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the Odd Fellows' Hall, with 180 seats in it, desks and all, complete, that we can get. Temperance Hall, we can get. Rechabite Hall, we can get. We have plenty of them; as many as we could ask for. I assure you that that invitation was not extended as an empty courtesy.

(Mr. Stirling) prevails, the Convention will, for the sessions of this Convention. We have act upon a grave matter without having received any information of what preparations have been made for the reception of the Convention, and without knowing whether we shall be better accommodated in the city of Baltimore than here. Are we to take a vote upon the question of moving from the seat of government the Convention for the formation of the organic law of the State, to a distant city without knowing what preparations will be made for us, or whether we shall be as comfortable there as here? Our State Library is here; our Governor is here; our Treasurer is here; and all will be absent from the city of Baltimore. If it is the will of the majority of the Convention to move to Baltimore city, let us be first informed, before we act, what preparations have been made there for our convenience and accommodation. If the question is acted upon to-morrow, the amendment of my friend being adopted, we shall be without any information, and without any official communication from the Mayor or City Council of Baltimore on the subject. We shall be acting in the dark; and it may be that we shall have to reconsider the vote that we take to-morrow if the amendment prevails. I think then that we ought to postpone it for a sufficient length of time to get all this information, and to give an opportunity to all the absent members of the Convention to be present when the vote shall be taken upon the order.

Mr. CUSHING. The desire of the City Council that the Convention should go to Baltimore may amount to nothing at all. I do not know that of their own motion they ever dreamed of inviting the Convention there. I think it is an empty courtesy; if we want to go, they would be glad to have us; so far as the statement in the paper goes, I think myself that it is eminently fitting that the Convention should stay where it is. So far as my knowledge goes, there is no place in the city of Baltimore where the Convention could hold its sessions as comfortably, and in which the members could have the same facilities for the discharge of their duties that they have here. In order to test the sense of the Convention upon the proposition, I move hat it lie upon the table.

The motion was not seconded.

Mr. SCHLEY. There has been no information given in response to my inquiry; but I find in the newspapers the information which was published; and I have no doubt of its authenticity Nor do I doubt that the action was in good faith, nor as to the ability of the city authorities of Baltimore to provide a proper place. I will not enter here in to the discussion whether it is advisable or not for us to accept the invitation when it comes to us in form. That is a matter which I presume the Convention will determine upon in due time. But I see appended to the resolutions themselves the statement that Messrs. Dukehart, Wayson and Lamdin, of the First Branch, and Messrs. Evans, Markland and Wilmot, of the Second Branch, were appointed' as a committee to carry the resolutions into effect, to tender the invitation, &c. I supposed that this committee were here in form to present this invitation. Certainly I should be exceedingly reluctant to take any action whatever on a naked invitation contained merely in a newspaper paragraph. It is true that this Convention have not inquired of the city of Baltimore whether they would receive us, or whether they would entertain us there, or anything of the sort. I regard this as having emanated from the city authorities themselves; and I am happy to hear the member from Baltimore city, himself a member of the City Council, (Mr. Barron) remark that it has been tendered in good faith. As to the suitability of the Hall, the advantages of the transfer, &c., they are matters for subsequent consideration. For one, whatever may be my opinion as to the propriety of the removal, I am unwilling now to vote upon any such resolutions until they are officially presented, or until official notice of them is given to this Convention. I shall therefore vote either for a motion to lay upon the table or to postpone it until some future day when an official communication shall be made.

Mr. BERRY of Baltimore county. I renew Mr. BARRON. I desire to make an explana- the motion to lay the order on the table for tion, called for by the remarks of my colleague the reason that at any time after to-day it can who has just taken his seat. The resolution be brought up; and to-morrow or any subseinviting this Convention to the city of Balti- quent day the Convention can consider the more was passed in good faith. I do not question. I do not question. I understand that the committee think there was a gentleman in either branch are not in the city of Annapolis, but that of that City Council that voted for it for the they will probably be here this evening. purpose of offering to this Convention an empty invitation. They met for the purpose of inviting them to the city of Baltimore with the intention of procuring for them the best hall in the city of Baltimore. The gentleman has intimated that we have no place suitable

Mr. RIDGELY. It is proper perhaps, in view of the remarks that fell from the gentleman from Baltimore city (Mr. Stirling,) that I should make a statement. We have learned that a newspaper copy of the resolutions tendering the invitation to this body is in the

possession of members of this House; and my friend from Baltimore city has referred also to some informal proceedings that have taken place. It is proper under these circumstances that I should not remain silent, in view of the part which I had the honor to take by authority of that informal meeting touching this subject I regret that it has been introduced this morning, for the reason so well put by my friend from Frederick, (Mr. Schley) that as yet the invitation has not reached us in official form. The committee who have the subject in charge on the part of the City Council will reach here to-night. That invitation will be made in official form to-morrow morning. It seems to me therefore to be fitting that the subject should be postponed until to-morrow.

The motion to lay upon the table was seconded.

The yeas and nays were demanded, and being ordered, were taken, and resulted-yeas 39, nays 41--as follows:

desirable that we should have some place for the safe-keeping of papers belonging to this Convention.

Mr. SMITH, of Carroll. This order seems to be an intimation of a want of honesty or integrity on the part of members of this body, which I trust is totally unfounded. The loss of the bill in the House of Delegates may have arisen from a class of gentlemen who will not trouble us very much, for the lobby seems to be entirely deserted, and I trust it will remain so. I do not see the slightest necessity for such an expense, and, although not so intended, the order is an imputation of a want of integrity upon the part of members of this body and its officials, which I trust we shall by our vote entirely repudiate.

Mr. BARRON. It is right that I should say in explanation that I did not intend anything of the kind. I do not believe that the lost bill was taken by any member of the House of Delegates; and I do not believe a member of this Convention would stoop so low as to Yeas-Messrs. Miller, Bond, Henkle, Stock-take any paper belonging to the Convention bridge, Stirling, Cushing, Berry of Baltimore county, Ridgely, Hoffman, Parker, King, Ecker, Wooden, Earle, Pugh, Briscoe, Turner, Parran, Dail, Johnson, Smith of Dorchester, Hodson, Galloway, McComas, Hopper, Russell, Hopkins, Sykes, Blackiston, Hollyday, Clarke, Berry of Prince George's, Belt, Marbury, Lee, Brown, Billingsley, Morgan, Davis-39.

Nays-Messrs. Hebb, Thruston, Wickard, Robinette, Hatch, Kennard, Brooks, Barron, Daniel, Abbott, Thomas, Audoun, Larsh, Swope, Jones of Cecil, Scott, Todd, Carter, Noble, Keefer, Schley, Annan, Baker, Cunningham, Schlosser, Crawford, Galè, Dennis, Horsey, Valliant, Mulliken, Dellinger, Nyman, Negley, Mayhugh, Sneary, Smith of Worcester, Purnell, Farrow, Murray-41.

So the motion to lay upon the table did not prevail.

Mr. SCHLEY moved that the subject be postponed until an official communication should be made to the Convention.

Mr. HEBB. I do not like the form of this motion, because, if no official communication should be made, it would be impossible for this body to move to the city of Baltimore. I would suggest that it should be postponed until to-morrow at one o'clock.

Mr. SCHLEY modified his motion accordingly.
The motion was agreed to.

AN IRON SAFE.

Mr. BARRON Submitted the following order: Ordered, That the Secretary of this Convention procure an iron safe in which to deposit all documents and papers relating to the business of this Convention in order the better to secure their safety.

Mr. B. said: My reason for offering that order is that at the last session of the House of Delegates a bill was lost; and I think it is

without proper authority. I will withdraw the order, if any gentleman present thinks that is the intention of it.

The order was rejected.

AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONS.

Mr. HOFFMAN submitted the following order. Ordered, That the Librarian be directed to furnish each member of the Convention with a copy of the "American Constitutions” published by Lippincott of Philadelphia.

Mr. STIRLING. I think that is a very good order, but I should like to add an amendment to it. It has been a custom, and I suppose a custom sanctioned by law, for members of the Assembly to take home with them books thus voted to them, although the Library may be very deficient in these books This is a book which is valuable for the Library, and I wish to amend by adding that the books shall be returned to the Librarian after the adjournment of the Convention. Otherwise the books will become the property of the members.

Mr. HOFFMAN accordingly modified his order by adding:

"These books, however, to be returned to the Librarian at the close of the session of the Convention."

Mr. VALLIANT. I desire to know of what advantage this book will be to us, before voting for the order.

Mr. DANIEL. I ask for a division of the question. I think the books will be useful to us, but I do not see the use of returning them to the Library afterwards. I do not see why they will not be as useful in the hands of members, as to have 96 copies in the Library. Perhaps we shall have more to do with this subject, after the Convention adjourns, than anybody else, and the books will be oftener used than if lying in the Library for the next ten or twelve years. I think if we are to have

them at all, it should be as private books; and our labors and small pay well deserve that.

Mr. HEBB. I am opposed to this order, for I think that any member taking sufficient interest in the welfare of the State will purchase a book of that character himself. I purchased a copy day before yesterday for myself. It is well enough to have such books in the Library; but instead of voting them to members, we should buy them for ourselves.

Mr. NEGLEY. Although not personally interested in the result of this vote, as I have a copy of the Constitutions also, I think it altogether proper that the order should pass. This is an age of progress. The United States of America have been especially progressive in the idea of forming new constitutions. It is right that we should have all the light on this subject that exists at this particular period in the history of the world. Nor do I see why they should be returned. They would be of no earthly use in the Library; and if all the members have them they can go home and enlighten their constituents as to the manner in which they should vote when the subject of the adoption of the Constitution comes before them for their decision. I am in favor of the motion as originally made, and opposed to the amendment requiring the books to be returned.

Mr. VALLIANT. I cannot vote for this order without hearing of what advantage it will be. I have not the slightest objection to voting for the motion, if I can have some reason for doing so.

Mr. STIRLING. I have never examined the book; but I have seen it, and it contains a copy of the Constitution of every State in the United States.

Mr. DANIEL. There was such a book furnished to the members of the last Convention. The first branch of the order was agreed to. The second branch, comprising the words added to the original order, was rejected. On motion of Mr. ECKER The Convention adjourned.

FOURTH DAY.

WEDNESDAY, May 4, 1864.

The Convention met at 12 o'clock, M. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Patterson. The certificates of the qualification of Messrs. Peter, Lansdale. Edelin, and Mitchell, were presented, and the gentlemen named appeared and took their seats.

The President laid before the Convention a communication from the Executive, stating the results of the election in the 4th district of Montgomery county.

The communication was referred to the Committee on Elections.

STANDING COMMITTEES.

The President announced the following Standing Committees:

Committee on Declaration of Rights-Messrs. Stirling, Hebb, Purnell, Todd, Belt, Chambers and Morgan.

Committee on Executive Department-Messrs. Greene, Mullikin, Smith of Worcester, Schley, Billingsley, Miller and Parran.

Committee on Basis of RepresentationMessrs. Abbott, Hatch, Negley, Pugh, Berry of Prince George's, Edelin and Smith of Dorchester.

Committee on Legislative Department--Messrs. Schley, Thruston, Kennard, Berry of Baltimore county, Hollyday, Gale and Turner.

Committee on Judiciary Department-Messrs. Stockbridge, Hoffman, Sands, Earle, Chambers, Jones of Somerset, and Clarke.

Committee on State's Attorneys-Messrs. Smith of Carroll, Thomas, Mayhugh, Daniel, Briscoe, Wilmer and Harwood.

Committee on Treasury Department-Messrs. Negley, Brooks, Cushing, Markey, Dail, Dennis and Mitchell.

Committee on the Elective Franchise and Qualification of Voters-Messrs. Sands, Smith of Worcester, Ecker, Scott, Marbury, Brown and Horsey.

Committee on Militia and Military AffairsMessrs. Berry of Baltimore county, Thruston, Barron, Pugh, Dellinger, Peter and Blackistone.

Committee on Education and the Encouragement of Literature-Messrs. Cushing, Cunningham, Jones of Cecil, Greene, Ridgely, Henkle and Hodson.

Committee on the Rights, Duties, Divisions and Subdivisions of Counties-Messrs. Hebb, Robinette, Swope, Carter, Sykes, Duvall and Dent.

Committee on such Provisions and Ordinances as may be desirable to carry into effect Amendments | to the Constitution-Messrs. Ridgely, Schlosser, Hopper, Hopkins, Crawford, Stone and Lansdale.

Committee to report future Amendments and Revisions of the Constitution-Messrs. Todd, Mace, Noble, Annan, McComas, Johnson and Lee.

Committee on Accounts-Messrs. Galloway, Parker, Wooden, Baker and Russel.

Committee on Reporting and PrintingMessrs. Valliant, Audoun, Farrow, Wickard and Sneary.

Committee on Engrossment and RevisionMessrs. Earle, Nyman, King, Murray and Dail.

Committee on Elections-Messrs. Purnell, Davis, Larsh, Keefer, Dent, Bond and Brown. On motion of Mr. ABBOTT,

Ordered, That a sufficient number, for the use of the member of the Convention, of the list of the Standing Committees, be printed in a card form.

COMMITTEE ON INSPECTIONS.

Mr. HENKLE Submitted the following order: Ordered, That a Standing Committee of seven be appointed by the Chair, to consider

and report upon a uniform system of inspections.

Mr. HENKLE said: The subject of inspectio ́s is not included in the duties of any of the committees already provided for. It is important that in framing a new Constitution we should provide for a uniform system of inspection in Maryland

Constitution, having reference to interest and the usury laws.

Mr. BELT said: If members will cast their eyes over the third article of the present Constitution, having reference to the Legislative Department, they will see that, there are a great many subjects that fall within the deliberations of the Legislative Committee. The last section of that article is this:

"SEC. 49. The rate of interest in this State shall not exceed six per cent. per annum, and no higher rate shall be taken or demanded, and the Legislature shall provide by law all necessary forfeitures and penalties against usury."

This opens a subject which is not only of very great consequence; but which has, since the adoption of this Constitution, given rise to a great deal of agitation. It has no necessary connection with the subject of the Legislative Department, but is a subject in itself, and one which merits careful consideration. I fear we shall not be able to act properly in reference to this question, unless we have a special committee appointed for that purpose. Those gentlemen who are acquainted, as many of us necessarily are, with the discussions and the conflicting views upon this subject, especially in modern times, will agree with me, sure, that the consideration of that subject solely will be sufficient to occupy one committee. I do not wish in any way to interfere with the number or the character of the com

Mr. MILLER. I think that subject devolves entirely upon the committee on the Legislative Department. If they see fit they will provide in the new Constitution that the Legislature shall provide a uniform system of inspection; and I do not think it is necessary to have a special committee for that particular purpose. Mr. STIRLING. I hardly think it is worth while to make much difficulty about such propositions. We may as well test this question at once. It seems to me that what has fallen from the last gentleman who has spoken is very sound. If the subject has any bearing at all upon the Constitution, it properly belongs to that committee. But I do not see that it has any bearing at all upon the question which we have met here to consider. I do not see that a Constitutional Convention, in framing the organic law of the State, has any business with the subject of inspections. It is a matter of ordinary legislative discretion, in which the Legislature ought not be controlled in any way whatever. I have a very general belief that Legislatures have about as much sense as Constitutional Conventions. I believe that one body of eighty or one hun-mittees that the majority may choose to order dred men can be as safely trusted as another body of eighty or one hundred men. In framing the Constitution, I desire that we should frame merely general organic law, and enter into few details. It is a mischievous notion that the Constitution should decide a great many questions which it ought not to meddle with at all. For these reasons I am disposed to vote against this proposition. I wish to give every question relating to matters properly belonging to the Constitution a full and fair discussion; but I do not wish to be placed in the position of passing unnecessarily upon any idea that any gentleman wishes to have discussed.

Mr. HENKLE. It is simply upon the ground that organic law should embrace general principles of uniform application that I proposed this committee, with the desire that some general principle should control this subject of inspections, and that the Constitution should say that the Legislature shall provide a uniform system. It is not now uniform; and it is that it may be a general uniform principle that I desire to have it in the Constitution if the Convention sees fit.

The order was rejected.

COMMITTEE ON USURY LAWS.

Mr. BELT submitted the following order: Ordered, That a Standing Committee of five members be appointed to consider and report upon Section 49 of Article 3 of the present

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for the proper transaction of business; but upon consultation with gentlemen upon both sides, I am of opinion that this subject of the usury laws, whether or not they shall be sanctioned by the Constitution, whether or not the Legislature shall be tied up in reference to the subject, is one upon which a committee may safely and properly be raised.

The order was agreed to.

The President appointed the following committee in accordance with the above order : Messrs. Belt, Stockbridge, Schley, Billingsley and Todd.

COMMITTEE ON CIVIL OFFICERS.

Mr. HEBB. I ask that the Convention now act upon the order submitted by the gentleman from Prince George's (Mr. Clarke) on Tuesday, to be found on page 13 of the Journal. It is:

Ordered, That a standing committee, to consist of seven members, be appointed by the President of the Convention, to consider and report respecting the appointment, tenure of office, duties and compensation of all civil officers not embraced in the duties of other standing committees.

This embraces a number of officers, among others the Commissioners of Public Worksnot embraced in the duties of any other committee. I am in favor of such a committee and I think it is very important.

Mr. BERRY of Prince George's. The mem

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Mr. BRISCOE submitted the following order: Ordered, That the Comptroller of the Treasury be requested to report to this Convention a statement of the aggregate amount paid by the State to special counsel employed by the Executive, since the adoption of the present Constitution.

The following order, submitted by Mr. Purnell on Thursday last, was taken up for consideration.

Ordered, That a committee of three be appointed to wait on the reverend clergy, resident of this city, and request them to make an arrangement among themselves by which one of their number, alternately, every day will attend this Convention and open its sessions by prayer.

To which Mr. STIRLING had submitted the following amendment:

Ordered, That the Rev. Mr. Davenport, and the Rev. Mr. Patterson and the Rev. Mr. Owen be appointed Chaplains to the Convention.

On motion of Mr. VALLIANT,

The consideration of the subject was postponed until Wednesday next, and the President requested to invite some clergyman to officiate each day at the opening of the Con

vention

Mr. ABBOTT submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That this Convention take up the Bill of Rights and Constitution, commencing a careful reading of the same by the Clerk, that as the sections are read each member of the Convention be required to propose in writing such alterations or amendments as he may desire, which shall be submitted without argument or debate during the reading, all said propositions to be be printed and referred to appropriate committees upon whose report ample opportunity shall be given for discussion; 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

Which was read and lies over under the rule.

Mr. STOCKBRIDGE, Would it not be better that the gentleman make his order a little broader than it now is? I am under the impression that this will not cover all the ex-out of order. penses of special counsel. Under special regulations, the Comptroller and other officers have employed counsel, the expense of which was paid by the State. I suppose it was the purpose to learn all the expense incurred for special counsel.

Mr. BRISCOE modified his order, by incorporating the words "or other officers of the State."

Mr. STIRLING. I am in favor of the order, but I should like to see it further amended, so as to embrace the amount paid to special judges.

Mr. BRISCOE adopted the suggestion, and modified his order so that it should read as follows:

Ordered, That the Comptroller of the Treasury be requested to report to this Convention a statement of the aggregate amount paid by the State to special counsel employed by the Executive, or other officers of the State, since the adoption of the present Constitution, and also the amount paid to special Judges.

The order was adopted.

On motion of Mr. STOCKBRIDGE,

The President announced the following Committee on Rules and Orders for the Government of the Convention.

Messrs. Kennard, Clarke, Valliant, Schley and Berry of Prince George's.

REMOVAL TO BALTIMORE.

Mr. TODD submitted the following order · Whereas, The Baltimore City Council have appointed a deputation of their body to extend an invitation to this Convention to transfer its session to that city; therefore,

Ordered, That said deputation be, and they are hereby invited to seats in the Hall of this Convention, and to present any communication they may bear from the said City Council to this body, to-day at one o'clock. Which was adopted.

The committee from the City Council of Baltimore, accordingly took seats upon the floor of the Convention.

The PRESIDENT addressed the committee as follows: Gentlemen, you have been invited here by the order of the Convention, to present any communication you may bear from

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