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Mr. Nicolai moved to reconsider the vote, placing the
salaries of the chief justices at $3, 750.
Mr. Barry trusted that this Convention would not strike
down the measure of damages which they had awarded
to the chief judges. It would be a most unwise act. He
appealed to them not to lower the standard of the bench
by reducing the salaries. It was impossible to get men
of talent to take these positions otherwise. Do not strike
down the men who are to occupy these places. They
could not have men who would dignify the bench if they
did not give them liberal salaries.
Mr. Nicolai said a stranger coming in here would think
that the chief object in calling this Convention was to en-
act high salaries for the lawyers. It cost as much to feed
and clothe other men as it did lawyers. The Comptroller
and the Treasurer only got $2, 500 per annum, and it was
to be supposed that they were as much gentlemen as
members of the legal profession. He saw no reason why,
with proper economy, a lawyer could not live on the same
salary as the other officers of the State.
Mr. Watkins, of Montgomery, said they were not sent
here to increase salaries, but rather to lower them, to do
away with the wrongs inflicted upon them by their rad-
ical friends in the State and foreign enemies. He hoped
the Convention would pause before putting up these sal-
aries to such an extraordinary figure.
The motion to reconsider was lost by a vote of 44 yeas
to 51 nays.
Mr. Nicolai then moved to strike out the entire section,
which was disagreed to.
No further amendments being proposed, section 25, rel-
ative to the clerks of the Circuit Courts, was read.
Mr. Rider then moved to take up the report of the com-
mittee to provide for the formation of a new county, to
be composed of parts of Somerset and Worcester.
The question being on the amendment of Mr. McKaig,
consolidating the counties of Somerset and Worcester
into one county, to be called Wicomico, Mr. McKaig with-
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