Negative—Messrs. Blakistone, President, pro
tem. Dent, Lee, Chambers of Kent, Donaldson,
Dorsey, Sellman, Weems, Brent of Charles, Lloyd,
Dickinson, Sherwood of Talbot, Crisfield, Da-
shiell, Williams, Eccleston, Phelps. Chambers of
Cecil, Miller, McLane, Bowie, Tuck, Dirickson,
McMaster, Fooks, Gaither, Biser, Sappington,
Nelson, Carter, Hardcastle, Gwinn, Schley,
Fiery, John Newcomer, Harbine, Davis, Brewer,
Waters, Weber, Slicer, Smith, Clarke, Shower,
Cockey and Brown—47.
So the Convention refused to insert "fifteen
hundred dollars."
The question being then on Mr. JENIFER'S mo-
tion to insert $1200.
Mr, LEE asked for the ayes and noes on the
question, and they were ordered.
The question was then taken on Mr. JENIFER's
motion, and decided as follows:
Affirmative—Messrs. Donaldson, Wells, Ran-
dall, Kent, Sellman, Weems, Sollers, Brent of
Charles, Jenifer, Howard, Buchanan, Welch,
Hicks, Hodson, Miller, Bowie, Tuck. Grason,
Biser, McHenry, Magraw, Gwinn, Brent of
Baltimore city, Presstman, Ware, Kilgour and
Hollyday—37.
Negative—Messrs. Blakistone, President, pro
tem , Dent, Lee, Chambers of Kent. Dorsey, Bell,
Lloyd, Dickinson, Sherwood of Talbot, Crisfield,
Dashiell, Williams, Eccleston, Phelps, McLane,
Dirickson, McMaster, Fooks, Shriver. Gaither,
Sappington, Nelson, Carter, Schley, Fiery, John
Newcomer, Harbine, Davis, Brewer, Waters,
Weber, Slicer, Smith, Parke, Shower, Cockey
and Brown—37.
So the Convention refused to insert "twelve
hundred dollars "
Mr. JOHN NEWCOMER moved to insert "eight
hundred dollars."
The question was first taken on the motion of
Mr. CHAMBERS to insert "one thousand dollars,"
and it was agreed to.
Mr. Bowie moved to amend the section so as
to make it read "a Secretary," instead of "a
Secretary of State."
He stated that in 1836 when the Secretary of
State was created, it was provided that in case
of a vacancy in the Gubernatorial chair by death
or otherwise the Secretary of State shall act as
Governor, until a Governor shall be appointed.
He is now merely a recording Clerk, and as we
have now cut him down to that, it will be but
proper to call him by his right name.
Mr. CHAMBERS suggested that it was necessary
to retain the name, as papers going abroad must
in some cases, have the attestation of the Secre-
tary of State. Secretary and Clerk are ordinary
terms, but the Secretary of State is an officer,
whose name signifies that he is attached to the
Government. It would appear that the motion
is intended as a reflection on the course of the
Convention in fixing the salary too low. But the
Convention thought differently.
Mr. JENIFER. If he is not Secretary, he will
no longer be responsible to the State, but only to
the Governor. |
Mr. GRASON. If the salary is insufficient, the
title should be left to make up the deficiency.
Mr. BOWIE. Very well. I withdraw the
motion.
Mr. DASHIELL moved to amend by striking out
the 22d section, and inserting the following as a
substitute:
"The Secretary of State shall be elected by
the qualified voters of the whole State, at the
same time the Governor shall be elected, and
his term of office shall be the same as for Gover-
nor, and his salary shall be one thousand dollars
per annum."
Mr. DASHIELL said the Secretary of State was
an important officer of the State of Maryland—
We have voted him a thousand dollars a year.
According to the theory of the reformers, of
whom he claimed to be one, every public officer
should be elected by the people, from the Gover-
nor downwards. The Secretary of State is in
the confidence of the Governor, and stands in
the place of a Lieutenant Governor. He occu-
pies an important position, and ought to be elect-
ed by the people. He would ask that the ques-
tion on his motion should be taken by ayes and
noes.
Mr. PHELPS moved to amend the amendment .
by adding at the end, "exclusive of electioneer-
ing expenses." If he is to go through the State
to electioneer for his office, he will want to be
paid his expenses.
He withdrew the amendment.
Mr. JENIFER interposed an objection, that an
individual belonging to a county on one side of
the State could scarcely be known to the people
of the counties at the other extremity.
Mr. GRASON said it might so happen that a
Governor would be elected from one party and
a Secretary of State from another. The Secre-
tary then might not keep the secrets of the Gov-
ernor. They might require separate apartments,
and a sergeant-at-arms to keep them at peace.
The yeas and nays were then ordered on the
motion of Mr. DASHIELL.
Mr. CHAMBERS said. he had hoped some one
would have risen promptly to rebuke the most
exceptionable suggestion thrown out by the gentleman
from Charles, (Mr. Jenifer.) It deserved
rebuke. He for one could not allow it to pass
without condemnation. The people not to know
all about every body and every thing! The peo-
ple have no business to vote because they know
nothing about it! How strange. Why the ap-
proved doctrine is. that every man in every part
of the State is perfectly well informed and com-
petent to judge of the fitness of any candidate,
whether for a clerkship or any thing else. Aye,
knows better than those who have paused & life-
time in learning the duties of the office and in as-
sociation with those who are aspirants to it. But
it is said the people ought not by their voles to
decide a matter about which they can know no-
thing' This was most monstrous doctrine ! He
went for the rights of the people, the eternal and
immortal people, their inalienable, indisputable
rights—rights which could not be taken away,
modified or controled— rights which they alone. |
