|
|
|
Mr. Merrick moved to strike out the entire section.
The ordinary penal laws provided for the punishment of
the offenses therein named, and this was the first time
that it was proposed to put such a provision in the or-
ganic law of the State. Was there any necessity for in-
serting such a provision? Did not the law of impeach-
ment provide for the punishment in such cases of any
executive or judicial officer? The more serious objection
to the section was that it violated the principle of the
Declaration of Rights, which declares that no man shall
be compelled to give evidence against himself.
Mr. Brown said the section was one of very great im-
portance. The question was simply this: Shall the an-
cient honor of the State of Maryland be kept untarnished
or not ? Shall the integrity of our republican institutions
bo kept pure, or not? Because he (Mr. B. ) saw that the
purity of our institutions was involved, he earnestly ad-
vocated the adoption of this section, or something better.
In reply to the objections of the gentleman from Howard,
(Mr. Merrick, ) he maintained that there was a necessity
for this section. He could not prove before a jury that
bribery and corruption had of late prevailed in our legis-
lative bodies, but the charge had been made, not only by
the people, but by the press, and with such proofs that
he believed it.
Mr. Wickes moved an amendment to strike out the
clause compelling persons offering bribes to testify
against those receiving them.
After further debate, in which Messrs. McKaig, Wickes,
Carter, Maulsby, Garey, Merrick, Pleasants and Gill par-
ticipated, both amendments were disagreed to, and the
section adopted as reported.
Mr. Barnes rose and asked unanimous consent to sub-
mit the following order, which was agreed to, and the
order adopted:
Ordered, That a committee of five be appointed by the
President to visit the Convention of Teachers, now in ses-
sion in this city, and tender to them our high apprecia-
tion of the cause in which they are engaged, and extend
to them a cordial invitation to visit, at their convenience,
the sittings of this Convention.
286
|
|
|
|
 |
