the abandonment of home and pursuits, not in-
consistent with the duties and the dignity of the
post, why should the useless and unnecessary
sacrifice be required? However gentlemen might
characterize such a policy as penny-wise, he be-
lieved it to be sound in all its features, and such
as would meet with the approbation of the people.
Whilst he desired at all times to exhibit a
spirit of proper liberality, he nevertheless regard-
ed extravagance as the worst of follies, and he
invoked this body of reformers, to begin at once,
and at the very fountain-head, this great work of
retrenchment for which we are assembled.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
Remarks of Mr. DIRICKSON, Thursday March 13.
Mr. DIRICKSON then moved to strike out the
twenty-second section, [abolishing the office of
Secretary of State ]
Mr. DIRICKSON said,
That he had made the motion to strike out the
section of the report just read; because, after
the gravest reflection, he believed that no such
officer was essential to the faithful and full ad-
ministration of the government. With great
pleasure and with entire attention, he had listen-
ed to the distinguished gentleman from the coun-
ty of Queen Anne's whilst speaking of the duties
and importance of this officer, and yet frankness
compelled him to say, that he had heard no ar-
gument which had removed the settled convic-
tion that this official position was utterly and en-
tirely useless. Maryland was in no condition
longer to cherish and sustain more sine cures.
The time had arrived when gentlemen should
cease to cling to old establishments simply be-
cause they were old, unless it could, at the same
time, be clearly shown that they were wise and
useful. It had been said, that this officer, with
all his high Bounding title, was often but little
else than a mere clerk to the Executive, and was
constantly and busily employed in the issuing of
military commissions ana in the preparation of
such other documents as his Excellency might
direct. Sir, but yesterday this Convention fixed
the salary of the Governor upon the most liberal
if not exorbitant scale, and surely, with such a
compensation, it was not requisite to employ
others to do the labors that seemed properly to
belong to the executive chamber. Let our chief
executive officer, as in other States, become a
working Governor. Let every department be
pruned of the sine cures that have so long been
fastened to them, and then will the calls of the
tax-gatherer become lighter and lighter, and
then will all begin to feel and realise the bene-
ficial effects of this Convention.
He had no desire, at any time, " to read a lec-
ture " to the body of which he was a member,
but no remarks could deter him from urging up-
on their consideration the necessity of wielding
the blade of retrenchment, wherever consistent
with the public interests it might, with propriety,
be appiled. The honorable gentleman from the
county of Frederick, had been pleased, in the
discussion, to allude to the vote which he had |
given in the beginning of the session to effect the
complete organization of the Convention; how-
ever foreign such an allusion might be to the
present subject of debate, he desired briefly to
reply, that he had given that vole believing that
the officers then selected were essential to the
despatch of the business we are here to perform,
and it was proper to add, that the belief was
sanctioned by the judgments and the votes of
many of the most eminent and experienced of
the body. It was also true, as had been said,
that he had been excused from serving upon "the
committee to enquire into the expediency of dispensing
with certain officers," but he little thought
he should ever have been called upon, here or
elsewhere, to defend himself from such a charge.
Prompted by the highest sense of propriety, lie
had asked to be relieved from the committee,
and, at the time, avowed his views to be purely
and solely upon the ground of the delicacy of his
position. One of those officers was from his own
county—his personal friend—he had stated it
frankly, and the Convention had readily and
cheerfully excused him from a situation the deli-
cacy of which, all at once saw and appreciated.
He did not desire to say more—nay, should not
have said thus much, but that the charge of in-
consistency having gone forth, 'twas proper the
reply should bear it company. He was entirely
willing that an impartial community, in view of
all the facts, should decide the issue.
In conclusion, he again urged the importance
of the motion to strike out, now before them.
He begged reformers to aid him with their votes
and to stand by him in the great work of retrenchment.
APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE.
Remarks of Mr. Crisfield in reply to Mr. Brent, of
Baltimore city, March 13.
Mr. CRISFIELD stated in reply, that his object
in amending the section was to prevent the Sen-
ate from being deprived of their share in making
the appointments. As the section stood previous
to that amendment, he thought it capable of a
construction which would have diminished the
power of the Senate in relation to appointments;
and he desired that the Senate should have their
full share in all appointments. He was not aware
of the difficulty which the gentleman from Balti-
more had pointed out. But if it really existed to
such an extent, as to place the Executive in dif-
ficulty and embarrass the public convenience it
ought to be remedied, and he should interpose
no objection.
The CHAIR, (Mr. Tuck,) said the notice should
be entered on the journal, and the motion could
then stand over until to-morrow. The substitute
would also be printed on the journal.
Mr. CRISFIELD, in reply to the gentleman from
Queen Anne's, (Mr. Spencer,) explained the ob-
ject of the amendment, and added that if the
Senate failed to perform its duty, it was respon-
sible to the people of the Slate. There was no
danger, in his opinion, of such failure; but if it
should fail, the force of public opinion was a. suf-
ficient corrective. As to the failure of the Legis- |
