to permit the Legislature to appoint some one
who should under certain restraints, exercise the
ordinary executive functions, until a new elec-
tion could be held. The period, needful for preparation,
would be necessarily a very brief one,
and no mischief could result.
After a few remarks by Mr. DORSEY—
Mr, GWINN said, that the gentleman from
Anne Arundel, did great injustice to the argu-
ment he had made. By necessary preparation
for the election of a Governor was not meant
provision for electioneering purposes; nor had he
supposed that in this Convention, there was any
reason for such a disclaimer
The mind of the gentleman seemed busy with
the images of corruption and evil influence, which
he had dwelt upon in the early part of the Con-
vention, and he had construed "preparation" to
mean banners, music, and transparencies—the
secret struggles of political clubs—and all the
machinery which parties put in operation for
their support. Whatever effect such arrange-
ments may have upon the popular mind, he cer-
tainly had not intended to allude to them in the
Convention.
By "preparation," speaking in the hearing of a
grave constitutional assembly, he had meant only
that full and reasonable notice of the election about
to occur, which would be sufficient to enable the
people of the State to exercise a deliberate judg-
ment in the choice of an executive. No one could
properly misconstrue such a purpose. There
were reason and advantage in parlies, wherever
formed; but no party man could so far forget the
dignity which properly attached to combinations
embracing the whole people of a State, as to
imagine that their honor or success lay in the
management of petty shows, or in small elec-
tioneering details.
Mr, DORSEY opposed the substitute of Mr.
GWINN, and sustained the amendment of Mr.
BRENT.
Mr. DENT gave notice of an amendment which
he would hereafter offer.
After an explanation by Mr. SPENCER,
Mr. GWINN called the yeas and nays on his
substitute,
Which were ordered, and
Being taken, resulted as follows:
Affirmative—Messrs. Lloyd, Chambers of Cecil,
McCullough, Miller, Shriver, Sappington, Ste-
phenson, McHenry, Gwinn, Sherwood of Balti-
more city, Presstman, Ware, Michael Newcom-
er, Weber, Parke, Ege and Brown—17.
Negative— Messrs. Chapman, President, Blakis-
tone, Dent, Hopewell, Lee, Chambers of Kent,
Donaldson, Dorsey, Wells, Dalrymple, Bond,
Merrick, Jenifer, Buchanan, Bell, Chandler,
Ridgely, Crisfield, Dashiell, Hicks, Hodson,
Goldsborough, Eccleston, Bowie, McCubbin,
Bowling, Spencer, Grason, McMaster, Fooks,
Thomas, Gaither, Annan, Thawley, Brent of
Baltimore city, Fiery, Neill, John Newcomer,
Davis, Hollyday, Slicer and Cockey—43.
So the substitute of Mr. GWINN was rejected.
The question then recurred on the amendment
of Mr. BRENT, of Baltimore city,
And it was agreed to. |
Mr. GRASON moved further to amend the said
section by striking out the words "ballot by the
Senate and House of Delegates," in the third
line, and inserting in lieu thereof, "vote of the
Senate and House of Delegates, the said vote to
be taken viva voce.'
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr. DENT moved further to amend said section
by inserting between the word "the," and
"House," in the sixth line of said section these
words "by the joint vote of the Senate and."
Mr. D. said, he offered this amendment for the
purpose of having the provision as to questions of
eligibility and contested elections of Governor,
conform to the previous provisions in relation to
the same officer.
The question was then taken.
No quorum voted.
Mr. GWINN asked the yeas and nays.
Some explanation passed on the part of Messrs.
DENT, GRASON, THOMAS, JENIFER, SPENCER, and
BLAKISTONE.
The yeas and nays were asked and ordered,
and being taken, resulted as follows :
Affirmative—Messrs. Blakistone, Dent, Hope-
well, Lee, Chambers of Kent, Mitchell, Donald-
son, Dorsey, Wells, Kent. Dalrymple, Bund,
Merrick, Crisfield, Dashiell, Hicks, Hodson,
Goldsborough, Eccleston, Bowling, McMaster,
Fooks, Fiery, John Newcomer, and Davis—35.
Negative—Messrs. Jenifer, Buchanan, Bell,
Chandler, Ridgely, Lloyd, Colston, Chambers of
Cecil, Miller, Bowie, McCubbin, Spencer. Gra-
son, Thomas, Shriver, Gaither, Biser, Annan,
Sappington, Stephenson, McHenry, Magraw,
Thawley, Hardcastle, Gwinn, Brent of Balti-
more city, Sherwood of Baltimore city, Presst-
man, Ware, Schley, Neill, Michael Newcomer,
Weber, Hollyday, Slicer, Parke, Ege, Cookey,
and Brown—39.
So the amendment was rejected.
The fourth section as amended was then adopt-
ed.
The fifth section of the report was read as fol-
lows:
Sec. 5. The State shall be divided into three
districts; the eight counties of the Eastern Shore
to be the first; Baltimore, Harford, Carroll,
Frederick, Washington, and Allegany counties,
the second; and St. Mary's, Charles, Calvert,
Prince George's, Anne Arundel and Montgomery
counties, and the city of Baltimore, the third;
and the Governor elected from the second dis-
trict in October last, shall continue in office du-
ring the term fur which he was elected; his suc-
cessor shall be chosen from the third district, and
then a Governor shall be taken from each dis-
trict in regular succession.
Mr. GRASON moved to amend by inserting the
word "Howard," after the words "Anne Arun-
del."
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr. GRASON suggested that the section should
be informally laid over.
Some conversation followed.
Mr. JENIFER moved to amend said section by
inserting after the words "Eastern Shore," the |
