Letter of Transmission. xi

next day to reconsider the vote by a majority of 37 to 7, even Dulany voting
with the majority. It was then voted, by 22 to 21, to put the question as to the
continuation of the fees, in accordance with that proclamation, but no yeas
and nays were called, when the main question was put. (12) On the question
of applying to Lord Baltimore for a composition for his quit rents, and
proposing to charge tobacco with a further duty therefor, on April 15, the
House voted 21 ayes and 23 noes. The tobacco raising Southern Maryland
section and Baltimore County gave all the majority votes. It was on the next
day asked whether a duty should be raised on tobacco to support the paper
money, and, by a nonsectional vote of n to 32, the House refused to do so.
(13) On April 12, by a vote of 18 to 27, the House voted to reduce the
allowance to members, and (14) on April 23, the tobacco bill was defeated
by a vote of 15 to 25. Jordan of St. Mary's was the only Southern Maryland
member to vote against it, and Moale of Baltimore, the only one not from
that section, to vote for it.

In 1735/6, there was held a second " addled " meeting of the Assembly.
The two Houses fell out with each other over the question of allowances to
the Councillors. The gathering is called a Convention, not a Session, and
after a prorogation of 10 days, the Assembly reconvened, and, in a short time
accomplished a considerable amount of legislation.

The letter from Parliament to King Charles I, dated March 9, 1643/4, and
printed in Clarendon's "History of the Rebellion," (III, p. 315), shows a
similar use of the word. " Convention," to that used in regard to this Assembly
meeting. " This present Parliament" sitting at London, was in effect, by
Charles I decreed not to be a parliament in a letter written by him " to make
provision how all the members, as is pretended, of both houses, may securely
meet in a full and free convention of Parliament."

During the Convention, there were n divisions, in which the vote ranged
from 46 to 41: (1) On March 26, it was decided (17 to 28), not to pass a
bill for the destruction of trashy tobacco, though the tobacco counties (with
the exception of James Waughop, a new member from St. Mary's and the
Calvert County delegation), voted for the measure. (2) On March 26, the
House voted (23 to 21) that fees might be paid 10 per cent in coin, and on
March 29 (24 to 20), that fees might be paid in current money. On April 5,
by a vote of 29 to 15, the report of the Conference Committee with the Upper
House upon the improving the credit of the paper currency, was accepted.
(3) On March 31, 21 voted to extend the time of shipping tobacco this year,
and 25 against the plan. There is no sectional division in the vote. On April 6,
upon the same question, the House voted affirmatively, 28 to 15, and on April 8,
reaffirmed this decision by a vote of 24 to 19. Here again we find no section-