been made therein, not affecting any matters er-
roneously set forth in the Register, was agreed
to.
Mr. CRISFIELD presented a petition of Edward
Burford, and sixty-two others, citizens of Somer-
set county, to restrict the issuing of licenses to
sell liquor, unless the same be approved by a
majority of the voters of the election district, in
which the license is to be used.
Mr, RIDGELY presented the petition of seventy
citizens of Baltimore county, praying constitu-
tional protection against the sale of spirituous
liquor, without the assent of a majority of voters
in the neighborhood, and
Mr. WEBER presented a petition signed by one
hundred and seventy-two citizens of Allegany
county of similar import;
Which were severally read, and
Referred to the select committee already ap-
pointed on that subject.
GOVERNOR'S TERM OF OFFICE.
Mr. BUCHANAN rose and said :
He was detained from his seat in the Conven-
tion on yesterday from indisposition
He had been informed that, in his absence a
vole of the Convention had been taken, establish-
ing quadrennial elections of Governor. To this,
Mr, B. said, he was altogether opposed, and if he
had been present, would assuredly have voted
against the proposition.
One of the great objects of the people, as he
understood it, in demanding the convocation of
the Convention, was that the terms of services of
public functionaries might be abridged rather
than enlarged, Mr. B. was in favor of the pre-
gent term of three years. Mr. B. then gave
notice that at the proper time he would move a
re consideration of the vote of yesterday, for the
purpose of offering an amendment, providing for
election of Governor every three years.
The motion was entered on the journal.
CLERKS, REGISTERS, ETC.
Mr. DAVIS gave notice of his intention to move
a reconsideration of the vote of yesterday, on the
first section of the report of the committee on the
Legislative Department, and adopted by the Con-
vention, in relation to the fees and perquisites of
office, now payable to the Clerks and Registers
of the several courts of law and equity, &c.
The motion was entered on the journal.
THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
The Convention resumed the consideration of
the unfinished business of yesterday, being the
report made by Mr GRASON, as chairman of the
committee on the executive department.
The pending question was on the adoption of
the first section of the said report.
After a verbal amendment made,
On motion of Mr. GRASON,
The section was adopted.
The second second of the report was then read
as follows:
Sec. 2. The persons qualified to vote for dele-
gates to the General Assembly, shall meet on the
first Wednesday of October, in the year eighteen
58 |
hundred and fifty-three, and on the same day and
month in every third year thereafter, at the
places where they are entitled to vote for dele-
gates, and elect a Governor; the election to be
held in the same manner as the election of dele-
gates, and the returns thereof, under seal, to be
addressed to the Speaker of the House of Dele-
gates, and enclosed and transmilted to the Secre-
tary of State, by whom or by the Executive, they
shall be delivered to the said Speaker at the com-
mencement of the session of the legislature next
ensuing said election.
Mr. G. offered as a substitute for said section,
the following:
Section 2. The first election for governor, un-
der this constitution, shall be held on the first
Wednesday in November, in the year eighteen
hundred and and on the same day
and month in every fourth year thereafter, at
the places of voting for delegates to the Gen-
eral Assembly, and every person, qualified to
vote for delegates shall be qualified and entitled
to vote for governor; the election to be held in
the same manner as the election of delegates, and
the returns thereof, underseal, to be addressed to
the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and en-
closed and transmitted to the Secretary of State,
and delivered to the said Speaker at the com-
mencement of the session of the legislature next
ensuing said election.
Mr. G. said, that the substitute contained no
new provisions, but it was merely made a little
more simple and clear, He had left out the
time at which the first election for governor un-
der the new Constitution should take place, be-
cause the Convention was thin, and the ques-
tion was one which he desired should be discuss-
ed when there was a full attendance.
Mr. DONALDSON suggested to the gentleman from
Queen Anne's, (Mr. Grason,) to leave blank the
day of election as well as the year.
Mr. GRASON assented.
Mr. GWINN suggested that the month also
should be left blank.
Mr. GRASON again assented.
Mr. DORSEY suggested that the amendments
and new sections intended to be proposed by the
gentleman from Queen Anne's, (Mr. Grason,)
should be printed.
This led to some conversation in which Messrs.
GRASON, BRENT, of Baltimore city, JENIFER,
DORSEY, SPENCER and THOMAS, look part.
Mr. GRASON finally moved that the considera-
tion of said section, and substitute be informally
passed over.
Ordered accordingly.
The third section of the report was read as fol-
lows:
Sec. 3. And the Speaker of the. House of Del-
egates shall then open the said returns in the
presence of both Houses, and the person having
the highest number of votes, and being constitutionally
eligible, shall tie the Governor, and shall
qualify in the manner herein prescribed, on the
first Monday of January next ensuing his elec-
tion, or as soon thereafter as may be practica-
ble. |
