148

The President also laid before the Convention the following
letter from the Secretary of State of the United States

J. G. CHAPMAN, Esq., President of the Convention to revise the
Constitution of Maryland, Annapolis:
1)EPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, 14th December, 1850.
Sir :—I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of the 12th inst., enclosing a report and resolution unani
mously adopted by the Maryland Reform Convention, in relation
to the measures of compromise passed by the Congress of the United
States at its last session,—for the transmission of which I ani
greatly obliged to you. The voice of the State of Maryland, ex
pressed by so numerous and respectable a Convention, so recently
chosen by the people, Cannot but produce great effect upon the
public mind, and contribute to discountenance agitations, to pro
duce reconciliation and harmony, and thereby to perpetuate the
union of the States.
I am sir, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
DANIEL WEBSTER.
Which was tead.
Mr. Spencer, moved that one thousand copies of said letters be
printed for the use of the State, and that one copy he transmitted
to the Governor's of each one of the States of this Union;
It being ascertained that there was no quorum, the question was
not put

The President also laid before the Convention communications
from the Governors of the States of Rhode Island and New Jer
sey, covering the school laws of their respective States
Which were read and severally referted to the committee on
Education.
Also, reports fiom the clerks of Carroll, Saint Mary's, Prince
George's and Caroline counties, in obedience to the order of the
Convention of the 15th ultimo;
Which were severally read and referred to the committee on
the Judiciary.
Also, reports from the clerks of the levy courts of Caioline,
Talbot and Montgomery counties, in obedience to the order of the
Convention of the 15th ult., in relation to the aggregate valuation
and rate of tax, &c., for the years 1842-'3-'4-'5-'6-'7 ‘8-'9 and
1850.
Which were read and referred to the committee on Representa
tion.
Mr. Sprigg, submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the committee on the Legislative Department
be instructed to inquire into the expediency of engrafting into the
constitution the following article, to wit:
That the sessions of the Legislature shall be annual, and shall
commence on the first Monday of January next, ensuing the adop