Mr. BROWN said that this was the first of
April, and but 4 weeks remained before the
time when it was necessary that the constitution
should be finished. The judiciary question was
one which would create much discussion, and
by a class of men very apt to make long speeches.
if the subject was postponed for two weeks, he
feared it could not be disposed of within this
month, it was not to be supposed that in such
a work as making a Constitution, the personal
convenience of members could be consulted at
all times.
Mr. THOMAS said that he supposed that every
member of the Convention had a desire that the
proceedings of the Convention should interfere
as little as possible with his own private per-
sonal pursuits. If his own individual interests
were to be consulted, a more inconvenient time
could not have been desired for proceeding with
the Judiciary report than that now proposed, for
he must unavoidably be absent just at the time
indicated. As one, he had practiced during the
whole session upon the principle that the Convention
would deliberate a good deal before
they would finally act upon any question which
should come up. They would try the strength
of the various parties before they came to a
final vote. He had absented himself at times
under the belief that his public duties did not
require that he should sacrifice all his time here.
He had thus far committed no error in acting
upon that principle. He had never been absent
when his presence was necessary to protect the
interests of his constituents. Let a day be fixed
for the consideration of the Judiciary bill, and
let gentlemen who may necessarily be absent,
watch the progress of this body, and return at
the proper time, and no evil would result from
it. The public press might criticise his course
as much as they pleased. He could not always
be in his seat for 5 long tedious months. In
accepting a seat in a convention, we were not
expected to sacrifice altogether our private
affairs for the public, like Quintus Curtius, to
leap into a yawning chasm for the benefit of the
public interests. His constituents did not ex-
pect him to do so. It was unnecessary to do it.
Let other gentlemen practice upon the same
principle, and this bill might be taken up at an
earlier day than Monday week, and the gentle-
man from Somerset, and other gentlemen who
might be absent, could return before any final
action should be taken upon it.
The question being taken upon the motion to
take up the bill, it was agreed to.
Mr. CRISFIELD moved that the further consid-
eration thereof be postponed until Monday
week; and that it be made the special order
for that day.
The motion was rejected.
Mr. THOMAS moved that it be postponed until
Wednesday week, and that it be made the special
order for that day.
The motion was agreed to.
The Convention then proceeded to the consideration
of the next order of the day, being |
the report from committee No. 14, creating a
board of public works.
On motion of Mr. JENIFER, the further con-
sideration thereof was postponed until the day
after to-morrow.
On motion of Mr. Tuck, the convention pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the report of the
committee on the Executive Department.
On motion of Mr. Tuck,
The Convention adjourned until to-morrow at
ten o'clock.
WEDNESDAY, April 2, 1851.
The Convention met at ten o'clock.
The roll was called, and, a quorum being
present,
The Journal of yesterday was read.
THE REPRESENTATION QUESTION.
Mr. PHELPS, in pursuance of the notice he
had yesterday given, moved a re-consideration
of the vote limiting the debate on the repre-
sentation question to five minutes.
Mr. P. alluded to the fact that the proposi-
tion in relation to districting the State had yet
to come up, and remarked that when the map
which was in course of preparation should be
before the Convention, it might be requisite for
gentlemen to make explanations in regard to
the various locations in their own districts in
the counties. He hoped, therefore, that the
rule would be rescinded, and he made that
motion.
Mr. SPENCER said, he had understood the Pres-
ident to say that the question had been settled.
The PRESIDENT said that the question had
been disposed of; but that there might be some
doubt, when the question should again come up,
in any shape, whether the order limiting the
debate was not still in operation. To relieve
that doubt, it would, perhaps, be well that the
Convention should express its opinion on the
motion to rescind the rule.
The question was then taken on the motion
to rescind, and, by ayes 28, noes 24, was decided
in the affirmative.
So the rule limiting the debate to five minutes
was rescinded.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Mr. HOWARD gave notice that on to-morrow,
when the report of committee No. 14, creating
a Board of Public Works should come. up for
consideration, he should offer the following ar-
ticle, which he desired to be entered upon the
Journal:
It shall be the duty of the Legislature to ex-
ert the legal power of the State in the most
effectual mode to produce the following result,
viz: That the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Com-
pany, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com-
pany, the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad
Company, and the Susquehanna Tide Water
Canal Company, shall each adopt a rate of tolls |
