Maryland, he would do it in the most humane
manner by sending them to the Maryland colony
in Liberia.
He concluded, by expressing his belief, that if
the question were submitted to the people of Ma-
ryland, they would bo found almost unanimously
against the amendment of the gentleman from
Baltimore.
ERRATA.—In page one hundred, bottom of
first column, in the speech of Mr. DAVIS, instead
of "1,000,000" as by a typographical error it
is printed, read "0,000,000," the cypher being
intended to show the amount of legislative encouragement
given to agriculture.
In page forty-seven. column two, line thirty, of
the sketch of Mr. BLAKISTONE'S remarks, instead
of "design" read "offspring."
in page ninety, on the amendment of Mr
RIDGELY to thirtieth article of the Bill of Rights.
adding the words "political trust or employment
of any kind whatever"—the word "rejected"
should read "adopted."
In pages ninety-six and ninety-seven, insert the
name Mr. CHANDLER (as moving to strike out
the thirty-fourth article of the Bill of Rights.)
instead of Mr. BLAKISTONE.
THURSDAY, February 13,1851.
The Convention met at eleven o'clock.
Prayer was made by the Rev. Mr. GRAUFF.
The roll was called, and the journal of yester-
day was read and approved.
MR. J. U. DENNIS.
On motion of Mr. JOHN DENNIS, it was
"Ordered, That it bo entered upon the journal
that Mr. JAMES U. DENNIS, is detained from his
seat ill the Convention by the illness of a mem-
ber of this family."
There being no reports of committees, mo-
tions, resolutions, or notices,
The PRESIDENT, pro tem., announced the unfinished
business of yesterday.
THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
The Convention then resumed the considera-
tion of the special order of the day, being the re-
port heretofore subutitled by Mr. JOHNSON,
chairman of the committee on the legislative department
of the government.
The second section of the report was under-
consideration as follows:
" Section 2. The Senators shall be elected by the
qualified voters, for the term of four years, and
the Delegates for the term of from the
day of the general election."
SESSIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
And the pending question was on the motion
of Mr. MERRICK., to amend the said second sec-
tion, by filling the blank in the second line) with.
the words "one year."

Mr. PHELPS rose to a question of order.
He had yesterday, he said, submitted an amend-
ment, by way of substitute for the whole section.
He desired to know whether the motion of the
gentleman from Charles, (Mr. Merrick,) to fill
the blank in the second section of the report,
took precedence over his, [Mr. P's,] motion to
strike out.
The PRESIDENT, pro. tem., said, that the mo-
tion to fill the blank, would take precedence over
the motion to strike out and insert, because
the friends of the original section had the right in
the first instance to perfect it.
Mr. DORSEY gave notice that when the ques-
tion should be taken on the illotion of the gentle-
man from Dorchester, [Mr. Phelps,] he, [Mr.
D., desired a division of the question, first on
striking out, and then on inserting.
Mr. BRENT, of Charles, said, he found him-
self in a position which was at all times unpleas-
ant to his feelings. He found himself upon this
question, differing with his colleagues. For their
judgment and opinions, he always entertained the
highest respect and esteem; and it was always,
therefore, with the greatest diffidence, that be
differed from them.
He considered the question mow under consid-
eration, as one of grave importance. But important
as it was, he would not have troubled
the Convention with any remarks, but for the
fact of the difference of opinion which he had
stated.
He regarded the question of annual or biennial
sessions as a financial measure. In that light he
should argue it. He believed that a proper prin-
ciple of economy should lie at the foundation of
all governments; and that it was the duty of the
representatives of the people upon every occasion
so to economise the public expenditures, as to se-
cure the advantages of good government, at as
little cost as possible to the public treasury.
The question of biennial sessions was not a
new question in this country. Some of the States
of the confederacy had engrafted the principle
upon their governments, so far back as the year
1818, And in tenor more of the States that prin-
ciple had long been in successful operation. In
the State of Kentucky, where the Convention
called to remodel the organic law, had terminat-
ed its labors within some twelve or eighteen
months, the principle of biennial sessions had
been adopted even without an argument. Un-
der the old Constitution of that State, he believed
the sessions of the legislature had been annual.
He had referred to the policy of other States,
with a view to gather from their experience lights
for his own guidance; because he believed it was
always the part of true wisdom to avail itself of
the experience of others, and engraft it upon, its
own.
Mr. B. now proceeded to refer to the direct
vote which had been given by the people at the
ballot box upon this question of biennial sessions,
and to the decision which they had made in fa-
vor of such a change.
Here then, he said, was the voice of the peo-
ple of the State of Maryland. He considered
himself as their agent—whose duty it was to carry