Mr. ANDOUN. As one of the parties sign-
ing this majority report, I desire to say in
reply to my friend from prince George's (Mr.
Clarke) that so far as the abolition of slavery
is concerned, that question has already been
submitted to the people, who sent us here for
that purpose. The majority of this convention
was sent here for the express purpose of abol-
ishing slavery; after that question had been
thoroughly discussed in the canvass before the
people. The question of the sale of the State's
interest in the public works wag not discussed
before the people, and I question very much
whether the gentleman knows the wants of
the people in regard to that particular mat-
ter. I question whether there are many upon
this floor who know the wishes of their con-
stituents in this respect. I confess that I do
not, and hence my desire to have this latter
clause inserted in this section.
Mr. SCHLEY. In signing the report of the
minority of this select committee, I was prin-
cipally induced to do so by the operation of
this last clause of the section proposed by
the majority of the committee, which the
gentleman from Prince George's (Mr. Clarke)
now proposes to strike out. Without deba-
ting the question of the authority of this
convention to submit any side issue to a
separate vote of the people at the time of the
adoption or rejection of this constitution, I
think it extremely inexpedient go to do,
especially when the question is one of such
importance to the State, and go little agitated
before the people at this time as the proposi-
tion here submitted.
I have stated on this floor that I am in
favor of the general policy of the sale of the
public works, and so far as I can judge from
the discussions that have been had here, such
appears to be the prevailing sentiment of this
convention. I was opposed to the legislative
character which the various amendments to
the original section of the legislative article
involved. But there seems to be a disposition
on the part of all who favor this general line
of policy to attach conditions to this gale,
and believing that it might as well be done
now as perhaps at any other time, I did agree
to the proposition of the gentleman from
Kent (Mr. Chambers,) which went less into
details, and was more conservative in its
amount than any other.
I propose to suggest now to the gentleman
from Prince George's (Mr. Clarke) a modifica-
tion of his proposition, which I trust he will
accept. Strike out that portion of the sec-
tion proposed by the majority of this select
committee, which he proposes to strive out,
and then insert the following:
"Provided, farther, That no sale, or con-
tract of sale, of the State's interest in the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company shall
go into effect until the same shall be ratified
by the ensuing general assembly."
The majority of the committee have in their |
report, in my judgment, decided upon the
present as a very suspicious time for the sale
of the State's interest in the Baltimore »nd
Ohio Railroad Company, with the reserva-
tion which .their report, contains, of the inter-
est in the Washington branch of that road.
Many persons of financial ability believe that
after the prelent condition of things shall
pass, there in an impending crash to come
upon us, in which these stocks will, perhaps
for a long time, be depreciated in value.
That is my view. Therefore I would sell the
State's interest in the railroad company now,
when it can be exchanged for the debt of the
State at the par value of the same. But I
have no idea of having the canal disposed of
at this time. There appears to be no one
offering for it; there appears to be no proba-
bility that it will be sold to advantage at this
time, and I am therefore reluctant that it
should be included in the mandatory section
which the majority of the committee has
made. I want to hedge it about with some
restrictions. I will not say that it shall be
sold for blank millions of dollars. Such a
restriction, when the blank is filled up, would
either be a restriction to the extent of pro-
hibiting the sale, or it would lead to a sale
perhaps at a sacrifice. It is inadvisable,
therefore, that it should bear that character.
I therefore ask the gentleman from Prince
George's (Mr. Clarke) to accept the amend-
ment I have offered, instead of his own. If
he will not do so, then I will offer it as an
amendment to his amendment.
Mr. CLARKE. I will accept the proposition
of the gentleman from Frederick (Mr. Schley.)
The question was upon agreeing to the
amendment as modified.
Mr. SCHLEY. If this amendment is adopted,
of course I will withdraw from the support
of the minority report, and will give my vote
for the majority report as amended.
Mr. PUGH. I move to strike out the words
"or any two of them," after the word " con-
jointly."
The PRESIDENT. Not now in order; there
is an amendment pending.
Mr. NEGLEY. I am glad to hear that the
gentleman from Frederick (Mr. Schley) has
come squarely over and placed himself upon
the majority report. It is as the gentleman
from Prince George's (Mr. Clarke) has said.
I think we are sent here as the representatives
of the people; and that if we have not the
moral courage to stand up to the proper dis-
charge of our duties in the exercise of our
judgment, in doing what we conscientiously
believe to be right, and submitting that to the
people in the form of a constitution, then we
are entirely out of place, and it Is a question
not material with me whether we pat in this
last clause or not. I will either vote for that,
or I will vote for the 'report of the majority,
with the addition of the proposition of the
gentleman from Frederick (Mr. Schley,) or |
