Mr. MERRICK. I have not stated a proposi-
tion. I was discussing the question before the
Convention, and I have a right to discuss it.
Mr. BOWIE. I call for the decision of the
Chair.
The PRESIDENT. The Chair thinks that the
discussion is not properly in order.
Mr. MERRICK If I had moved to postpone it—
Mr. GWINN. I call the gentleman to order on
the ground of irrelevancy.
The PRESIDENT decided that the remarks of
the gentleman were not in order, until after the
first section of the hill had been read. No mo-
tion could be entertained until then.
Mr. MERRICK. Call I not argue the merits of
the proposition ?
The PRESIDENT. Not on the motion to postpone.
The rules are peremptory. If the gentleman will
state his proposition, then the Chair will decide
as to whether he is in order If he states no pro-
position, he is out of order.
Mr. MERRICK. I have no proposition to make.
(Laughter.) I was discussing the bill before the
Convention.
The PRESIDENT. Has the gentleman heard it
read?
Mr. MERRICK. I do not want to hear it read,
sir. I wrote it. (Laughter.)
Mr. WEBER. I call for the reading of the first
section.
Mr. MERRICK. I am very willing to have it
read, but the gentleman has no right to call for
its reading, while I have the floor.
The PRESIDENT decided the gentleman from
Charles out of order.
Mr. MERRICK then took his seat.
The Clerk then read the first section of the
bill.
Mr. BOWIE moved that the House adjourn. He
thought nothing could be done to-day on the sub-
ject before the Convention. Let them adjourn
with the distinct understanding of taking up this
bill to-morrow. The chairman of the commit-
tee, (Mr. Merrick,) would then be entitled to the
floor, or if he did not want it, any other gentle-
man who might desire it, could occupy it
Before the question was put, Mr. B. withdrew
his motion.
Mr. SPENCER made some remarks, which will
hereafter be published.
Mr. MORGAN said that he had been reported
as absent on that day. He would say that from
the first commencement of the Convention, up
to a fortnight ago, he had never left its sittings
for one day. He believed his name had been
recorded upon every vote. About two weeks
ago he left the Convention to attend the Court
in St Mary's county, having paired off with the
gentleman from Allegany, [Mr. Fitzpatrick,]
and they both returned to their seats very nearly
the same time. As they were opposite in views,
so far as the effect his vote had influence here,
he might not have been considered absent a day.
He said this much in justice to himself, as he
believed the fact of his having paired off, had
not been noted on the journal during his absence.
He had nothing to say of the publication in the |
newspapers; it was a matter of no concern to
him if his absence was noted daily by every
paper in the State.
Mr, JENIFER said that the President of the
Convention was absent by permission of the
Convention, and had been detained longer than
he had expected, in consequence of an accident.
He learned that his name was noticed among the
absentees. He hoped his colleague would be
considered as not coming under this charge.
Mr. KILGOUR said that his name was also re-
corded among the absentees. As other gentle-
men had explained, he would merely say that
his constituents knew how long he had been ab-
sent. As for any body else, he did not care one
jot.
A motion to adjourn was then made, and dis-
agreed to.
The Convention then proceeded to the consid-
eration of the several reports heretofore made
from the committee on representation on that
subject, when,
The report of Mr. Merrick, heretofore pub-
lished, was read.
A motion to adjourn was made and negatived.
Yeas 26, nays 40.
Mr. BRENT, of Baltimore city, said that as the
Convention appeared to be engaged in the very
profitable business of calling yeas and nays, he
would move that the gentleman from Charles,
(Mr Merrick,) be allowed to proceed with his
speech. This would occupy their time.
The President said that by unanimous consent
the gentleman could proceed with his remarks.
Mr. MERRICK said that he had no speech to
make. When he was called to order, he was
proceeding to show what he thought would be
the most judicious and wise course to pursue for
this week. He then intended to submit a mo-
tion,
Mr. HOWARD inquired if it was the rule to read
the bill by sections, and then take a vote on each
section?
The President replied that he understood that
to be the rule.
Mr. HOWARD said that his reason for making
the inquiry was, that he thought the first section
of the bill was unobjectionable, and no one
would desire to move an amendment to it. To
the second section there would be many amend-
ments offered. He understood that there would
be an amendment offered to the second section,
by one of the gentleman from Washington,
which he thought would meet his approbation.
He hoped they would pass over the first section,
to which he thought there would be no objec-
tion, and then take up the second section. The
gentleman from Washington, or any other gen-
tleman who desired to move an amendment,
could then do so, when they would have time to
reflect upon it, and could come to-morrow morn-
ing prepared to proceed with the subject.
Mr. JENIFER referred to what he considered a
want of courtesy toward the gentleman from
Charles, (Mr. Merrick,) and said that there
had scarcely been a bill before the Convention, |
