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ernor Swann, enclosing copies of the correspondence
(which has already been published) between the Governor
and President Johnson relative to the invitation extended
by the Convention to the President to visit this city on
his return from his Eastern trip. The Governor further
informs the Convention that if the President is unavoid-
ably detained beyond the 28th inst., he will be notified by
telegraph in time to allow for the necessary arrangements
to receive him.
The report of the committee on the legislative depart-
ment was then taken up.
Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were read and passed over
without amendment.
Section 7 was read as follows:
"No minister or preacher of the gospel, or teacher of
any religious creed or denomination, and no person hold-
ing any civil office of profit or trust under this State, ex-
cept justices of the peace, shall be eligible as Senator or
delegate. "
Mr. Gill moved to strike out all down to the word "and, "
inclusive. Mr. G. had all through his life been opposed
to any invidious distinctions. It was probable that but
few ministers of the gospel would ever be candidates for
political offices, but the section also excluded all teachers
of religious creeds or denominations. There were many
citizens who attended to their regular business during the
week, and on Sundays acted as teachers of religious
creeds.
Mr. Dent was opposed to opening the legislative doors
to clergymen. Our late troubles were due to a large ex-
tent to the admission of this class into political life.
Mr. Merryman was in favor of the amendment, and saw
no reason why this class of our citizens should be ex-
cluded from these privileges. Their admission into legis-
lative halls might have the effect to purify the atmos-
phere of politics. If the argument of the gentleman from
St. Mary's, (Mr. Dent, ) was carried out, no one should be
eligible to legislative honors except those who were spe-
cially educated with reference to such position.
258
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