he votes the right ticket," and the man voted
without objection?
Mr. HICKS explained, stating that it was too
late to stop the voter, when he was about to at-
tempt it.
Mr. BRENT expressed his gratification that the
gentleman could acquit himself from the impli-
cation which others had understood him to ad-
mit. But were the honest voters of Dochester
county to be disfranchised because some of its
citizens winked at such frauds ? He hoped not,
and he would never consent to such a principle.
Mr. RICAUD moved that the Committee rise.
Mr. STEWART, of Caroline, asked the yeas and
nays.
Mr. BOWIE. Does the gentleman ask the yeas
and nays on the motion that the Committee
rise?
Mr. STEWART. I will explain my reasons.
The CHAIRMAN interposing. In the opinion of
the Chair, a motion that the Committee rise, is
in the nature of a motion to adjourn, and is not
therefore debateable.
Mr. RICAUD. I hope that the Committee
will rise.
The CHAIRMAN. The Chair cannot entertain
any debate.
The yeas and nays were refused.
The Committee then rose and reported pro-
gress,
And the Convention adjourned,
THURSDAY, Jan. 16,1851.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr. GRAUFF.
The roll having been called, and a quorum
being present, the journal of yesterday was read
and approved.
DEBATE ON THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
Mr. JENIFER offered a resolution, remarking
that he thought its adoption could not fail to be
attended with beneficial results.
The resolution was read as follows :
Resolved, That all debate in committee of the
whole upon the first section of the report of the
committee on Elective Franchise, shall cease
this day at one o'clock, and the committee of
the whole shall then proceed to vote upon the
amendments then pending, or which may be of-
fered,—and five minutes may be allowed to any
member to explain any amendment which he may
offer.
Mr. PHELPS inquired whether the terms of the
resolution did not preclude debate on all the sec-
tions of the report of the committee? The com-
mittee of the whole was now engaged in the con-
sideration of the first section. The whole debate
for some days past had been confined to that
section; and if this order should be adopted, de-
bate would be cut oft on such amendments as
might be offered to the other sections. He had
no disposition to delay the action of the Conven-
tion, but he thought that the greatest latitude
ought to beafforded for amendments to the other
sections and for enforcing by explanation the |
propriety of their adoption. The Convention
should bear in mind that it was not engaged in
the mere ordinary business of legislation, out in
the formation of an organic law which might en-
dure for ages.
Mr. JENIFER. I modify my resolution so as
to make it applicable exclusively to the first sec-
tion.
Mr. PHELPS. Then I have no objection to
its adoption.
Mr, DORSEY said, he confessed he did not ex-
pect that any such proposition as this would be
adopted, although the gentleman from Charles
(Mr. JENIFER) had yesterday intimated his in-
tention to offer it. It would certainly operate
unfairly upon those members of the body who
desired to express their sentiments, but who, not
possessing the agility and activity of some others.
were not always able to obtain the recognition
of the Chair. He thought it due to the very
important nature of the subject under discussion,
that the amplest opportunity should be given to
gentlemen on all sides of the Convention to ex-
press their views. Especially important was it
that gentlemen should have the opportunity to
answer some of the new views ana arguments
which had recently been thrown out, so that the
discussion might not be confined altogether to
one side of the question. The proposition re-
minded him of a story he had heard of a Ger-
man living somewhere in the upper counties, who
offered up a prayer something in this form :
God bless me and my wife,
My son and his wife;
Them four—
And no more! (Laughter.)
Mr. JENIFER (Mr. DORSEY yielding the floor)
said, he would further amend the resolution by
confining its operation to those gentlemen who
had already spoken.
Mr. DORSEY, (continuing.) Subjects have been
discussed in the speeches of several gentlemen,
to which no opportunity for reply has been given.
The President interposed, and indicated his
judgment that the amendment last proposed by
the gentleman from Charles, conflicted with one
of the standing rules of the body, and it was not,
therefore, in order.
Mr. WEBER (to Mr. JENIFER.) Did the gen-
tleman so modify his resolution as to make it
applicable to the first section only?
Mr. JENIFER, I did.
Mr. WEBER. I then move to amend the resolution
by restoring it to its original form. The
object of going into committee of the whole was
to take into consideration, at one and the same
time. the whole subject matter of the report. The
gentlemen who have taken part in the discussion
have traveled over the entire ground. They
have not confined themselves to any proposed
amendment—but have discussed, generally, and
freely, the various abuses and corruptions which
are said to prevail in connection with the elec-
tive franchise, and the remedies which they
deemed most appropriate to them.
We have been in committee on this report, |
