quiries for information could be made because if
they could not, he should decline to vote. And
sooner than he would vote blind-folded, he would
suffer himself to be carried to prison and con-
fined there. [Laughter.]
The PRESIDENT. All that the chair can do
under the rule, is to respond to questions of
order. It is not competent for the chair to ans-
wer other questions. The chair will respond
with pleasure to questions touching the business
of the Convention or matters of order. That is
as far as the duty of the chair will permit him
to go.
Mr. HICKS. Will the rule allow members to
call for the reading of the propositions, or to ask
an explanation form the originators as to any
particular portion of the project?
The PRESIDENT. The chair thinks that the
simple question before the Convention is on the
motion to re-consider. If the Convent on should
determine not to re-consider, there is an end of
the question. If the vote should be re-consider-
ed, the previous question will then be exhausted.
Mr. HICKS. I think that I am misunderstood.
The question is to re-consider the vote on a cer-
tain proposition. I do not know what that pro-
position is-we are tied down by the previous
question.
The PRESIDENT. The chair thinks that the
previous question having been seconded, it is not
competent to make explanations as to the propo-
sition which it is moved to re-consider.
Mr. JENIFER. Then I have certainly voted
under a misapprehension. I was under the im-
pression that any member would be permitted to
express his views upon the question within the
limit of five minutes.
Mr. SOLLERS interposed to a point of order.
And a good deal of conversation followed, after
which
The question was taken on the motion to re-
consider, and was decided in the affirmative, as
follows:
Affirmative-Messrs Howard, Buchanan, Bell,
Welch, Chandler, Ridgely, Lloyd, Colson, Con-
stable, Chambers, of Cecil, Miller, McLane,
Spencer, Grason, George, Wright, Thomas, Shri-
ver, Johnson, Gaither, Biser, Annan, McHenry,
Magraw, Nelson, Thawley, Stewart, of Caroline,
Hardcastle, Gwinn, Stewart, of Baltimore city,
Sherwood, of Baltimore city, Presstman, Ware,
Fiery, John Newcomer, Harbine, Michael New-
comer, Brewer, Anderson, Weber, Hollyday Sli-
cer, Fitzpatrick, Parke, Shower, Cockey and
Brown-47.
Negative-Messrs. Chapman, President, Mor-
gan, Blakistone Dent, Hopewell, Ricaud, Lee,
Chambers, of Kent, Mitchell, Donaldson, Dor-
sey, Wells, Randall, Kent, Sellman, Weems,
Dalrymple, Bond, Sollers, Brent, of Charles,
Merrick, Jenifer, John Dennis, James U. Dennis,
Crisfield, Williams, Hicks, Goldsborough, Ec-
cleston, Phelps, Bowie, Tuckk, Sprigg, McCub-
bin, Bowling, Dirickson, McMaster, Hearn,
Fooks, Jacobs, Brent, of Baltimore city, Sapping-
ton, Stephenson, Kilgour, Waters and Smith-46.
20 |
So the vote on the said amendment was recon-
sidered.
The morning hour having expired.
The Convention proceeded to the consideration
of the special order of the day, being the several
reports heretofore made from the committee on
representation.
Some conversation followed on a point of
order.
The pending question was stated to be on the
proposition offered by Mr. JENIFER, as a substi-
tute for the amendment offered by Mr. JOHN
NEWCOMER, as the second section of the report.
Mr. JENIFER said, that as the proposition of
the gentleman from Washington, (Mr. Fiery,)
the vote upon which had been re-considered by
the Convention, seemed to him to be in a great
measure a test vote, he, (Mr. J,) would with-
draw his proposition, so as to afford to Conven-
tion an opportunity of voting on that of the gen-
tleman from Washington.
So the amendment of Mr. JENIFER was with-
drawn.
Mr. TUCK. The I hope that the other gen-
tleman from Washington, (Mr. John Newcomer)
will withdraw his proposition also, in order that
the Convention may come right up to that of his
colleague, (Mr. Fiery.)
Mr. JOHN NEWCOMER did not accept the sug-
gestion, but said that in order to have a vote at
once upon this proposition, (the gentleman from
Charles, [Mr. Jenifer,] having withdrawn his
substitute,) he, (Mr. N.,) would move the pre-
vious question.
Some conversation followed as to the effect of
the previous question, after which
The question was taken on the demand for the
previous question.
And there was not a second.
The question recurred on the proposition of
Mr. JOHN NEWCOMER.
Mr. DENT enquired whether it was in order to
move an amendment.
The PRESIDENT assented.
Mr. DENT moved as a substitute for said
amendment, the following:
"Each county and the city of Baltimore shall
elect four members to the House of Delegates."
Mr. D. then addressed the Convention as fol-
low:
Mr. PRESIDENT :
In making the few remarks which I propose to
submit, I can scarcely expect to offer any thing,
either in the way of argument, or suggestion,
which has not been previously said, by gentle-
men who have precelled me in this discussion,
and who entertain the same views with myself,
on the question under consideration. I mean
the question of representation, and not the pro-
position which I have just submitted. But sir,
feeling as I do, that this is the great.—the im-
portant —the vital question of the session of this
Convention; and having witnessed, as I have, the
vigorous and determined efforts that have been
made to strip us of the power and influence,
which we now have in the Legislature of the
State, I should do violence to my feelings, if I |
