Composition of the Committee

Bill introduced in Senate by Sen. G. Frederick Maddox (St. Mary's), January 9 [aomol v. 133, p. 25; Baltimore Sun, 1 Feb 1867, p. 4]

Probable text of original bill (as inferred from amendments)

• Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That five thousand dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the building, or erecting a suitable monument over the remains of the late Chief Justice Roger B. Taney.
• Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That the Treasurer shall, upon the warrant of the Comptroller, pay to the order of the chairman of the committee hereinafter named, the above sum, or  so much thereof as may be found necessary to fully carry into effect the provisions of this act.
• Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That G. Fred. Maddox, of St. Mary's county, Greyson Eichlberger, and George M. Gill of Baltimore city, be appointed a committee to carry into effect the provisions of this act.

Amendments offered on January 25; amendments not voted on [aomol vol. 133, p. 112]:

• Proposed by Sen. Jacob Tome (Cecil): Add Charles E. Trail in place of Greyson Eichlberger on the committee
• Proposed by Sen. James T. Earle (Queen Anne's): Insert "or on some suitable site in the State House Yard."
• Proposed by Sen. Earle: Replace Greyson Eichlberger with Charles E. Trail, Hugh McAleer, Severn Teakle Wallis and James T. Earle (himself)
• Decision on amendments postponed.

Debate of February 4 [aomol vol. 133, pps. 147-148]:

• Proposed by Sen. Earle: Insert "or on some suitable site in the State House Yard;" replace Greyson Eichlberger with Charles E. Trail, Hugh McAleer, Severn Teakle Wallis and James T. Earle (himself).
• Sen. Richard Mackall (Calvert) notes that no one from Calvert County, Taney's birthplace was on the committee. Proposes amendment to add Henry Williams, Delegate from Calvert. Amendment approved.
• Sen. James L. Billingslea (Carroll) opposes bill; refers to the removal of the deposits while Taney was Secretary of Treasury in 1833 and to the Dred Scott decision; "willing the throw the veil of forgiveness over what was done and forget the past, but would never consent to a monument to a man who made a great decision that involved the country in the greatest war that had ever been known."
• Sen. Earle notes that all men capable of error; "No doubt the removal of the deposits had given [Sen. Billingslea] a shock from which he would never recover;" wants a monument placed "where all could see it and learn to imitate the great virtues of [Taney] and emulate a fame that few of this day have obtained."
• Sen. Billingslea does not want to reflect on Taney; only does not want the monument to "where the naval cadets could see it."
• Sen. Barnes Compton (Charles) responds "We are not proposing to erect a monument over a private individual, but a man, whose fame was that of the State and co-extensive with the breadth of the land. His [Taney's] eminent virtues, his pure character, his unequaled abilities and unrivaled attainments were worthy of all emulation and honor." Sen. Billingslea's reference to Dred Scott "was a slander on the chief justice that never had birth until the war had perverted the minds of his enemies. The decision...was not only just, righteous and right, but endorsed by the State of Maryland to-day.
• Proposed by Sen. Earle: Insert "or on some suitable site in the State House Yard, or the State House itself." Amendment approved.
• Proposed by Sen. Curtis Davis (Caroline): Insert "Samuel Chase" in place of "Roger B. Taney." Amendment rejected.
• Proposed by Sen. Billingslea: Insert "Henry W. Davis" in place of "Roger B. Taney." Amendment rejected.

Final vote made in Senate on February 6 [aomol vol. 133, p. 171]

• In debate, Sen. Charles E. Trail, who had been absent during the previous debates, says that Frederick would be the "proper place" for the monument; he will support the bill
• Sen. Billingslea objects to the placement of the statue; would prefer it not be placed at the State House; Sen. Frazier and Sen. Philpot, acknowledging "prejudices" against Taney, would support placing statue in Frederick.
• Vote was taken:
• In favor: Sens. Bowie, Brodwater, Compton, Earle, Henkle, Jump, Kimmel, Mackall, Maddox, Spates, Stephenson, Stirling, Trail, Vickers, Waters, Young (16)
• Opposed: Sens. Billingslea, Curtis Davis, Elias Davis, Frazier, Philpot (5)

Passed House of Delegates, without debate, on March 4 [aomol 133, p. 2531-2532]

• In favor: Dels. Miller, Morgan, Beck, Hall, Clarke, Cameron, Golibart, Whitaker, Lindsey, Calvert, Steiner, Hutton, Burche, Boswell, Thomson, Edwin R. Davis, Feig, Pitts, Aydelott, Nelson, Hutchins, Ford, Shipley, Nicolai, Peregrine Davis, Jump, Jones, Kerr, Evans, Turner, Coleman, Neilson, Flaherty, Robson, Israel, Knott, Stevens, Kraft, Wilson, Spicer, McCulloh, Devecmon, Carmichael, Neale, Horsey, King, Hammond (47)
• Opposed: Dels. Rouzer, Buhrman, Baker, Linthicum, Bamford, Appleman, Hoffhine, Bishop, McCulley, Benton, Poole, Criswell, Gore (13)

• AN ACT to appropriate a sum of money to erect a monument over the remains of Roger B. Taney, late Chief Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States.
• SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That five thousand dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the building, or erecting a suitable monument over the remains of the late Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, on some suitable site in the State House yard) or in the State House itself.
• Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That the Treasurer shall, upon the warrant of the Comptroller, pay to the order of the chairman of the committee hereinafter named, the above sum, or so much thereof as may be  found necessary to fully carry into effect the provisions of this act.
• Sec. 3. And be it enacted. That G. Fred. Maddox, of St. Mary's county, Charles E. Trail, and Hugh McAleer of Frederick county, S. T. Wallis of Baltimore city, James T. Earle of Queen Anne's county, Henry Williams of Calvert county, and George M. Gill of Baltimore city, be appointed a committee to carry into effect the provisions of this act.