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Amendments were offered, when the whole subject was,
on motion of Mr. Nicolai, laid on the table.
On motion of Mr. Carter, it was
Ordered, That all the reports from the standing com-
mittees that have been or shall hereafter be ordered to
be engrossed, shall be referred to the committee on re-
vision and completion, for the purpose of having the same
perfected for the third reading and the final action of the
Convention.
The special order, being the report of the committee on
usury, was then taken up, to which a number of amend-
ments were pending, and additional amendments were
read for information.
Mr. Rennolds moved to recommit the whole subject to
the committee.
Mr. Roman took the floor and made an able and elab-
orate argument against the usury laws. If they were
abolished, all the agricultural interests of the State could
be accommodated at six per cent, or at government rates
at least. If they were abolished the Shylocks would be
broken down.
Mr. Rennolds withdrew his motion to recommit.
Mr. Nelson could not allow this matter to go by without
putting in his feeble protest against this proposed inno-
vation upon the old established customs of the State. He
was in favor of the usury laws as they now existed; was
in favor of six per cent, and no more.
Mr. Walsh, though a member of the committee, had
not agreed with the report. He was not willing to leave
this subject an open one.
Mr. Ritchie spoke in favor of the report of the com-
mittee.
All the amendments which were offered were then re-
jected.
A number of other amendments were offered and voted
down, and finally the following substitute, offered by Mr.
Watkins, of Montgomery county, was adopted, by a vote
of 50 to 44:
"The legal rate of interest shall be six per cent, per
250
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