will rely upon the justice of the Convention for
that support which will enable him, after the
close of his labors, to return to his home with-
out pecuniary sacrifice.
HENRY G. WHEELER.
Which was read, and
On morion of Mr. MORGAN,
Referred to the committee on Printing.
Mr. SHOWER gave notice of his intention on.
to-morrow, during the hour of morning business,
to move a reconsideration of the vote of the Convention
on the amendment offered by Mr. FIERY
to the report of the committee on Representa-
tion
Mr. MCMASTER presented an account of the
clerk of Worcester county court, for services
rendered under the order of the Convention.
Which was read, and
Referred to the committee on Accounts.
Mr. DIRICKSON rose to enquire of the Chair,
whether it would be necessary, in order to en-
able him to move a reconsideration of the vote
of yesterday, by which the debate on the reports
of the committee on Representation, had been
ordered to terminate to-morrow at two o'clock,
that he should give notice of that motion to-day ?
The PRESIDENT said, his first impression was
that it was not necessary.
Mr. DIRICKSON. At all events it will be safe
to give the notice
Some conversation followed.
Mr. DIRICKSON gave notice of his intention to
move a reconsideration of the vote of the Con-
vention on the Order adopted on yesterday, lim-
iting the debate to two o'clock on Friday, upon
the various motions, propositions and amend-
ments pending, touching the subject of Repre-
sentation
The PRESIDENT then announced the unfinished
business of yesterday, being the order submitted
by Mr. JAMES U. DENNIS, allowing no member,
to speak more than forty-five minutes upon the
question of Representation.
Mr. JOHN DENNIS moved to postpone the con-
sideration of said order.
Determined in the affirmative.
Mr. DIRICKSON then moved the Convention re-
consider their vote on the order adapted on yesterday,
limiting the debate upon the various
amendments pending touching the subject of
Representation, to two o'clock on Friday.
On Motion of Mr. BROWN,
The Convention was called, and the doorkeeper
sent for the absent members.
On motion of Mr. PHELPS,
further proceedings under the call was dispensed
with,
Mr. PHELPS then moved that the Convention
proceed to the consideration of the order of the
day.
Determined in the affirmative.
BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
Thereupon, the Convention resumed the consideration
of the special of the day, being the
several reports of the committee on Representation.
|
The pending question was on the substitute
offered by Mr. PHELPS, for the amendment of
Mr. SCHLEY, as the second section of the report
and the substitute of Mr. DORSEY.
Mr. KILGOUR being entitled to the floor, was
about to address the Convention, when he yielded
to
Mr. BRENT, of Baltimore city, who said that
he merely desired to explain a vote which he
gave yesterday, to which gentlemen of the Con-
vention seemed to have misunderstood. It was
understood that the vote he gave yesterday in
the negative was for the purpose of restricting
debate in which be had taken so large a part.
He would state that he gave no such vote, but
on the contrary, he voted against all restrictions;
for he felt bound to accord that privilege to
others which he had enjoyed himself. He re-
plied to the proposition of Mr. JAMES U. DENNIS,
and the amendment which had been moved
to it to restrict the remarks of every gentleman
to one hour, in which he had voted in the nega-
tive. The proposition was not divided, but the
vote was on the aggregate proposition to strike
out and insert, and of course, it he voted in the
affirmative, he would have voted for one hour
restrictions, while he wished to vote against all
restrictions whatever,
Mr. KILGOUR said:
Mr. President : This is to me an entirely new
business, and how it will turn out, I must let
"time and chance determine." I do not expect
that any thing I may say will operate upon the
mind of any gentleman in the Convention; for it
is evident that the question of the basis of re-
presentation is already settled--already deter-
mined upon. Therefore my object is neither to
operate, by argument, upon the mind of any one,
nor to submit a plan for the consideration of this
body.
I look upon this as a contest between the two
great sections of the State, and I do not believe
that either section will consent to any plan which
does not give them that which they desire—a
preponderance in the Legislature. Therefore as
it regards all these plans they amount to nothing
in my opinion, for no plan will be adopted, unless
it secures to one party or the other, the ob-
ject for which it is struggling.
My object in rising to address the Convention,
is twofold. I have remained, sir, a silent spec-
tator, while the sturdy blows of the enemies of
the old Constitution have been dealt upon it. I
have witnessed, with some little sorrow, its protracted
agony, and now, as the last blow was
about to be dealt--as the coffin has been made,
and the shroud prepared, I cannot let the occasion
pass without saying, at at least, one word of
farewell. And I call upon all those, who vener-
ate that old instrument, to gather around and pay
it one tribute of respect, are it be buried forever
away from their sight, and even amid the triumphant
shouts of its murderers, to give it, at least
a decent burial.
I venerate all things that are old, around
which glorious or pleasant memories and associations
are clustered. I love a tree planted by |
