Committee, until his time had expired under the rule adopted by the Convention, limiting debate to fifteen minutes,

When Mr. Wilson, of Natick, moved that leave be granted to Mr. Sumner to proceed.

Mr. Lord, of Salem, inquired whether it was competent for the Committee to change a rule of the Convention?

The Chairman decided that it was in the power of the Committee to rescind the rule.

After remarks by Messrs. Boutwell, member for Berlin, Briggs, of Pittsfield, Aspinwall, of Brookline, and Wilson, of Natick,

Mr. Lord, of Salem, moved to amend the motion of Mr. Wilson,

by adding thereto the following words: “and to any other gentleman who chooses."

After remarks by Mr. Briggs, of Pittsfield, the Chairman decided the amendment not in order.

Further debate followed between Messrs. Hallett, member for Wilbraham, Dana, member for Manchester, Bird, of Walpole, and Gardner, of Seekonk,

When the motion of Mr. Wilson was agreed to, by a vote of ninetytwo in the affirmative, and eighty-seven in the negative.

Mr. Boutwell, member for Berlin, moved a reconsideration of the last vote.

Mr. Sumner then waived his right to speak under the vote last taken. After debate by Messrs. Hopkinson, of Boston, and Gardner, of Seekonk,

The question was taken, and the motion of Mr. Boutwell was adopted by a vote of eighty-four in the affirmative, and eighty-two in the negative.

The question then recurred upon the motion of Mr. Wilson.

Mr. Sumner again signified his intention to waive all privilege or right to speak,

When Mr. Wilson withdrew his motion.

Mr. Hallett, member for Wilbraham, moved that the several subjects referred to the Committee be considered separately.

Mr. Thompson, of Charlestown, addressed the Committee.

The question then being taken, the motion of Mr. Hallett was rejected.

The question then recurred upon the Resolves relating to the Bill of Rights.

After remarks by Messrs. Briggs, of Pittsfield, Sumner, member for Marshfield, and Hopkinson, of Boston,

The first Resolve was adopted.

Mr. Dana, member for Manchester, moved to amend the second Resolve, by adding thereto the following :—

Said writ shall be granted as of right in all cases where the legislature shall not especially confer a discretion upon the court; but the legislature may prescribe preliminary proceedings to the obtaining of said writ.

After debate by Messrs. Dana, member for Manchester, and Hallett, member for Wilbraham,

The question was taken, and the amendment was agreed to, by a vote of eighty-five in the affirmative, and twenty-two in the negative.

The question then recurring upon the Resolve, as amended,

It was adopted.

The third Resolve was then agreed to, without debate.

Mr. Hallett moved to amend the fourth Resolve, by inserting the word "expressly," after the word "not," in the last line.

After debate by Messrs. Sumner, member for Marshfield, Hallett, member for Wilbraham, Lord, of Salem, Wilson, of Natick, and Bradford, of Essex,

Mr. Hallett withdrew his amendment.

Mr. Newman, of Bolton, then moved to strike out the last paragraph of the fourth Resolve, and insert the following words:

We declare every thing in this Bill of Rights is excepted out of the general powers of government, and shall ever remain inviolate.

But the motion was rejected.

The question then recurred upon the fourth Resolve.

Mr. Bradford, of Essex, calling for a division,

The question was taken upon the first part, as far as and including the word "people," in the fifth line, (printed copy,) and it was agreed to. The remaining part of the Resolve was then agreed to.

When, on motion of Mr. Wilson, of Natick, it was

Voted, That the Committee rise, and report that the Resolves relating to the Bill of Rights ought to pass, with the amendment; and upon the other subjects referred to the Committee, ask leave to sit again.

And the Committee accordingly rose.

TUESDAY, July 26, 1853.

Mr. NAYSON, of Amesbury, in the chair.

By direction of the Convention, the Committee proceeded to consider the following Resolve:

Resolved, That the Constitution ought to be amended so as to make the provisions for receiving, assorting, counting and recording of votes, uniform in the election of all officers whose election is provided for in the Constitution.

After remarks by Mr. Duncan, of Williamstown,

The Resolve was adopted, by a vote of one hundred and seventeen in the affirmative, and thirty-five in the negative.

On motion of Mr. Earle of Worcester, it was

Voted, That the Committee rise, and report to the Convention, that the Resolve ought to pass.

And the Committee accordingly rose.

Afterwards, Mr. SCHOULER, of Boston, in the chair.

By direction of the Convention, the Committee resumed the consideration of the unfinished business of the session of July 25th.

The first subject considered was the following Report, from the Minority of the Committee on the Bill of Rights, (printed Document No. 115):

That the second article of the Bill of Rights ought to be so altered as to change the words, "for his religious profession or sentiments,” to the words "for his profession or sentiments concerning religion;" so that it will read, if so amended,

And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience, or for his profession or sentiments concerning religion.

Mr. Chandler, of Greenfield, moved to amend the Report, by striking out the word "subject," in the first line, and inserting the word "person;" and also, by adding the following at the close: "provided, it does not interfere with the rights and privileges of other worshippers."

After debate by Messrs. Allen, of Worcester, Lord, of Salem, and Sumner, member for Marshfield,

Mr. Chandler withdrew the second part of his amendment.

After further debate by Messrs. Sumner, member for Marshfield, and Lord, of Salem,

Mr. Chapin, of Webster, moved to amend the Report, by striking out, in the second paragraph thereof, the words "or restrained," and inserting before the word "molested," the word “or.”

At the suggestion of Mr. Sumner, member for Marshfield, Mr. Chandler modified his amendment, by substituting the word "man," for the word "person."

Debate followed between Messrs. Sumner, member for Marshfield,