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Mr. Ringgold took issue with his colleague, (Mr.
Wickes, ) on the assertion that the object of the assemb-
ling of this Convention was to reform the judiciary. He
(Mr. R. ) had never understood that such was the object;
he had not heard it either from the people or from the
press. The object for which they were assembled was to
obliterate from the organic law of the State those odious,
proscriptive features which were forced upon them by
federal bayonets. He had never heard one voice in his
county (Kent) raised in regard to the judiciary, but had
said nothing better could be done than to adopt the con-
stitution of 1851.
Mr. Hayden said the judiciary under the old constitu-
tion excited the ire of the demagogues of the reform
party; the cry of rotation in office was raised against the
life tenure, but he had never heard of anyone saying that
it was less democratic to have three judges on the bench
than one. Governor Lowe and a few of his associates
were the only ones who attacked the judiciary system be-
fore 1851, and that gentleman had afterwards expressed
his regret at the length to which he had gone. The sen-
timent of the people of the State was largely in favor of
the three-judge system.
Without concluding, Mr. Hayden gave way, and on mo-
tion of Mr. Maulsby, the committee rose, reported prog-
ress, and asked leave to sit again.
The Convention adjourned until Monday.
FIFTY-SECOND DAY.
ANNAPOLIS, MONDAY, JULY 22.
The Convention met at 10 1/2 o'clock, and in the absence
of the President, on motion of Hon. Joshua Vansant, the
Hon. John B. Brooke, of Prince George's, was called to
the chair. Prayer was then offered up by Rev. Mr. Ham-
mond.
Mr. Garey announced that the secretary of the Con-
vention, Col. Milton Y. Kidd, was detained in Baltimore
by severe illness, and on motion of Mr. Rider, Mr. Wilkin-
son, of Baltimore city, was requested to act as secretary.
On motion of Mr. Garey, Mr. Groome, of Cecil, was re-
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