think, for saying that he would be necessi-
tated on the ground of business, to return to
Ellicott's Mills. I understand he is State's
Attorney, and therefore as much an officer of
the State as the gentleman from Baltimore
county; and it that was not a sufficient ex-
cuse for him to absent himself from the Con-
vention, and not a sufficient excuse for him in
wishing to get nearer home in the sittings of
the Convention, I cannot possibly see why it
should be a reason for the gentleman from
Baltimore county lo urge. I think lie wound
up his speech yesterday with saying that the
very reason why he did not wish to move
from here was a personal reason. The rea-
son why the gentlemen from Howard urged
the removal lo Baltimore was a personal rea-
son, and he was censured fur it, and that
very identical reason was urged tor retaining
it here.
Since I am here, I want to go on with the
work as rapidly as possible. I have no idea
that we of Washington county can get home.
We came here lo work; and we have no idea,
since we are penned up in this place, of vot-
ing for any leaves of absence or any ad-
journments. We want to keep to our work.
Mr. CUSHING. I hope the House will not
begin its session, so tar as the work is con-
cerned for we are now just beginning to work,
by adjourning from Thursday over to Tues-
day morning. If this Convention is every
week lo adjourn over from Thursday until
Tuesday, I do not see any limit to the session
before us, at all. Already we have done that
once. Then there was a good reason, that
we had no work lo do. But I think the mo-
tion of the gentleman from Baltimore city
(Mr. Abbott comes up to-morrow, and when
that is taken up there will be enough to do,
to read over the Constitution and refer it to
the committees. Or if the Convention itself
does nothing the committees can meet;
whereas it we are all out of the city, excepting
two days and a half each week, I do not See
how we shall make any progress.
Mr. TODD demanded the yeas and nays,
and they were considered; and the question
being taken, the result was—yeas 15; nays
60—as follows :
Yeas—Messrs. Miller, Harwood, Bond,
Henkle, Hatch, Brooks, Barron, King, Larsh,
Briscoe, Parran, Hodson, Peter, Belt, Lee—
15.
Nays—Messrs. Scott, Goldsborough, Pres-
ident, Hebb, Thruston, Wickard, Robinette,
Kennard, Stockbridge, Abbott, Cushing,
Thomas, Audoun) Berry of Baltimore county,
Hoffman, Parker, Smith, of Carroll, Ecker,
Swope, Wooden, Jones of Cecil; Earle, Scott,
Pugh, Turner, Todd, Carter, Noble, Keefer,
Markey, Annan, Baker, Cunningham, Schlos-
ser Galloway, McComas, Hopper, Russell,
Hopkins, Sands, Sykes, Chambers, Blackis-
ton, Hollyday, Lansdale, Clarke, Berry of
Prince George's; Marbury, Wilmer, Morgan, |
Horsey, Valliant, Mullikin, Dellinger, Ny.
man, Negley, Mayhugh, Davis, Sneary, Pur
nell, Farrow, Murray—60.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
The question recurring upon the motion to
adjourn, it was agreed to; and the Conven-
tion adjourned.
SIXTH DAY.
FRIDAY, May 6,1864.
The Convention met.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Davenport.
The Convention proceeded to the consider-
ation of the following resolution submilted
by Mr Abbott on Tuesday last:
" That this Convention take up the Bill of
Rights and Constitution, commencing a care-
ful reading of the same by the clerk; that as
the sections are read each member of the Con-
vention be required to propose in writing
such alterations or amendments as he may
desire, which shall be submitted without ar-
gument or debale during the reading, all
said propositions lo be printed and referred
to appropriate committees, upon whose report
ample opportunity shall be given fur discus-
sion. When the reading shall have been
finished and each member has handed in his
proposition to alter or amend, all further
proposition to alter or amend shall be deemed
out of order."
Mr. BERRY of Prince George's. It appears
to me that the object of that resolution would
be fully met by referring it to the Committee
on Rules. It seems to be a resolution as to
the manner in which we shall proceed with
the business of the Convention. A commit-
tee has been appointed to prepare rules tor
the conduct of this body, and I move that the
resolution be referred to that committee.
Mr. ABBOTT. I have no objection to that
course. My only object in offering the reso-
lution was to bring something before the
Convention that we could act upon, and the
plan indicated by the resolution seemed to me
lo be the proper plan for the Convention to
pursue, I presume that every inember here
has some ideas of his own, and some derived
from conference with his consultents. belore
coming here, as to certain alterations and
amendments proper to be made in the Consti-
tution. I desire that each member shall pre-
sent these views, and that they shall then be
considered by the various standing commit-
tees.
The motion lo refer was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. MARKEY) it was ordered
to be entered on the Journal that Frederick
Schley, of Frederick county, is detained from
his seat in the Convention by indisposition.
On motion of Mr. MORGAN, it was ordered
to be entered on the Journal that Chapman
Billingsley, of St. Mary 'a county, is detained
from his seat in the Convention by indisposi-
tion. |
