it suggested also) that if the previous question is
called in the House, it will cut off all amendments
lost in committee of the whole. Again, if a gen-
tleman knows that a proposition has been voted
down in Committee, by a record vote, he will
not renew it in Convention, because no object
can be attained by doing so.
Mr. SOLLERS explained that his only aim was
to save time, and that when gentlemen reflected
on the objects for which this Convention had
assembled, it seemed to him they could not hesi-
tate as to the propriety of adopting this amend-
ment.
The question was then taken on the first branch
of the amendment, and it was agreed to.
And the question recurring on the second
branch of the amendment, (prohibiting the yeas
and nays in committee of the whole,)
Messrs. JOHN NEWCOMER and HARBINE cal-
led the yeas and nays, which were ordered, and
being taken, resulted as follows:
Affirmative.—Messrs. Chapman, President, Mor-
gan, Blakistone, Hopewell, Ricaud, Lee, Cham-
bers, of Kent, Donaldson, Dorsey, Wells, Ran-
dall, Kent, Sellman, Dalrymple, Bond, Sol-
lers, Brent of Charles, Merrick, Jenifer, Buch-
anan, John Dennis, James U. Dennis, Crisfield,
Williams, Hodson, Goldsborough, Phelps, Tuck,
Grason, George, Wright, McMaster, Hearn,
Jacobs, Annan, Hardcastle, Gwinn, Stewart, of
Baltimore city, Ware, Davis, Waters, Anderson,
Weber, Slicer, Fitzpatrick and Smith—46.
Negative.—Messrs. Dent, Ridgely, Lloyd, Sher-
wood, of Talbot, Dashiell, Eccleston, Cham-
bers, of Cecil, McCullough, McLane, Bowie,
Sprigg, Spencer, Fooks, Shriver, Biser, Stephenson,
McHenry, Nelson, Carter, Thawley,
Stewart of Caroline, Presstman, Schley, Fiery,
Neill, John Newcomer, Harbine, Parke and
Cockey—29.
So the amendment was adopted.
DOUBLE SESSIONS, &C.
Mr. FIERY offered the following resolution :
Resolved, That from and after Monday, the
17th inst., the Convention shall hold morning
and evening sessions; the former commencing at
ten o clock, and the latter at three o'clock.
The resolution having been read,
Mr. PRESSTMAN moved that it be laid on the
table.
Mr. FIERY requested that the motion might be
withdrawn.
Mr. PRESSTMAN. I am so unwilling to refuse
any request which my friend may make, that I
will withdraw the motion, if he will renew it af-
ter be has submitted such remarks as he may de-
sire to offer.
Mr. FIERY. I will do so.
Mr. PRESSTMAN. I withdraw the motion.
Mr. FIERY. I simply wish to say, that this or-
der, if adopted, will not take effect until next
Monday week. I desire that the committees
shall have time to make their reports, and that
all the members of this Convention who are so-
licitous to discharge the duties far which they
ban been sent here, should go to work earnestly |
and immediately. I anticipate a great deal of
talking. Certainly, if we are to judge of the fu-
ture by the past, this anticipation will be real-
ized. I desire that all gentlemen who wish to
express their sentiments should have the privi-
lege of doing so; but I think that we are in duty
bound to adopt this resolution.
I do not entertain any feeling of jealousy or
ill will towards any member of this body. All
I desire is that we shall make the most rapid pro-
gress in the business of the Convention, that is
consistent with a sound and enlightened action.
Nothing, I believe, will more effectually tend to
accomplish that object than that members should
have the opportunities for discussion and for the
comparison of their views, which my resolution
proposes to give them.
Mr. BUCHANAN said it seemed to him that the
committees should have time to consider and pre-
pare their reports before they were called upon
to make them. The committee on the Judiciary,
for example, was in session many hours, and
would have to be in session hereafter at various
periods during the day, and if this proposition
was to be adopted, he thought that the Chair-
man of the committee should ask (and if that
gentleman did not, he (Mr. B ) would ask,) that
the committee should be discharged from fur-
ther service. Certainly, the committee never
could, under a resolution of this character, dis-
charge its duty to itself and to the Convention.
Now, he believed, that all the members of this
body were anxious to save time. But there
were various opinions about the mode in which
that object could be effected. His proposition
was, to meet together in small numbers, about
the size of one of the ordinary committees, to do
the work whilst there; and the same necessity
would not then exist for the " talking " which
his friend (Mr. FIERY) so much and so well ap-
prehended the danger. Looking to the amount
of business before some of the committees, it
was impossible to move along if this resolution
was to be adopted. He hoped that it would be
withdrawn; or that, if not so, leave would he
granted to the committee on the Judiciary to sit
during the sessions of the Convention.
Mr. HARBINE said he would state one or two
facts, in reply to the remarks of the gentleman
from Baltimore county, (Mr. BUCHANAN,) as to
the business before the Committee, which would
he (Mr. H.) thought throw all such arguments
into utter insignificance. How long would it
take the Convention to get through with the re-
ports which had already been made ? If the ex-
perience of the past, formed any guide for the
calculations of the future, another Summer's
sun would have risen and past before these re-
ports were disposed of; and his friend from
Baltimore county, therefore, would have ample
time to prepare and submit half a dozen reports
if he desired to do so. What length of time did
the gentleman desire to have for the preparation
of the report on the Judiciary question ? At the
rate at which the Convention was now going on,
the gentleman would have until at least the first
of July; and thus, no more time would be wanted
than, from the present aspect of things) the Conven- |
