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that not one could be found who would restore slavery
in Maryland.
It had been charged that the conservatives of Maryland
are a pro-slavery party in disguise; that they are not
honest in their acceptance of the emancipation of the
negroes. He wished this point settled. If any room is
left for doubt or misconstruction, it would inflict the
heaviest and most dangerous blow on the work of our
hands which we are capable of giving. As statesmen, en-
gaged in a great work, we should let the article stand
as it is, because it asserts the policy which we have de-
termined to adopt, and because it is expedient as well as
right that that policy should be plainly announced.
Mr. Carey spoke in favor of the retention of the article
in the Bill of Rights.
Mr. Ritchie responded.
Messrs. Denson and Barnes asked leave to have it en-
tered on the journal that they were unavoidably detained
from the session of the Convention yesterday. Had they
been present, they should have voted against striking out
the prohibition against the poll-tax.
The Convention then, at 3 P. M., adjourned.
[A caucus of the members is called for tonight at 8
o'clock. ]
SEVENTEENTH DAY.
ANNAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1867.
Convention met at 11 o'clock. Prayer by the Rev.
Father Burke.
The President laid before the Convention a communi-
cation from the clerk of the county commissioners for
Queen Anne's county, stating that the aggregate amount
of assessable property in Queen Anne's county, under the
late assessment, is $8, 826, 656.
On motion of Mr. Seyster, it was
Ordered, That the clerks of the county commissioners
of the several counties in the State be, and they are here-
by respectfully requested to furnish to this Convention,
at as early a day as practicable, a statement of all moneys
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