July 22, 1788

Tuesday, July 22, 1788.

The Convention met according to adjournment.

The committee appointed for that purpose reported certain rules and regulations for the government of the Convention, which were twice read, and, with the exception of one article, were agreed to, and are as follows, viz: —

“1. When the president assumes the chair, the members shall take their seats.

“2. At the opening of the Convention, each day, the minutes of the preceding day shall be read, and be in the power of the Convention to be corrected, after which any business addressed to the chair may be proceeded upon.

“3. No member shall be allowed to speak but in his place, and, after rising and addressing himself to the president, shall not proceed until permitted by the president.

“4. No member speaking shall be interrupted but by a call to order by the president, or by a member through the president.

“5. No person shall pass between the president and the person speaking.

“6. No person shall be called upon for any words of heat, but on the day on which they were spoken.

“7. No member to be referred to in debate by name.

“8. The president shall be heard without interruption, and when he rises, the member up shall sit down.

“9. The president himself, or by request, may call to order any member who shall transgress the rules; if a second time, the president may refer to him by name; the Convention may then examine and censure the member's conduct, he being allowed to extenuate or justify.

“10. When two or more members are up together, the president shall determine who rose first.

“11. A motion made and seconded shall be repeated by the president. A motion shall be reduced to writing if the president requires it. A motion may be withdrawn by the member making it, before any decision is had upon it.

“12. The name of him who makes, and the name of him who seconds, the motion, shall be entered upon the minutes.

“13. No member shall depart the service of the house without leave.

“14. Whenever the house shall be divided upon any question, two or more tellers shall be appointed by the president, to number the members on each side.

“15. No member shall come into the house, or remove from one place to another, with his hat on, except those of the Quaker profession.

“16. Every member of a committee shall attend at the call of his chairman.

“17. The yeas and nays may be called and entered on the minutes, when any two members require it.

“18. Every member actually attending the Convention shall be in his place at the time to which the Convention stands adjourned, or within half an hour thereof.”

Mr. Lenoir moved, and was seconded by Mr. Person, that the return for Dobbs county should be read, which was accordingly read; whereupon Mr. Lenoir presented the petition of sundry of the inhabitants of Dobbs county, complaining of an illegal election in the said county, and praying relief; which being also read, on motion of Mr. Lenoir, seconded by Mr. Davie, Resolved, That the said petition be referred to the committee of elections.

Mr. Spaight presented the deposition of Benjamin Caswell, sheriff of Dobbs county, and a copy of the poll of an election held in the said county, for members to this Convention, and the depositions of William Croom, Neil Hopkins, Robert White, John Hartsfield, Job Smith, and Frederick Baker, which, being severally read, were referred to the committee of elections.

Mr. Cabarrus presented the depositions of Charles Markland, Jun., and Luther Spalding, relative to the election of Dobbs county; which, being read, were referred to the committee of elections.

The Convention then adjourned to 10 o'clock to-morrow morning.