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ject which he (Mr. B.) had in view. This he
proceeded to show. He also submitted that the
amendment suggested by the gentleman from
Frederick, (Mr. THOMAS,) was embraced in his
(Mr. E's) proposition. He submitted with great
deference to the opinions of gentlemen having
more experience than himself, that there was no
substantial reason for going into Committee, and
that the reasons applicable in that report to ordi-
nary parlimentary bodies, did not apply to this
Convention.
The question was then taken on the first
branch of the order, and, by ayes 42, noes 31, it
was adopted.
Mr. BROWN suggested to Mr. BRENT to with-
draw the second branch of the order.
Mr. BRENT acquiescing in the suggestion—
The second branch of the order was with-
drawn.
My. BLAKISTONE oS'ered the following order,
which was adopted.
Ordered, That the Secretary of this Conven-
tion cause the rules as amended, to be printed
for the use of the members of this body.
The Convention hereupon passed to the or-
ders of the day,
BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
The PRESIDENT announced the order of the
day to be the following resolution reported on
Wednesday, Dec. 11, by Mr. MERRICK, from
the Committee on Representation.
1 . Resolved, That it is expedient to regard fed-
eral numbers in finding the estimates and basis
of representation in the House of Delegates.
2. Resolved, That it is inexpedient to adopt a
principle of representation, based exclusively
upon popular numbers in organizing the House
of Delegates or the Senate.
The resolutions having been read —
Mr. SOLLERS moved that they be referred to a
committee of the whole; for (said Mr. S.) if we
ure to discuss abstractions, I think we had better
do so in Committee.
Mr. DENT. I hope the Convention will not
agitate the discussion of this question at the pre-
sent time. 1 do not see any good that can re-
sult from so doing. For my own part, I should
greatly prefer that there should be some practi-
cal proposition submitted to our consideration
before an eifort is made to discuss merely ab-
stract principles. This question of representa-
tion, is one to which more importance is attached
than to any other upon which this Convention
will be called upon to act.
Mr. SOLLERS. That is the very reason why
it should be discussed in Committee.
Mr. DENT. I can only express the hope that
my suggestion may be adopted, and if in order, I
will move a postponement.
Mr. SOLLERS. I have no objection to that,
and if the gentleman will make such a motion as
he indicates, I will withdraw mine.
Mr. DENT. I move that the consideration of
this subject be postponed until the 15th day of
February.
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Mr. MERRICK said, he should not object to any
disposition which the Convention might think
proper to make of the resolutions. They had
been reported by the Committee on Representa-
tion, of which he was Chairman— the first by a
unanimous vote, and the second with only ope
dissenting voice. The object of the Report was
to endeavor to obtain the judgment of the Con-
vention on these two controling principles as the
basis of any detailed plan which might be re-
ported here, and within the circumference of
which some plan might be laid down. These
two great principles would have to be fixed at
last, before any plan could be decided upon. As
to the mere question whether the report should
be considered now, or a fortnight hence, he was
indifferent.
In regard to the first resolution as to the mode
of computing "population, there would probably
be no great diversity of opinion, for he presumed
that the Convention would, by a large majority,
if not by a unanimous vote, decide that it was
inexpedient to have regard to federal numbers in
fixing the basis of representation.
Mr. SOLLERS said, he had made the motion to
go into committee, for the very reason assigned,
that this was a most important and vital ques-
tion — the most vital and important of all the
objects for which this Convention had been call-
ed — if he knew any thing as to what these objects
were. If any subject should be discussed in com-
mittee of the whole, where greater latitude of
debate was allowed than in Convention, this was
that very subject. He saw no reason why it
should be postponed , though he was willing that
it should be, if the House thought proper.
Mr. CHAMBERS, of Kent, said he thought it
was impossible for the committee on represen-
tion to act until the Convention had first acted
in the form of instructions to them. So con-
flicting were the views entertained by the mem-
bers of the committee, that they could only be
reconciled by some agency which would control
their decision and compel the surrender of some
of these opinions. That agency could only be
found in the Convention itself. These principles
had to be fixed. That was a necessary prelimi-
nary to the action of the Convention, and he
could see no good reason why a decision upon it
should be delayed. He admitted that the ques-
tion was one of great importance, though he
might not go so far as some gentlemen who
thought it the most important upon which the
Convention would be called to act. If, as had
been said, it was an abstraction, putting it off
would not make it less so. He asked the yeas
and nays on the motion to postpone.
Mr. BROWN suggested that the day designated
in the motion to postpone was two distant, 'but
thought it would be well that the Convention, be-
fore taking up so important a subject, should
dispose of the report of the committee OB the elec-
tive franchise which had been made the special
order for Monday, so that there might be tut in-
terference. In the meantime the Convention
could occupy itself in the consideration ef other
matters.
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