the whig party, are in favor of annual sessions.
This was one of the questions which was not agi-
tated before the people. When things are in this
condition, and these conflicting opinions cannot
be reconciled, ii it not prudent to submit the
question for a separate vote of the people? Every
gentleman here knows the sentiment of his con-
stituents on the subject of representation. Why
then should the question of representation be sub-
milted separately ? He concluded with saying
that he is not wedded to this proposition. If a
proposition should be made for the Legislature to
meet annually for the next three years he would
prefer it.
Mr. DIRICKSON asked the yeas and nays on the
adoption of the second section as amended—
which were ordered.
Mr. DORSEY moved to amend the section, as
amended, by striking out the words "general
election."
Mr. D. thought that the language, as it now
stood, was vague and uncertain, and that the
amendment would make it more definite.
The question was taken, and the amendment
was agreed to.
The question then again recurred, and was ta-
ken, on the adoption of the section as amended,
and the result was as follows :
Affirmative—Messrs. Morgan, Donaldson, Dor-
sey, Wells, Kent, Merrick, Buchanan, Welsh,
Chambers of Cecil, Miller, Tuck, Sprigg, Spen-
cer, George, Wright, Shriver, Biser, Stephenson,
McHenry, Nelson, Stewart of Caroline, Presst-
man, Ware, Brewer, Anderson, Weber, Holly-
day, Fitzpatrick, Cockey, Parke, Shower, and
Brown-32.
Negative—Messrs. Chapman. President, Ri-
caud, Chambers of Kent, Mitchell, Dalrymple,
Howard, Ridgely, Lloyd, Dickinson, Sherwood
of Talbot, John Dennis, Williams, Hicks, Hod-
son, Phelps, Bowling, Dirickson, Hearn, Jacobs,
Thomas, Gaither, Annan, Carter, Schley, Fiery,
Neill, John Newcomer, Harbine, Michael New-
comer, Waters and Smith—31.
So the second section, as amended, was adopt-
ed.
And thereupon the Convention adjourned until
Monday morning.

MONDAY, February 17th, 1851.
The Convention met at eleven o'clock.
Prayer was made by the Rev. Mr. GRIFFITH.

The roll was called; and, after some time, a
quorum being present,
The journal of Saturday, (with the exception
of reports, the reading of which, on motion of
Mr. Brown, was dispensed with,) was read and
approved.

Mr. WELLS, chairman of the committee on
accounts, made the following report:
The committee on accounts respectfully report
that they have examined and passed the account
of Hayward, Bartlett & Co., for repairs, to the
furnace, herewith filed, and recommend the adop-
tion of the following resolution:
G. WELLS, Chairman.
Resolved, That the President of this Conven-
tion, draw on the Treasurer in favor of Hay-
wood, Barlett & Co., for one hundred and forty-
six dollars and thirty-one cents.
Which was read and adopted.
Mr. HARBINE moved (hat the Convention pro-
ceed to the order of the day, but waived the mo-
tion at the request of Mr. SOLLERS.
THE CONVENTION AND ITS BUSINESS.
Mr. SOLLERS said he had risen for the purpose
of making a motion, which perhaps would come
with better grace from another member of the
Convention, than from himself. He proposed
that a committee should be appointed to examine
and consider the rules of the Convention, and to
report such alterations and amendments as, in
their opinion, would facilitate the business of the
Convention.
Mr. GWINN. I second the motion.
Mr. SOLLERS continued. He had hitherto taken
occasion, he said, to refer to the jarring and discordant
elements of which this Convention was com-
posed, and to state that they were such as to pre-
vent any human being predicting when it would
be possible for it to adjourn. No programme of
settled principles, upon which this body should
base its action, had been discussed before the
people; and gentlemen had met here without
knowing what the people wanted, or what they
wanted themselves. What had been the conse-
quence ? The Convention was afflicted with that
curse which, in olden times, had been visited up-
on a rebellious people, who attempted to build a
tower which should reach to heaven—a confusion
of tongues. For his own part, he was opposed
to nearly all the reforms, which were contem-
plated by this Convention, yet he felt that some-
thing was due to the wishes and the interests of
a disappointed and indignant people. Well might
they exclaim, in the language of the Roman ora-
tor, "quousque tandem abutere patientia nostra?"
From one end of the State to the other, a dissat-
isfied feeling pervaded the public mind, in re-
gard to the condition of the business of this Con-
vention. They had been three months in session,
and were but just upon the threshold of the
business for which they had assembled. All the
difficult and intricate questions claiming the at-
tention of the Convention, yet remained to be dis-
cussed. There was a defect somewhere. It was
evident that there was too much speaking. There
lay the difficulty, and his object was that a com-
mittee should be appointed to revise the rules,
with a view to obviate that difficulty.
He thought that if a rule was adopted providing
that, if any subject should be referred to the committee
of the whole, the debate should terminate