tee which might consider and report upon
them with such care as they really deserve
I think it desirable that we should have a
standing committee on that subject, and .
therefore move the following amendment of
the original order;
Ordered, That a standing committee to
consist of seven members, be appointed by the
President of the Convention, to bestyled " A
Committee to consider and report upon the
Colored Population of the State."
Mr. HEBB. I think the Committee on the
Declaration of Rights, and the Legislative
Committee are sufficient to take charge of the
subject; and in order to test the sense of the
Convention, I move that the order be laid
upon the table.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. CLARKE. Gentlemen have various
propositions. Are we to understand that the
Committee on the Declaration of Rights
and the Committee on the Legislative Depart-
ment have these various branches under con-
sideration?
Mr. STIRLING. I think I can very safely
say, without arrogating anything to myself,
that that is the understanding, that those two
committees embrace the subject.
Mr. DANIEL. When any proposition is
before the House, it will becompetent to con-
sider to what committees that proposition
may properly go; and if it is proper the
House may refer it to any other standing
committees, or even to a new committee. I
think it is best to wait until the proposition
arises, and then to determine what is the most
appropriate committee.
Mr. BERRY of Prince George's. I think it is
desirable that the inquiry should be made as
to what part of this subject is to be considered
by the Legislative Committee and what part
by the Committee on the Declaration of
Rights; and I make that inquiry with this
view: We shall in a I probability be receiv-
ing petitions, and we want to know to which
committee it is most appropriate to refer these
petitions or communications on this subject.
I would therefore ask the chairmen of those
two committees what branch of the subject it
is contemplated shall be acted upon by each.
Mr. STIRLING. I think I have sufficiently
answered, so far as the question can be an-
swered. Each one of these committees ne-
cessarily possess the right to report to this
Convention any subject matter which natur-
ally belongs to it; and the committees have
also, by resolution of the Convention, the
power of conferring among themselves as to
their respective duties. It certainly was my
understanding of the order offered by my col
league, that the committees should decide
this matter for themselves. I can only say to
my friends from Prince George's that if they
have any proposition upon the subject of
emancipation to introduce to this Convention,
we will, when they are offered, refer them to
appropriate committees. |
Mr. CLARKE. I will only say in reply to
the gentleman from Baltimore city that my
object has been fully accomplished. I wished
to know what committee had charge of this
' subject, and I now understand that it is in
the hands of two committees.
Mr. HEBB. I think I distinctly stated that
the other day, when the gentleman offered his
order, that it was in the hands of two com-
mittees which I named.
BASIS OF REPRESENTATION,
Mr. NEGLEY submitted the following reso-
lution, which was read and laid over under
the rule:
Resolved, That the true theory of represen-
tation in popular Governments, is that of re-
presentation according to population, except
in such cases where a portion of the popula-
tion is denied the exercise of the right of
suffrage, in which case representation ought
to be according to the population endowed
with the elective franchise.
Mr. DANIEL submitted the following order:
Ordered, That a copy of the Rules of the
House of Delegates be furnished by the Li-
brarian to each member of this Convention.
Mr. BERRY of Baltimore county. I doubt
whether the Librarian has them on hand, and
it is hardly necessary to go to the expense of
printing them. The Committee on Rules will
report in a very few days, and then we shall
have our own rules.
Mr. JONES, of Somerset. I apprehend that
most of the members have copies already.
They were handed round very generally on
the first day of the session. I found one laid
upon my desk, which I have.
The order was rejected.
On motion of Mr. BERRY of Baltimore
county,
The Convention adjourned.
SEVENTH DAY.
SATURDAY, May 7; 1864.
The Convention met.
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Owen.
The' roll was called, and 50 members
answered to their names.
The President stated that there was noth-
ing before the Convention to be acted upon.
OFFICIAL REPORTING.
Mr. STIRLING. There is a subject perhaps
not of great importance which I will men-
tion. The last clause of the 3d section of the
Act under which this Convention meets, is as
follows:
" It shall be the duty of the Speaker of the
House of Delegates, and of the President of .
the Senate, to provide a Reporter of the De-
bates and Proceedings of said Convention,
who shall act until the said Convention shall
provide its own officers."
I suppose the proper construction of this
provision is that until the Convention shall
provide its own reporter, the reporter already |
