ing himself as a private soldier in the ranks and
fighting our battles— and soon afterwards he took
command of the detachment and distinguished
himself throughout the war. Such had been the
policy not only of the Federal Government, but
of the Government of the State of Maryland.
The most liberal and enlarged privileges had
been allowed to the freemen of that day; and
that policy had been continued until the adoption
of the constitution of '76. It was true, indeed,
that for a time the policy of the General Govern-
ment had been changed, and a restrictive policy
substituted. But the latter in its turn had been
repealed, and been followed by a new and most
liberal system. It taught the people of foreign
countries) that our policy was to admit these
persons upon more liberal terms than had been
held out under former laws. It would be bad
faith now to turn our backs upon them, and en-
act odious provisions against them, calculated to
deprive them not only of their rights, but of their
character.
Mr. B, referred to the services which has
? rendered by the foreign population, and to
the debt which was due to them—?????
especially the services rendered by them alter
the destruction of the capitol, in the defence of
Baltimore. In all our civic and military struggle
these individuals had stood manfully up,
and now we were to turn upon them and insult
them. Not only had they fought our battles.
but they had been among the foremost in the
promotion of the charities of the land. He alluded
to the school-houses they had built in Bal-
timore, and especially to an institution in Balti-
more county, which had been built by the muni-
ficence of an Irishman, and which was known
as "the Orphans' Home " He also referred to
the late case of the McDonough bequest, in il-
lustration of his point. And he concluded by
expressing the hope that the Convention would
not only act up to the vote it had given on Satur-
day last. but that it would reject the proposition
before it, so as to indicate to the people of the
State that although they were willing to entertain
it as a matter of caution and respect to
those who advocated it, yet that, as a body,
the Convention was utterly opposed to its adop-
tion.
[Mr. B. spoke about 35 minutes. The above
is a mere outline of his points, but is considera-
bly longer than the limit prescribed by the con-
tract.]
Mr. SOLLERS stated that the gentleman from
Anne Arundel had characterized some remarks
which he had made on Saturday, as wild, extra-
vagant and not worthy of notice. He felt him-
self called on to refer to the fact this morning,
especially as
"A chiel's amang us takin' notes,"
Mr. DORSEY explained that he did use the
phrase imputed to him, "'not worthy of notice "
but that he did not feel himself called on to no-
tice the remarks.
Mr. SOLLERS resumed. That may be true,
but the gentleman from Anne Arundel stated
that the remarks were extravagant. As to his |
political and party tendencies, whatever they
may be, or whether his father was a whig or
ademocrat, was a matter of little import It
was not necessary to trace his lineage. But he
felt called on to resist the assumption of an
authority to compel the junior members of this
body to sit still and say nothing. He desired to
say that he had uttered not a single sentiment
which had not emanated from his heart. The
gentleman from Kent, the gentleman from Anne
Arundel and the gentleman from Queen Anne
had all introduced politics in their speeches, and .
in a style in comparison of which he had said
nothing extravagant. He had thought it right
to make this explanation, and to add that while
he had no desire to assail the gentleman from
Anne Arundel, he could not consent to sit silent
when he himself was assailed.
The quest on was then stated to be on the
amendment of Mr. Chambers.
Mr Biser asked the yeas and nays, which
were ordered, and being taken resulted as fol-
lows :
Affirmative—Messrs. Dent, Lee, Chambers of
Kent, Dorsey, Wells; Randall, Kent, Bond, John
Dennis, James U. Dennis, Crisfield, Dashiell,
Williams, Hicks, Hodson Goldsborough, Phelps,
Sprigg, McCubbin, McMaster and .Hearn—21.
Negative—Messrs. Chapman, President, Morgan,
Blakistone, Hopewell, Ricaud, Dalrymple,
Sollers, Jenifer, Buchanan, Bell, Welch, Ridgely,
Lloyd, Dickinson, Sherwood of Talbot, Colston,
Chambers of Cecil, McCullough, Miller, Mc-
Lane, Bowie, Grayson, George, Dirickson,
Shriver, Gaither, Biser, Annan, Sappington,
McHenry, Magraw, Nelson, Thawley, Stewart
of Caroline, Hardcastle, Gwinn, Brent of Balti-
more city. Fiery, Neill, John Newcomer, Har-
bine, Kilgour, Brewer, Waters, Weber, Holly-
day, Slicer, Fitzpatrick, Smith, Parke, Shower,
Cockey and Brown—53.
So the amendment was rejected.
Mr. BROWN indicated his intention to offer an
amendment.
The Chair requested that the gentlemen would,
reduce it to writing.
Mr. CHAMBERS interposed, and desired the op-
portunity to state what his amendment was
Mr. BRENT yielded the floor for the purpose.
Mr. CHAMBERS then declared his amendment
to be in the following words :
"Every free white male citizen of the United
States, of 21 years of age and upwards, who
shall have resided in this State," &c.
Mr. BROWN referred to a case in which the
amendment would operate unfairly. Suppose a
man, living near the county line, acquired by
purchase or bequest an estate lying over the line
and in the adjoining county, and transfer his re-
sidence to the newly acquired properly, is be
to he compelled to remain six months at his new
residence before. he is permitted to vote in that
county? While we ought to do all that We can
to prevent persons from coming into a county for
a brief residence, merely for the pupose of voting,
we ought to be careful not to abridge the rights
of honest citizens, whose right to vote is not
questioned. The object of the constitution is to |
