subject, and for that purpose offers a proposition for concurrence, he is said to make a motion. 3. No motion can be entertained unless it is seconded. The reason is, the time of an assembly is not to be consumed on any proposition that has not more than one advocate. Such a remark as this-"I am opposed to the motion, but in order to get it before the house, etc., I second it"—is not a second, and the chairman should not recog‐ nize it. 4. No speech should be made unless on a motion, and no motion is open for debate until it has been stated from the chair. A member can make but one motion at a time. It is an abusive proceeding to make a motion and at the same time move to lay it on the table or call for the previous question. In such a case, the President should entertain the former motion, and treat the latter as though it had not been made. 5. No motion is in order which is substantially the same with one the assembly has disposed of already, or is holding under advisement, having laid it on the table or referred it to a committee. In the latter case, having waited till the matter is again before the body, the mover can propose amendment. 6. Facts, principles, and purposes, are expressed in the form of a resolution. When a mem ber wishes to obtain the sense or opinion of the assembly on any matter, he submits his proposition in the form of a resolution, and moves its adoption. The motion is his; the resolution, if adopted, becomes that of the assembly. When being put to the vote by the President, it assumes the form of the question, because it must be decided affirmatively or negatively. SEC. VI.-MOTION TO RECONSIDER. 1. When a question has been decided in the affirmative or negative, it is in order for any member who voted on the side which prevailed to move a reconsideration. 2. This motion does not bring the subject up for debate that has been acted on. A statement may be admitted of the reasons for reconsideration-as that members were absent on duty, or new and material facts have been developed, bearing on the main question. Adroit politicians sometimes vote on the side of their opponents when a question is likely to be decided against them, for the purpose of moving a reconsideration. If such a motion brought up the main subject for discussion, then it might be in the power of a minority to renew discussion at will, and to make it impossible for a deliberative body to get a subject from before it and pass on to something else, 3. If the motion to reconsider prevails, the subject is before the assembly as it was when being voted on, and is open for discussion, amendment, rejection, or adoption. 4. It cannot be moved to reconsider a motion to lay on the table or to adjourn. The reason is, these motions, if lost, can be renewed, after the proper intervals; and what has been laid on the table can be taken up by direct vote. A motion to reconsider, if rejected, cannot be renewed. SEC. VII. THE YEAS AND NAYS. 1. The design of this method of taking the vote and recording it, is to hold members accountable to their constituents, and to secure the utmost care in disposing of questions of great importance. As it operates also as a protection to the minority, the yeas and nays may be called for by less than a majority of members. The rule of the American Congress requires it to be taken, if called for by one-fifth of those present. This method should be used cautiously in religious bodies, for it is not only tedious, but may perpetuate divisions that otherwise would be but temporary. 2. Whenever a member calls for the yeas and nays, the presiding officer says, "There is a call for the yeas and nays: those in favor of the call will rise." If the requisite number rise, he says, "The yeas and nays are ordered: the Secretary will call the roll. As many as are in favor of the motion will, when their names are called, answer Yes; those opposed, will answer No." When the Secretary has called the roll in order, noting each member's answer in connection with his name, he reads over distinctly those in the affirmative, and then those in the negative, so that mistakes, if any, may be corrected. Adding up the number on each side, he hands the result to the presiding officer, who announces it. 3. When the vote is thus taken on both sides, pari passu, and not first in the affirmative and then in the negative, discussion cannot be reopened after the first vote has been given. Every member must vote unless excused. No member can vote after the roll-call has been finished, without permission, and of this the Journal should take notice. After a question has been decided by other forms of voting, and the result declared, the yeas and nays cannot be called for on it. A member may, by permission, change his vote, even after the business is disposed of, provided such change does not af fect the general result. SEC. VIII.-PROTEST. 1. A protest is a solemn and formal declaration by members in a minority, bearing their testimony against what they deem a mischievous action or erroneous judgment of the majority, and is generally accompanied with a detail of the reasons on which it is based. 2. None can join in a protest against a decision, except those who had a right to vote on said decision. 3. If a protest be couched in decent language, and is respectful to the body, it must be recorded. The body whose action is dissented from may, if deemed necessary, put an answer to the protest on record, along with it. Here the matter must end, unless the protestors obtain permission to withdraw their protest absolutely, or for the sake of amendment. The question to be decided by an assembly-a protest having been presented in due form-is, whether its character entitles it to claim the right that belongs to papers of that class. June 6, 1844, "J. Early asked that H. B. Bascom have leave to read to the Conference the Protest that L. Pierce, on Saturday, gave notice would be presented by the Southern delegates." After the reading by Dr. Bascom, "Mr. Simpson offered a resolution to the following effect: 'That while they could not admit the statements put forth in the Protest, yet, as a |