vention, wait until his name was called, go out
and stay out for the rest of the day. Or, he
might come in one minute before the Convention
adjourned, report himself present to the Secre-
tary, and thus be recorded as having been pre-
sent from the commencement of the sitting. And
thus both these gentlemen, neither of whom had
been present for any substantial purpose, were
placed in the same position with gentlemen who
had been in attendance during the whole day.
There were other reasons which might be urged
against the adoption of the resolution, but he
thought this one sufficient,
Mr. JENIFER said, that if the gentleman from
Cecil (Mr. MCLANE) had not withdrawn his
amendment, he (Mr.J.) should have voted for
it, but with the intention at the same time to
have voted against both the amendment and the
resolution, if the amendment should have been
adopted. He was surprised to hear the declara-
tion that the absence of members was the cause
of the delay in the public business.
Mr, BRENT explained that he had not stated
that the past absence of members was the cause
of the delay.
Mr. JENIFER proceeded to remark, that he
considered it their duty to leave all these matters
to their constituents.. If it was intended to
inflict an iron rod upon this Convention, and to
make the members sit down here and listen to
all the dull speeches that might be made (inclu-
ding his own) upon every question, he would not
give his sanction to any such proceeding. He
believed that if members did pair off in twenties
on some occasions, it would be better for the
Convention, and would expedite its motion. He
thought if some of them (and he enrolled him-
self among the number) were sometimes out of
their seats it would be all the better. He referr-
ed to the argument of the gentleman who preceded
him (Mr. WELLS) in regard to the unequal op-
eration of the rule, and showed how, under its
operation, a member might be here at the call of
the roll on one day—go to Baltimore—return the
next day, and yet have his name recorded as
present on both the days of his absence.
In regard to the morning hour more especial-
ly, he thought it would be well if most of the
members were not here, for more time was ta-
ken up in the discussion of propositions such as
these, than in more important matters. He re-
ferred, as an example, to the resolution of the
gentleman from Batimore city, which bad al-
ready been the subject of debate in two morning
hours. Let every gentleman be left. to his own
conscience and to the judgment of Ilia constitu-
ents. For himself he must be permitted to say,
that if the order was passed he should never re-
cord his name, because, when he went home to
his constituents, and when they knew that he had
discharged his duty with fidelity, they would not
desire that he should be brought up to the
Secretary's table to record his presence, like a
servant who answered to the overseer's call on
Saturday night.
Mr. BRENT said some gentlemen might sup-
pose it to be a matter of very little moment
whether the Convention made a. Constitution or |
not; for one, he deaired that a Constitution should
bo made with as little delay as possible, and such
a Constitution as the people would accept. The
gentleman who had just taken his seat had re-
marked that if some gentlemen were absent
at times, it would be all the better for the Con-
vention.
Mr. JENIFER, (interposing.) I included myself.
Mr. BRENT. I know you did, and I am wil-
ling to include myself also—but that is a matter
of taste. I say that every gentleman's constitu-
ents have a right to his full services here.
But (Mr. B. proceeded to remark) the gentle-
man had said that members should not he bound
to sit here all day and listen to dull speeches.
Mr. JENIFER. There also I included myself.
Mr. BRENT said, gentlemen could walk out at
anytime they pleased; and the resolution gave
the very liberty that was claimed. Again—the
gentleman had remarked that he would not re-
cord his name. Let him take that responsibility
on himself. He (Mr. B.) did not pretend to say,
that the resolution would work successfully, but
at all events he hoped the Convention would try
it. If any gentleman proposed to draw a distinc-
tion between those who were here all day and
those who were not, let him introduce a resolution
to that effect. All he (Mr, B.) proposed, was to
get gentlemen here who were in the city of An-
napolis,—not gentlemen who were perhaps a
thousand miles off. If they were in the city they
could bo sent for, or could be brought here by a
call of the Convention.
Mr. SOLLERS said, he was not in his seat yes-
terday when the question was taken on the reso-
lution of the gentleman from Baltimore city,
(Mr. BRENT,) and if he had been, he should have
voted against it. There were two objections to
it, in the first place, this whole series of mea-
sures was calculated to bring the Convention into
disrepute with the people of Maryland, and, lie
agreed with the gentleman from Cecil, (Mr. MCLANE,)
that, whilst they did so, they were calcu-
lated also to make it lose respect for ilself. He
(Mr. S) did not see the necessity for the adop-
tion of such a resolution.
In the second place, it was utterly inadequate
; to the accomplishment of the object in view.
Were the members of this Convention to be tied,
like children by their nurses, to a bed-post with a
garter? He did not intend to be so—he was re-
sponsible to his constituents alone. The yeas and
nays were taken on every important question,
and the people could see who were here and who
were not. He owed responsibility not to the
Convention, but to his constituents alone.
But the gentleman who offered the resolution
said, let us try the enforcement. It was of no prac-
tical use to do so. The penalty was insufficient.
A member could not be compelled to record his
name if lie did not choose to do so, and he gave
notice that he, for one, should never choose to do
so.
Mr. HARBINE demanded the previous question
but withdrew the motion.
Mr, DASHIELL, in order, he said, to accomplish
the object of the resolution more effectually
moved to amend by adding the following : |
