had been absent heretofore should give notice of
their absence to the Secretary, that they might
appear on the same record with other members
contemplated by the order.
Mr. MCLANE said he had not offered this
amendment in any light mood, and he did not
wish that it should be so considered. He thought
that the whole affair was out of place, and that
it ought to have been let alone. He disclaimed
any intention to reflect upon the gentleman who
had introduced the order; but he (Mr. MCLANE)
felt that the result of the continued efforts made
here was inevitable. They would not only take
away from the Convention the respect of the
public, but would in the end, if persisted in, de-
prive it of its own respect, and lead to every
species of disorder. He thought that the true
mode was to rely upon the dictates of every
member's conscience and sense of duty, and to
(rust to an enlightened community to do them
justice. If, however, the Convention was to cast
a censure upon itself, he hoped that it would not
be confined to the future, but that it should be
retrospective also.
He did not think that any evil had resulted
from the absence of members; and certainly he
imputed to no gentleman who had been absent
any motive or intention unworthy of him as a
gentleman or a member of this body; but if any
evil had resulted, it had been because the ab-
sence of members heretofore had obstructed the
action of the committees and prevented them
from making their reports. There were mem-
bers enough to carry on the business of the Con-
vention every day; and if gentlemen did not hap-
pen to be here at the call of the roll, he did not
think that they should, for that reason, be held
up to public reprobation. But if it must be so,
let all stand upon the same footing.
Mr. BRENT said he hoped the Convention
would not be induced to retrace the step which
it had yesterday taken by so decisive a vote.
Why was it that a change had "come over the
spirit of its dream" in the course of the night?
the operation of the resolution had not yet been
tested. How then could the Convention know
whether it would be successful or not ? It was
not to go into operation until Monday next.
What harm could there be in it? What was
the resolution? Mr. B. explained its purposes,
and proceeded to argue that if a member was
called by any necessity, the Convention could, by
letter or otherwise, be informed of the fact, and
that the gentleman's own statement of the facts,
would be taken, by the Convention as a sufficient
excuse.
The gentleman from Cecil, (Mr. MCLANE)
was mistaken if he supposed that that resolution
was offered because there had not been a suffi-
cient number of members attending the Commit-
tees. He, Mr. B., had no such consideration in
view in offering the resolution. He had assigned
nothing in the failure of the past (melancholy as
that had been) to transact the public business as
the reason for the resolution. He looked only to
the future; and he did not intend to stop here.
If it should be found that this resolution did not |
answer the purpose, he should follow it up with
another proposition. He would cease to throw
grass, and would begin to throw stones. He
would offer a resolution to dock the per diem.
He saw that gentlemen were absent. He saw
that they would continue to be so, unless some-
thing was done. The gentleman from Cecil had
referred to the discredit which was brought upon
the Convention, by these propositions. The
highest and deepest reproach which could be
brought upon the Convention, would result from
the failure to present to the people, in conse-
quence of the absence of members, such a Con-
stitution us would command their votes.
He had introduced this order upon high considerations,
as he understood them, and not from
any miserable desire to cater to a morbid appe-
tite to cast odium upon this Convention. He
was not satisfied with the presence of a quorum
only. The State had a right to the collective
wisdom and votes of the whole body.
Mr. MCLANE. I withdraw the amendment
which I offered. It is very possible that its pur-
pose may not be understood; and yet it might be
understood as reflecting upon the absence of gen-
tlemen hitherto. I will withdraw it. My mo-
tive was entirely different, I believe that no
gentlemen who has been absent heretofore,
should in any degree be censured for it, and I am
unwilling to do anything which might lead to
such a result.
So the amendment was withdrawn.
Mr. BROWN said he should have voted against
the proposition of the gentleman from Cecil,
(Mr. MCLANE,) and propably with as much pro-
priety as any other member of the body, so far
as the matter of absence was concerned. He
Mr. B., doubted whether any member, except
those immediately from the City of Annapolis,
had been less frequently absent than himself.
But he was willing that "by-gones should be by-
gones." He thought the adoption of such an order
would be a reflection upon gentlemen.
Mr. MCLANE, (interposing.) I have with-
drawn it.
Mr, BROWN. I know it. I shall again vole
for the resolution of the gentleman from Balti-
more city, (Mr, BRENT,) because I think we
have a right to adopt it. We reflect upon no-
body, and the punishment contemplated is but a
slight one. We record the names of those who
are present, but we say nothing about the absen-
tees. I suggest, however, that the gentleman
should allow the resolution to lie on the table
for a short time. Perhaps the very fact of its
having been offered, may produce beneficial results.
I think that this body, and especially the
reform portion of it, has a right to complain of
the continued absence of members from their
seats,
' Mr. WELLS said, that the effect of the propo-
sition would he to hold up to the reproach of
their constituents, gentlemen who might be un-
avoidably detained from their seats; and there
was one great inequality growing out of it suf-
ficient in itself to cause its rejection. If the rule
was adopted, a member could come into the Con- |
