been to repel the charge of disrespect towards
the people of the West, which the gentleman
had brought against the smaller counties. His,
(Mr. C.'s,) object had been to show, that he was
now where the gentleman had been in 1836, and
that no want of respect had been shown, unless
it had been in not following the gentleman in
his changes. And now he did not intend to be
unkind. The remarks he had now made were
rendered necessary in his own defence by the
reply of the gentleman.
And then the Convention adjourned.
FRIDAY, March 28, 1851.
The Convention met at ten o'clock.
Prayer was made by the Rev. Mr. GRUAFF.
The roll of the members was called, but no
quorum was in attendance,
On motion of Mr. DORSEY, it was
Ordered, That it be entered upon the journal
that Mr. DAVIS is called home by the indisposi-
tion of a member of his family.
On motion of Mr. WEBER, it was
Ordered, That it be entered upon the journal
that the absence of Mr. SHERWOOD, of Talbot is
occasioned by the indisposition of a member of
his family.
Mr. GAITHER presented a petition of 65 citizens
of Frederick county, praying that a clause
be inserted in the Constitution of this State, em-
powering a majority of the legal voters of any
county, district, city or ward. to restrict the sale
of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, in their respective
counties, wards or districts.
Which was read, and
Referred to the select committee already ap-
pointed on that subject.
The PRESIDENT announced the unfinished bu-
siness of yesterday, being the order submitted by
.Mr. JAMES U. DENNIS, allowing no member to
speak more than forty-five minutes upon the ques-
tion of representation.
No quorum was present,
Mr. SPENCER said, he thought that the Conven-
tion had waited long enough for a quorum. He
moved that there be a call of the Convention.
A call was ordered.
After some time, all further proceedings on
the call were dispensed with.
THE PENDING DEBATE.
Mr, DIRICKSON moved the Convention take up
for consideration the motion made by him on
yesterday, to reconsider the vote of the Conven-
tion, limiting the debate upon the various amend-
ments pending, touching the subject of represen-
tation, to two o'clock this day.
Determined in the affirmative.
Mr D, said, it was useless for him to state the
motive which had influenced him in submitting
this motion. |
Mr. MERRICK said, that a few days since, up-
on full deliberation and discussion, the Conven-
tion had determined that the debate on this sub-
ject should be closed to day, and that they should
proceed at once to some definite result. The
object contemplated was that notice should be
given to those gentlemen who were not in the
city, that at a certain time the vote would be
taken upon that question, which seemed to be
considered the most interesting of the session.
It was observed also that there was a larger
number of members present than there had been
for a long time, or that it was likely there would
be again. The object nearest to the heart of
every gentleman who took a deep interest in the
subject, was that when the question was taken
it should be voted upon by the largest possible
number of members—that no affirmative proposi-
tion should be carried that did not receive the
votes of the majority of the whole number of
the Convention. Upon this question, at all
events, if not upon any other, there should be a
fair and full expression of the judgment and
opinions of the Convention.
The spring had opened—the vernal season had
arrived— the sweets of nature were tempting us
abroad in every direction. The pursuits of many
of the members of the Convention, imperatively
required them to give their personal attention to
that business, upon which they depended for the
support of themselves and their families. They
were all here present under due notice given that
the vote would be taken to-day, and all were
willing to remain here for the purpose of carry-
ing out the deliberate will of the majority. Af-
ter that question had been taken, he had no idea
that a Convention as full as it now was, would
again be obtained.
Wherefore, then, should this resolution be re-
scinded? For what purpose? if for any thing,
it was for the purpose of discussion. There
could be no other object. Did any gentlemen
believe that, after a session of five months, dur-
ing which the minds of all the members of the
body had dwelt more or less upon this question ;
and, alter a discussion of the duration of a week,
there was any gentleman here whose opinion
could be changed by discussion? Not one. No
man anticipated any such result. It was also to
be borne in mind, that under the rule which had
been adopted, five minutes were allowed to every
gentleman to explain any proposition he might
offer. Let us not then open the question to fur-
ther debate; which, fur all practical purposes,
would be useless here,
Mr. DIRICKSON said, that the reasons which
had been assigned by the gentleman from Charles,
(Mr. Merrick,) against the motion to reconsid-
er, required a few words from him, (Mr. D.)
He, like that gentleman, desired to return to his
home. He should be glad if the Convention
could close its labors this day and this hour.
But although, as the gentleman had said, the
vernal spring was tempting them away, yet he
and the gentleman from Charles had duties to
discharge and obligations to fulfil here, from
which they could not be turned aside by person- |
