Mr. Speaker announced the following committee under the resolution of Mr. Benedict, to report a revision of the rules, viz: Messrs. Benedict, Lozier, Wilson, D. P. Wood and Collins. On motion of Mr. D. P. Wood,

Resolved, That the same number of officers be appointed for the present as for the last House, except that the number of pages be limited to fourteen.

Mr. Peters offered, for the consideration of the House, a resolution in the words following, to wit:

Resolved, That when this House adjourns, it adjourn to meet at 10 o'clock to-morrow, and adjourn at 12 o'clock each day until further ordered.

Mr. Benedict moved to amend by inserting the hour of 11 instead of 10.

Mr. Speaker put the question whether the House would agree to the said amendment, and it was determined in the affirmative. Mr. Speaker then put the question on agreeing to the said resolution as amended, and it was determined in the affirmative. On motion of Mr. Hall,

The House adjourned to 11 o'clock A. M. to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1854.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Wyckoff.

The minutes of yesterday were read and approved.

Mr. G. Miller presented himself as a member elect from district No. 1, Suffolk co., was sworn by the Speaker, and subscribed the oath of office.

The resolutions of Mr. Wood proposing sundry amendments to the Constitution, being the special order,

On motion of Mr. D. P. Wood,

Said special order was laid on the table.

Mr. D. P. Wood moved that all the intervening orders of business, down to motions and resolutions, be laid on the table.

Mr. Speaker put the question whether the House would agree to the said motion, and it was decided in the affirmative.

1

On motion of Mr. D. P. Wood,

Resolved, That the clerk furnish each of the members of this House, with such papers as they may designate respectively, not exceeding the cost of four daily papers.

Mr. Conkling gave notice that he would, at an early day, ask leave to introduce a bill to repeal an act entitled "An act relative to the purchase and laying out of certain lands for a public park in the nineteenth ward of the city of New-York, and the powers and duties of the mayor, aldermen and commonalty in relation thereto, passed July 21, 1853."

Mr. Savage offered for the consideration of the House, a resolution in the words following, to wit:

Resolved, (If the Senate concur,) That our Senators and Representatives in Congress, be requested to vote for the purchase of Mount Vernon.

Ordered, That said resolution be laid on the table.

Mr. Clinton gave notice that he would, at an early day, ask leave to introduce a bill, to except bills of exchange and promissory notes from the operation of the usury laws, in certain cases.

Mr. Bergen gave notice that he would, at an early day, introduce a bill entitled "An act to enlarge the jurisdiction of the court of sessions of Kings co."

On motion of Mr. Payne,

Resolved, That the clerk be directed to procure for the use of the members, officers and reporters of the House, three thousand engraved diagrams of the Assembly chamber.

On motion of Mr. Barton,

Resolved, That the clerk be authorised to procure the requisite supply of pocket knives, for the use of the members, officers and reporters of this House.

Mr. Harris gave notice that he would, at a future day, ask leave to introduce a bill prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage.

Mr. Barrow presented the petition of Patrick H. McGuire, claiming the seat of Daniel W. Clark, from the 3d district of N. Y. city, which was read and referred to the committee on privileges and elections.

Mr. Sessions presented the petition of Jesse E. Willis, claiming the seat as member of Assembly of the 2d Assembly district of the county of Jefferson, occupied by Amos Adams, which was read and referred to the committee on privileges and elections.

On motion of Mr. Barrow,

Resolved, That P. H. McGuire, contesting the seat of Daniel W. Clark, from the 3d Assembly district, of the city of NewYork, be admitted to a seat on the floor of the House, with all the privileges of a member, except voting.

On motion of Mr. Benedict,

Resolved, That Jesse E. Willis, of Jefferson co., be admitted to a seat in this House, with all the privileges of its members (except voting) until his application for a seat is disposed of.

On motion of Mr. Benedict,

Resolved, That the petition and papers of Dr. Thomas Goodsell for relief, be taken from the files of this House and referred to the committee on claims.

On motion of Mr. Sessions,

Resolved, That a suitable person be appointed by the clerk of this House, as superintendent of the Assembly chamber during the recesses of the House, and while committees are in session therein, in order that the property of the House and of the members may be unmolested during such time.

Mr. Clark offered for the consideration of the House, a preamble and resolutions in the words following, to wit:

Whereas, During the last twelve months great and increasing mortality has occurred on board of vessels engaged in the business of carrying emigrants to the ports of the United States, and undoubted evidence exists that such suffering and death resulted. from insufficient ventilation.

And whereas, The existing laws are wholly inadequate to secure the emigrants from these calamities, therefore

Resolved, (if the Senate concur,) That we respectfully ask the Congress of the United States to investigate this important subject, and enact such laws as may be necessary to secure the health of passengers on emigrant vessels.

Resolved, That the foregoing preamble and resolution, duly authenticated, be forwarded to the Hon. Hamilton Fish, United States Senator from this State, who promptly, at the commencement of the present session of Congress, directed the attention of the Senate to the evils of the existing system.

Ordered, That the said preamble and resolutions be laid upon the table.

Mr. Benedict presented the petition of Henry Dygert, of Frankfort, praying for relief, which was read and referred to the committee on claims.

Mr. D. P. Wood presented the petition of Lewis Beebee and others, praying for relief; also, petition of John Luchtely and David LeMorrie, praying for damages to boat and cargo at Canandaigua outlet on Erie canal, which were read and referred to the committee on claims.

Mr. Odell presented the petition of sundry citizens of Mount Vernon, Westchester county, to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the incorporation of villages, as far as relates to the village of Mount Vernon, Westchester county," which was read and referred to the committee on the incorporation of cities and villages.

The Senate sent for concurrence resolutions in the words following, to wit:

Whereas, The following amendment to the constitution of this State was, at the last session of the Legislature proposed, viz:

Substitute for section three of article seven, the following: After paying the said expenses of collection, superintendence and repairs of the canals, and the sums appropriated by the first and second sections of this article, there shall be appropriated and set apart in each fiscal year out of the surplus revenues of the canals, as a sinking fund, a sum sufficient to pay the interest as it falls due, and extinguish the principal within eighteen years of any loan made under this section, and if the said sinking fund shall not be sufficient to redeem any part of the principal at the stipulated times of payment, or to pay any part of the interest of such loans as stipulated, the means to satisfy any such deficiency shall be procured on the credit of the said sinking fund. After complying with the foregoing provisions, there shall be paid annually out of said revenues into the treasury of the State two hundred thousand dollars, to defray the necessary expenses of government. The remainder shall, in each fiscal year, be applied to meet appropriations for the enlargement and completion of the canals mentioned in this section, until the said canals shall be completed. In each fiscal year thereafter the remainder shall be disposed of in such manner as the Legislature may direct, but shall at no time be anticipated or pledged for more than one year in advance. The Legislature shall annually, during the next four years, appropriate to the enlargement of the Erie, the Oswego, the Cayuga and Seneca canals, and to the completion of the Black River and Genesee Valley canals, and for the enlargement of the locks of the Champlain canal, whenever from dilapidation or decay it shall be necessary to rebuild them, a sum not exceeding two millions two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The remainder of the revenues of the canals for the current fiscal year in which such appropriation is made, shall be applied to meet such appropriation; and if the same shall be deemed insufficient, the Legislature shall at the same session provide for the deficiency by loan. The Legislature shall also borrow one million and five hundred thousand dollars to refund to the holders of the canal revenue certificates issued under the provisions of chapter four hundred and eighty-five of the laws of the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, the amount received into the treasury thereon. But no interest to accrue after July 1st, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, shall be paid on such certificates. The provisions of section twelve of this article requiring every law for borrowing money to be submitted to the people, shall not apply to the loans authorised by this section. No part of the revenues of the canals or of the funds borrowed under this section, shall be paid or applied upon or in consequence of any alleged contract made under chapter four hundred and eighty-five of the laws of the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, except to pay for work done or materials furnished prior to the first day of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. The rates of toll on persons and property transported on the canals

shall not be reduced below those for the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, except by the canal board, with the concurrence of the Legislature. All contracts for work or materials on any canal, shall be made with the person who shall offer to do or provide the same at the lowest price, with adequate security for their performance.

And, whereas, The said proposed amendment was then agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two Houses, and entered on the journals with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the Legislature to be chosen at the next general election of Senators then ensuing ;

And, whereas, The said proposed amendment has been duly published for three months previous to making such choice, in pursuance to the provisions of the first section of the thirteenth article of the constitution:

Resolved, (if the Assembly concur,) That the Senate do agree to the said proposed amendment.

Mr. D. P. Wood moved a suspension of the rules so that the final vote on said resolution could be immediately taken.

Mr. Speaker put the question whether the House would agree to the said motion of Mr. D. P. Wood, and it was determined in the affirmative, three-fourths voting in favor thereof.

Mr. Speaker then put the question whether the House would agree to the said resolution, and it was determined in the affirmative, as follows, to wit: