Mr. THOMAS gave notice that lie should make
no objection to the adoption of this article, but
should vote for it, with a view of enabling him
at the proper time to move a reconsideration of
the vote of the Convention thereon.
Mr. PRESSTMAN gave notice that it was his in-
tention to have voted with a similar design, if the
gentleman from Frederick, (Mr. Thomas,) had
not indicated his purpose to do so.
The question was then taken,
And by ayes 43, noes 14, the forty-first article
was adopted.
Mr. DAVIS offered the following amendment:
Art. 43. The legislature shall encourage by all
suitable means, associations for the diffusion of
knowledge and virtue, for the promotion of
literature, the arts and sciences, agriculture, commerce
and manufactures and for the genera
melioration of the wants and conditions of the
people.
Mr. PRESSTMAN moved to amend the amend-
ment, by striking out the word "suitable," and
insetting the word "Constitutional."
After some conversation,
Mr. PRESSTMAN withdrew his amendment.
The question then recurred on the amendment
of Mr. DAVIS.
And pending the question:
The Convention adjourned, until to-morrow
morning at 11 o'clock.
SATURDAY, February 8th, 1851.
The PRESIDENT, pro tem. (Mr. Tuck, of Prince
George's,) called the Convention to order a
eleven o'clock.
Prayer was made by the Rev. Mr. GRIFFITH
The roll was called.
The journal of yesterday was read and ap-
proved.
Mr. JOHN NEWCOMER said, that if there was
no other business before the Convention, he
would move that the Convention proceed to the
orders of the day.
HOWARD DISTRICT.
Mr. DORSEY, chairman of the select commit-
tee respecting the formation of New Counties
submitted the following report:
The select committee appointed to consider
and report respecting the formation of new coun-
ties in this State, beg leave to make the following
report, and recommend its adoption as an article
of the Constitution about to be formed.
THOMAS B. DORSEY, Chairman.
Article. That part of Anne Arundel county
called Howard District, is hereby erected into a
new county to be called Howard county; the in-
habitants whereof shall have, hold and enjoy all
such rights and privileges as are held and en-
joyed by the inhabitants of the other counties in
this State; and its civil and municipal officers at
the time of the ratification of this Constitution
shall continue in office until their successors shall

have been elected or appointed, and shall have
qualified as such; and all rights, powers and ob-
ligations incident to Howard District of Anne
Arundel county, shall attach to Howard county.
The report having been read,
Mr. DORSEY moved that it be printed, and
Made the order of the day for Wednesday
next.
Mr. SPENCER, (to Mr. Dorsey.) Is it likely
that any objection will be made to the report, or
that it will lead to debater
Mr. DORSEY said, he could not hear the gen-
tleman from Queen Anne's, (Mr. Spencer.)
Mr. SPENCER repeated his question.
Mr, DORSEY said, he had no information
which would enable him to answer the enquiry.
Mr. SPENCER suggested that if debate was not
likely to arise, it would be better that the Con-
vention should act upon the report at once. Were
there, he enquired, any other gentlemen here
from Anne Arundel, who could answer the ques-
tion ?
Mr. SELLMAN speaking from the frontier seats
was understood to say, that, so far as his knowl-
edge extended, the report met with the approba-
tion of the people of Anne Arundel county pro-
per. He had never heard any objection to the
proposition.
Mr. PHELPS said, the question involved in the
report, was an important one, and that he wished
it postponed until after the representation ques-
tion should have been settled.
The question was then taken on the motion of
Mr. DORSEY; and
Was decided in the affirmative—ayes 44,
noes 8.
So the report was ordered to be printed,
and
Was made the special order of the day for
Wednesday next.
THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
Mr. PHELPS gave notice that he would at the
proper time, offer the following amendments to
the report of the committee on the legislative department
of the government:
Strike out sections second, seventeenth and
eighteenth, and insert the following sections, as
numbered, in their stead; also, insert sections
thirty-seventh, thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, and
fortieth, to come in between the thirty-sixth [and
thirty-seventh sections of the report.
Sec. 2nd. The Senators shall he elected by the
qualified voters of this State, for the term of four
years, and the delegates in like manner, for the
term of two years from the day of the general
election; and the regular session of the General
Assembly shall be biennial.
Sec. 17th. Bills for raising revenue or levying
taxes, shall originate in the House of Delegates,
but the Senate may alter, amend or reject them
as other bills. All other bills may originate in
either House, and be amended, altered or reject-
ed by the other, but no bill shall become a law
without being read upon three several days in
each House, only in cases of great urgency, two-
thirds of the House in which the bill shall be