other compensation beyond that received by them
in virtue of their respective offices of Governor,
Comptroller and Treasurer.
Sec. 3. The commissioners of public works and
property shall exercies diligent care and super-
vision over the property of the State, of whatso-
ever kind, appoint directors in the incorporated
companies, for which the State is entitled so to
make such appointment, represent the State at
the meetings of stockholders of the corporations
in which the State is interested, and perform
such other duties as may be prescribed by law."
The Convention then adjourned.
WEDNESAY, April 16, 1851.
The Convention met at ten o'clock.
Prayer was made by the Rev. Mr. GRIF-
FITH.
The roll of the members was called, and
The journal of yesterday was read.
Mr. RIDGELY presented a petition of sundry
citizens of Baltimore county, praying that provi-
sion may be made in the new Constitution re-
stricting the privilege to sell intoxicating liquors
in small quantities, except the same shall be ap-
proved by a majority of the voters in the county
or election district where the same is to be sold.
Which was read, and
Referred to the select committee already ap-
pointed on that subject.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
The Convention resumed the consideration of
the order of the day, being the substitute hereto-
fore offered by Mr. THOMAS, creating a board of
public works.
The question pending before the Convention
on yesterday, being on the amendment offered by
Mr. HOWARD, on the 14th instant, to insert after
the word "stockholders" in the fifth line of first
paragraph, the following:
"And shall appoint the directors in every rail
road or canal company in which the State has
the power to appoint directors. It shall also be
the duty of this board to review, from time to
time the rate of tolls adopted by any company,
and use all legal powers which it may possess, to
obtain the establishment of a rate. which may pre-
vent an injurious competition with each other
to the detriment of the interest of the treasury of
the State, and report their acts annually to the
legislature."
Mr. DORSEY concluded his remarks, (as embo-
died in yesterday's report,) and submitted the fol-
lowing amendment to the amendment of Mr.
HOWARD :
Insert after the words "directors," these words
"where such power can be constitutionally exer-
cised " and after the word "annually," in the last
line, insert "or biennially as the case may be,"
and strike out the words "of the treasury." |
Mr. HOWARD accepted the amendments, and
modified his proposition accordingly.
Mr. DORSEY moved to amend the report of the
committee, by adding at the end thereof, the fol-
lowing:
"And it shall be the duty of the said commis-
sioners to keep a journal of their proceedings,
and at each regular session of the Legislature, to
make to it a report, and if they deem it necessary
to recommend such Legislation as they shall think
requisite to promole or protect the interests of
the State in the Public Works hereinafter men-
tioned."
Mr. THOMAS accepted the amendment, stating
that he took no exception to it, although he did
not consider it necessary.
Mr. SPENCER then obtained the floor, but yield-
ed to
Mr. DAVIS, who said that when he left the
Hall yesterday, he congratulated himself that he
was done with this subject. His intention then,
was to take no further part in it. He was pre-
pared to acquiesce in whatever decision the Con-
vention might come to. But his venerable and
highly respected friend, [Mr, Dorsey,] had
thought proper to make some personal allusions
to himself, which, with all the respect and vene-
ration he entertained for him, he deemed it his
duty to reply to.
Mr, DORSEY, If the gentleman means that I
made any disrespectful allusions to him, I de-
clare that I had no such intention.
Mr. DAVIS was sure his venerable friend had
not so intended—but the remarks had been enter-
ed upon the journal and would go forth lo the
world, and there his reply must go also.
To those members of the Convention who
knew the intimate relations which it had been his
happiness for so many years to hold to his vene-
rable friend, to the great respect and deference
in which he held his matured judgment and great
ability, he need not say that he stood in an em-
barrassing position, and needed their sympathy,
when it became his duly in such a body as this,
lo delend himself from personal allusions from
such a quarter. Yet painful and embarrassing
as it was, he must attempt it.
His venerable friend for whom he entertained
a devotion which he hoped ever to bear to him,
and to whom he did not hesitate to say, he owed
more personal obligation than to any other per-
son, except him who now peacefully rested in
the grave, had made an insinuation that he could
not but feel.
He had said that he, [Mr, D.,] was so biassed
with his personal interests and position, "that he
would not trust him,"—"that his interest and re-
lations to the District of Columbia., were such
that he would not trust even him;" and this, too,
after all the encomiums of respect and confidence
he had been pleased to heap upon his unworthy
head.
Mr. DORSEY said:
That he only stated that he would not place
the interests of the State in a situation where the
people could be led to suspect that any thing
wrong would be done. He would not trust that |
