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After some further discussion the motion to adjourn
was disagreed to by yeas 37, nays 49.
Mr. Outerbridge Horsey, of Frederick, moved that the
Convention proceed to select a president viva voce.
Agreed to.
Mr. Geo. W. Dobbin nominated the Hon. R. B. Car-
michael, of Queen Anne's.
No further nominations being made, on motion of R.
C. Barry, Mr. Carmichael was declared the unanimous
choice of the Convention.
On motion of Hon. John Wethered it was ordered that
a committee of three be appointed to conduct Mr. Car-
michael to the chair.
The president pro tem. appointed Messrs. John Weth-
ered, Walter Mitchell and Geo. Wm. Brown as the com-
mittee.
Mr. Carmichael, in assuming the duties of the chair,
said:
Gentlemen of the Convention—This is a most distin-
guished honor. I thank you profoundly, proudly thank
you. A partial constituency conferred the high privilege
upon me of a seat upon this floor, to partake in your de-
liberations and labors on a subject of the highest concern
to themselves and to the State. Appreciating as I do the
• responsibilities of that position, and the exalted charac-
ters of the members of this body, I feel that my position
on the floor was fully equal to the measure of my deserv-
ing. The choice which has just fallen upon me to pre-
side over your deliberations is, according to my taste, and
in my judgment, the highest to which a citizen of Mary-
land could aspire, or any authority bestow. I am, there-
fore, gentlemen, totally without words to express as I
would my sense of your favor.
It would not be becoming in me to attempt to fore-
shadow the result of the proceedings of this Convention
by reference in detail to any of its measures. They are
unknown to me. It is only for me to say that you have
been called here to frame a new constitution or to adopt
that which has had an existence de facto here for a brief
space; and to express the opinion that you will discharge
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