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Nays—Messrs. Archer, Brewer of Baltimore city,
Brown, Cosgrove, Duvall, Farnandis, Ford, Goldsborough
of Talbot, Hammond, Hubbard, Jamison, Nelson, Miller,
Page, Perry, Peters, Rennolds, Rider, Ritchie, Spates,
Starr, Stoddert, Wethered and Wilkinson—24.
When Mr. Nelson's name was called, he rose and said
that he was opposed to the substitute and should vote
against it, and he should do so because he was opposed to
putting anything in the bill of rights that has allusion to
the negro in any shape or form, as he did not consider it
the proper place for it. The gentleman from Harford
(Mr. Farnandis) had said that it could more properly be
put in the clause of the constitution relative to the legis-
lative department, and if this matter was suggested when
that clause came under consideration, he should give it
proper attention. In his opinion, the term declaration of
rights was a misnomer—it should be reservation of
rights. This reservation of rights which they were now
proclaiming appertained to the white Caucasian race, and
not to the black African race, or any other race.
Mr. Nicolai, in explanation of his -vote, said that, agree-
ing with the gentleman from Frederick (Mr. Nelson) that
the Declaration of Rights was not the proper place to put
in a claim for compensation for the emancipated slaves,
he should vote no.
Mr. Wethered, in explanation of his vote, remarked that
the whole matter was embraced in the second section of
the Declaration of Rights, where we have said that the
"laws of the United States shall be the supreme law or
the State. " Secondly, he (Mr. W. ) wanted no allusion in
the Bill of Rights to the base legal fraud which has been
perpetrated upon our people, and thirdly, he did not wish
the word slavery, slave, or race introduced into the con-
stitution of Maryland.
Articles 25, 26 and 27 were passed over without amend-
ment.
Article 28 was read, as follows:
"That a well regulated militia is the proper and natural
defense of a free government. "
Mr. Giddings moved to amend by adding after the
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