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tion should the method be prescribed by which the presi-
dent and directors shall be selected? Who for it shall
name these officers?
The State of Maryland must declare who shall act for
it in this capacity, and he said it should be declared in the
constitution. It always had been declared in the consti-
tution since 1851. The board of public works, under the
constitution of 1851, declared who should be the president
and directors in the canal, because, voting the majority
of the stock it was equivalent to this. Under the consti-
tution of 1864 this power was also devolved upon the
board of public works. Without quoting precedent, he
thought he could be able to show that the constitution
was the proper place. What more important matter
should be settled in the fundamental law of the State
than the selection of officers in the work in which the
State had such immense interest?
Passing from the first question, the next was whether
the mode now prescribed was the proper one. He, and
those from whom he descended, had been identified with
the State of Maryland from its foundation, and he had
no other hopes than those which would redound to her
welfare and prosperity. Remarks had been made of the
influence of the lobby, but he had heard nothing from any
one outside of the Convention than what was necessary to
throw light on the subject. He did not say that this third
section should not be amended, but he did say that the
welfare and true interest of the State of Maryland re-
quired that this work should be given into the control of
private parties. Under the present provision the board of
public works, voting the majority of the stock, had the
control of the canal, and at any time could change the
officers; and as the board consisted of the Governor, the
Comptroller and the Treasurer, the two latter officers
elected every two years, the whole policy of the canal was
liable to be changed every two years, and no prosperity
could be expected but from some degree of permanence
in the management. The president of the company knows
that his tenure of office is only for two years, and he dare
not look beyond that; it is the same way with the super-
intendent, he knows that his tenure does not depend upon
his fidelity or economy, but only on the slim tenure of
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