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Theyeas'and nays (which had heretofore been
ordered) were taken and resulted u follows :
Affirmative — Messrs. Buchanan, Bell, Welch,
Chandler, Lloyd, Dickinson, ColstoD, Miller,
McLane, Spencer, Wright, Thomas, Shriver,
Johnson, Gaither, Biser, Annan, Sappington,
Stephenson, McHenry, Magraw, Nelaon, Hard-
castle, Gwinn, Brent of Baltimore city, Presst-
man, Ware, Brewer, Weber, Hollyday, Slicer,
Fitzpatrick, Parke, Shower, and Brown — 35.
Negative — Messrs. Chapman, President, Mor-
gan, Blakistone, Dent, Hopewell, Ricaud,
Chambers of Kent, Donaldson, Dorsey, Wells,
Randall, Sellman, Dairy rople, Bond, Sollers,
Brent of Charles, Merrick, Jeifer. John Dennis,
James U. Dennis, Crisfield, Dashiell, Williams,
Hicks, Hodson, Phelps, Bowie, Tuck, Sprigg,
Bowling, McMaster, Fooks, Jacobs, Thawlcy,
Schley, Fiery, John Newcomer, Harbine, Davis,
Waters, and Smith — 41.
So the motion to reconsider was rejected.
Mr. SPENCER then moved to recommit the re-
port to the committee on representation, with in-
structions to "report a basis of representation in
some fair principle of compromise."
Mr. SPENCER said, he would make no speech,
unless any gentleman should attack his motion.
In that case, he should feel himself called on to
defend it. He had submitted it, because it ap-
peared to him to be proper, and also, because he
believed it would have had the endorsement of a
large majority of the Convention.
Mr. SCHLEY was of opinion that this proposi-
tion would not at all facilitate the action of the
Committee, because it had been represented that
the Committee cannot agree upon any report, un-
til the House shall come to a vote on the resolu-
tions. He did not look on these resolutions as
mere abstractions. They ate intended to evoke
an expression of the opinion of tUe Convention.
For instance, if the second resolution he passed,
it will be the deliberately expressed opinion of
the House, that the popular basis will not be
adopted. The gentleman from Queen Anne's
now proposes an instruction to the Committee to
report the plan of a compromise, but it omits to
specify wnat kind of compromise. Now he,
(Mr. S.,) was teady, at once, to vote on the se-
cond resolution which bud been reported. He
was prepared when he came to the Convention ;
the subject had been well discussed among the
people, and he had been instructed by the county
of Washington. That county he described as
opposed to representation according to popula-
tion, and that he would prefer the Constitution
as it is, to the adoption of that basis. He was
not so well prepared to vote on the other resolu-
tion; on that he desired the light of a further
discussion. But he could not see the propriety
of sending the resolutions back to the Com mittee,
when the Committee say that they cannot agree.
What did the gentleman from Queen Anne's
mean by a fair compromise ? Would the adop-
tion of the popular basis in the counties, and re-
stricting the evly of Baltimore, to the representa-
tion of the largest county, for which he, (Mr. S.,)
would be willing to vote, be regarded as sueh by
that gentleman ? If the resolutions should be re-
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committed with this instruction to report t fair
compromise, what in the Committee might be
regarded as fair, might not be so considered in the
House. The Committee certainly would not re-
port the popular basis — that point would have
been settled.
It had been said that this Convention is doing
nothing, idling away its time, and spending the
people's money. This was not to, and he repu-
diated the charge as unworthy of a moment's con-
sideration. The Convention has been, and ig bu-
sily employed in its laborious and difficult work,
and now that these resolutions are before us why
should we piocraatiuate ? Why should we delay
when there is work before the Convention , as the
gentleman from Frederick has given notice that
tie will not abandon his position without astern and
steady fight. Discussion must take place now or
hereafter. He thought it better that it should begin
now, and that the Committee should be instruct-
ed by a vote of the House. He wished that there
should be ample discussion, and he would Bot
stop it by calling for the previous question. He
would not shut out a single gentleman, who de-
sired to participate in debate, although the gen-
tleman from Baltimore, (Mr. BRENT,) had ridi-
culed the idea of the whole hundred and three
members of the Convention being permitted to
take part in the debate. Whilst he would restrict
debate within proper limits, he would not deny
to any member the exercise of his right to pro-
claim and enforce his views.
Mr. BRENT, of Baltimore city, said that he
was for a postponement of the subject of repre-
sentation, as be had always been, and he still
thought that all the constitutional safeguards
which were just and proper, should be adjusted
before we act upon this, the greatest of all ques-
tions.
But he protested against the course of the anti-
reformers, who have availed themselves of this
occasion to lay down their platforms in advance
of the main question; still lie hoped the speeches
already made by anti-reformers, might be suf-
fered to go before the public for what they were
worth, and that the relormers in this body would
forbear until the question came up at a proper
time on its merits.
He was not willing to discuss the question now
although he disclaimed any disposition to gag
other gentlemen. In reply to the remarks of the
gentleman from Washington Co., (Mr. SCHLEY,)
he, (Mr BRENT,) would reiterate what he had
said before, denying that we were to discuss every
question until every member hud spoken. He
insisted that no true reformer should desire to
hear one hundred and three members on every
question that might he started, because, at that
rate, it would take several years to finish our la-
burs, and such procrastination would effectually
kill the present reform movement.
Members must take their chances in securing
the floor, and after a reasonable debate has been
allowed, it should be stopped by the previou*
question. Look at the long and protracted de-
bate which has happened on the elective fran-
chise. He meant no disrespect, but for more
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