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every part of the State was that they should come to a
decisive vote and submit their labors for inspection. He
hoped this order would be passed, and begged to an-
nounce that he would at the proper time propose an ad-
ditional rule that on the third reading of any article, no
member should speak longer than five minutes, nor more
than once on the same subject, unless by unanimous con-
sent. He was informed by his friend on his right, (Mr.
Vansant, ) that in Congress it is the general rule of the
committee of the whole that no speech, even on great ap-
propriations, shall exceed five minutes, except when in
committee on the state of the Union. It occurred to him
that it would be better to adopt some such rule of busi-
ness, so as to bring their labors to as speedy a close as
practicable.
Mr. Ritchie could see no reason why, at this late day of
the session, any change should be made in the rules.
Mr. Vansant said as the rules stood now, it was in the
power of any nine members, by resorting to what is
known in parliamentary parlance as filibustering, to delay
action almost at their pleasure. The Convention should
look seriously into this matter. The progress of this Con-
vention had not been more rapid than that of the Con-
vention of 1864, which was composed of contending par-
ties. But nine reports have been passed to a third read-
ing, and none have been taken up on that reading. Sev-
eral reports have not even been taken up on their second
reading. The legislative report has been held in abey-
ance on account of one particular section. On this fea-
ture there had been three distinct votes of the Conven-
tion, and it was hard to tell how many more would be
taken. He was of the impression that all the business
could better be transacted in Convention, and could see no
possible good to grow out of going into committee of the
whole.
Mr. Nelson was as anxious as any member to get
through as soon as possible, but rather than their labors
should go out to the people in a crude state he would pre-
fer to remain here for six months. There were gentle-
men here whose minds were so clear that they under-
stood everything, and could vote without the aid of dis-
cussion, but he was one of those unfortunate people who
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