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one thousand, and which intimated that the Sunday
school teachers would defeat the constitution if this pro-
vision was kept in.
Mr. Buchanan asked for the name of the writer.
Mr. Gill would prefer not to give it, as it was a private
letter.
Mr. Brewer, of Baltimore city, had an amendment
which the Convention might vote on, if it desired, when
the proper time arrived. The idea was to exclude teachers
of theology, and his amendment was to meet that. As
his friend, (Mr. Brown, ) thought the lawyers were more
dangerous than the preachers, perhaps it would be well
to exclude them also. [Laughter. ]
The amendment of Mr. Alvey was then disagreed to.
Mr. Brewer submitted his amendment, as follows:
Sec. 7. No regularly ordained or licensed clergyman or
preacher of the Gospel, of any religious creed or denomi-
nation, and no person holding any civil office, &c.
Mr. Walsh was in favor of excluding all ministers of
the Gospel. It was a degradation to them, and none but
the most unworthy would submit to this degradation—
men who use the sacred calling for unholy purposes. His
friend from Baltimore, (Mr. Gill. ) had read a letter,
probably from some minister, and he (Mr. W. ) did not
want any minister who wished to enter into politics to
vote for this constitution.
The amendment of Mr. Brewer was rejected.
Mr. Pleasants withdrew the substitute of which he had
given notice, and offered another amendment.
Other amendments were offered and disagreed to.
Mr. Wickes said the exclusion of ministers had been
provided for in the constitution of 1776 and in that of
1851, and no complaint had ever been made against it.
The people were accustomed to it. His objection to their
admission was, that it unfitted, them to discharge the
duties of their high calling. He proposed as an amend-
ment the section taken from the constitution of 1851.
Mr. Marbury had not yet heard the real reason why
this clause had been put in the constitution of 1776. He
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