Mr. BISER moved a call of the House. The
salary of the Governor was before the Conven-
tion, and when it was formerly under considera-
tion he happened to be absent from his seat; and
it had given him so much trouble to explain the
reason of his absence, that he was desirous to
prevent other gentlemen from having the same
trouble.
Mr. SPENCER hoped the gentleman from Fred-
rick would withdraw the motion, as it would only
lead to a useless consumption of time.
Mr, BISER said he had shown as little disposi-
tion as any one to consume the time of the House
by useless notions. He then withdrew his mo-
tion.
Mr, SPENCER expressed his hope that the Con-
vention would not specify any particular time
when the Governor shall he in Annapolis, and
thus leave the inference to be made that it may
not be necessary for him to be here at all times.
Mr. DORSEY was of opinion that it is necessary
for the Governor to be here, while the Legisla-
ture is in session. But in the recess of the Le-
gislature, he did not think it necessary. It is
known that he has heretofore occasionally been
absent for a week, or perhaps a month, at a time,
so that his duties do not compel his constant pre-
sence, yet you require him to he here atall times
ready to discharge his duties. He has to dis-
charge the functions of his office; and whether
he performs the duty here or while he is absent
from Annapolis, is of no consequence. It is
rather to he preferred, that he should not give
hasty opinions and decisions, as soon as business
is brought before him; but that he should take a
a little time for deliberation, before he replies to
applications, and his replies, if he is absent, can
be transmilted through the Secretary of state.
There have been complaints, that although the
Governor may reside here, he is not to be found
at the Government house. It is with a view to
relieve him from these complaints, and to fix
where and when he may be found, that this
amendment is offered. He will, perhaps, have
fewer duties to attend to after the new Constitution
is established. And if he attends here dur-
ing the first week in every month, after the legislative
session terminates, it will be quite suffi-
cient,
Mr. BRENT, of Baltimore city. If a requisition
should be made on the Executive by the Go-
vernor of another State, is the messenger to be
compelled to run all over the State to find him?
Mr. DORSEY. There will be no occasion for
that. The mails travel very rapidly. It is not
necessary that the Governor should remain here
on that account. Sometimes these requisitions
call for deliberation, which causes delay. And it
often occurs that it is necessary for the Governor
to take legal advice upon the subject, and some
days may elapse before his opinion can be ob-
tained. He did not think the salary of the Go-
vernor should be fixed so high. as to make the
office desirable for the sake of the emolument.
Therefore he held it to be proper to reduce it.
Mr. GRASON would first consider the question,
whether the public interest required the Gov- |
ernor to reside at the seat of government. In
the commencement of our government, the Gov-
ernors lived in Annapolis, but in the course of
time, they generally remained at their private
residences during the recess of the Legislature.
This was the custom till the law of December
session, 1837, required the Governor to reside
at the seat of government. He then enumera-
ted the various duties of the executive. The
mere examination of claims and accounts against
the State occupies considerable time. While
he [Mr. G,] was in office, no account was paid
until it received his examination and approval;
and he had no doubt that the investigation and
rejection of improper claims, had saved more to
the State than the whole amount of his salary.
A duty of this kind could not be performed by
the Governor if he remained at his own resi-
dence during the recess of the Legislature.
Mr. BROWN moved the previous question.
Mr. McHENRY asked for the ayes and noes on
the motion, and they were ordered.
Mr. BROWN then withdrew his motion.
Mr. DIRICKSON addressed the Convention. His
remarks will be published hereafter.
Mr. BRENT of Baltimore city, was opposed to
the introduction of Yankee notions into a Mary-
land Constitution. This is a Southern State,
and he never desired to see her Constitution
framed with a view to small economy, but to
principles. The gentleman from Worcester
says he is a reformer, and he calls on all refor-
mers to unite with him in whittling down the
salaries of our public officers. But he would tell
the gentleman from Worcester, that the people
of Maryland want no penny wise policy. The
issue presented, is non-residence at Annapolis,
and low salary, or residence and fair salary;
whether the public duties shall be neglected at a
small cost, or whether they shall be faithfully
performed for adequate compensation. He would
suppose that his friend from Worcester should
some day be clothed with this honor, and a mur-
der, startling the whole community, like that
recently committed in Kent county, had taken
place, and it was necessary that, a reward should
be offered for the detection of the murderer with-
out delay, would he like that the messenger from
Kent county should be hunting for him among
his friends in Worcester, to issue the proclama-
tion, and in the mean time the murderer should
make his escape? Or, if a requisition should be
made on him by the Governor of another State,
would it be proper to be running all through the
State to find the Governor, before any step could
be taken? And as he understood the proposition
of the gentleman from Worcester, it was to re-
duce the salary of the Governor to two thousand
dollars. Where would the gentleman from
Worcester find a competent person to take the
labor and responsibility of the office for that
sum? He hoped no such proposition would find
favor with the Convention.
Mr. DIRICKSON said it would be the very way
to get a fit person to take the office.
Mr. SOLLERS did not approve such notions as |
