So the Convention refused to lay the order on
the table.
The question again recurred upon the adoption
of the order.
Mr. BOWIE moved to amend said order by
striking out "nine" and inserting in lieu thereof
"ten."
Which amendment Mr. MICHAEL NEWCOMER
accepted,
The PRESIDENT announced that the hour had
arrived for taking up the order of the day.
Mr. STEPENSON moved to postpone the order
of the day.
Determined in the affirmative.
The question then recurred upon the adoption
of the order as offered by Mr. MICHAEL NEW-
COMER.
Mr. BOWIE moved to amend the said order by
striking out "two," and inserting "three."
The question was taken and decided in the
affirmative.
So the amendment was agreed to.
And the question again recurred on the adop-
tion of the order.
Mr. SPENCER said, he did not rise to make a
speech, but simply to assign his reasons for op-
posing the adoption of the order. He had made
the motion in the first instance to lay the order
on the table, because there was but a bare quo-
rum present; and he had no doubt that when the
Convention was full, the first thine would be
that a motion to reconsider would be made, and
another whole morning would be consumed in
its discussion. He was opposed to the older be-
cause he believed that no lime would be saved—
not one moment. On the contrary, he believed
that time would be lost. Gentlemen who desired
to prepare propositions out of the Convention,
would have no opportunity to consider them in
their rooms, and to place them in a proper form
for the action of this body.
In addition to these objections, the experience
of every statesman in Maryland, told him that
evening sessions resulted only in confusion.
They produced bad feeling, dissention and ani-
mosity. For these reasons he should vote
against the order.
Mr. DORSEY said, he had only to remark that
he was willing to conform to the will of the
Convention, so far as he could. But it was phy-
sically impossible for him to attend such meet-
ings.
Mr. PHELPS enquired of the chair, whether if
the order was adopted, the Convention would be
adjourned without motion at the hour designated.
The CHAIR answered in the affirmative.
Mr. PHELPS said:
He was willing to come back here in the even-
ing, if such should be the sense of the Conven-
tion. But he had had some experience in these
matter. In the Legislature, afternoon sessions
had been resorted to, for the purpose of transacting
local bills, and it had been found almost im-
23 |
possible to act upon such bills understandingly.
And on grave or constitutional questions great in-
convenience might result, it was on this ground
alone that he felt inclined to vote against after-
noon sessions, though individually speaking he
was willing to assent to them.
Mr. BLAKISTONE, replying to the remarks of
Mr. SPENCER, said, that he thought gentlemen
had time enough for consideration and reflection
out of the Convention, upon any proposition
they might desire to submit. They had been
here five months. To-morrow was the first of
April. Let the Convention meet at ten, take a
recess at three, and return again, after dinner, to
vote. By this process the Convention would, in
the course of a few days, decide at all events up-
on some plan in relation to representation. That
question once settled, the Convention could goon
and dispose of the business before it in a short
time. He hoped that the order would be adop-
ted, If any injurious consequences should result,
it would be a very easy matter to repeal it.
Mr. DORSEY said, there was no member of this
Convention more anxious to be relieved from his
duties here, than he, [Mr. D.] But he did not
agree with the gentleman who had preceded him
that because the Convention had been in session
five months, therefore gentlemen were prepared
to act instanter, (not upon old propositions mere-
ly, but) on any new proposition which might be
started upon them, and upon which nothing had
ever been said. If it were intended that the Con-
vention was to act, without deliberation or exami-
nation, and under the operation of the previous
question, on any question which might come be-
fore them, he supposed he must submit.
Mr. SPENCER. If I had a faculty which
does not belung to me, the reasoning of the gen-
tleman from St. Mary's, (Mr. Blakistone.)
would be to my mind satisfactory and conclusive.
If I had the faculty of divining what were
the views of every man on the different proposi-
tions he may intend to submit upon the various
grave mailers which are here to be decided—if
I could know in advance every thing that is to he
offered fur our consideration—I should be pre-
pared in the course of each day, to say what my
action on each proposition would probably be.
But even then, I should stand in need of an addi-
tional faculty—that is to say, I should require
to know and understand in advance, all the rea-
sons that would be urged in behalf of every dis-
tinct proposition—to weigh them, digest them,
and make up my judgment upon them, I do not
possess either of these faculties.
I cannot, therefore, know what propositions
may be submitted—and it is impossible for me
to say how far I may approve or condemn them.
We have yet to consider one of the most impor-
tant questions which has agitated this State;
and upon which, the beauty and the symmetry of
our government, will in no small degree de-
pend. I allude to the judiciary system. I have
scarcely heard the views of any gentleman ex-
cept the members of the judiciary committee.—
There are some general outlines of views which
I have heard. |
