christianity, and that profane legislation had noth-
ing to do with it. There were two immediate evils
to result from the provision. It would tend to
make every infidel who desired office a hypocrite;
and every man who did not believe in the chris-
tian religion would vote against the Constitution.
Mr. BRENT of Baltimore city, moved the pre-
vious question, and being seconded, by a vote of
39 to 29,
The question was stated on the adoption of
the amendment as proposed by Mr. CHAMBERS of
Kent.
Mr. RANDALL moved for a division of the
question, which was put upon striking out,
Mr. BRENT of Baltimore city, moved that the
question be taken by yeas and nays, which being
ordered, appeared as follows:
Affirmative-Messrs. Champman, Pres't., Mor-
gan, Blakistone, Dent, Hopewell, Ricaud, Lee,
Chambers of Kent, Donaldson, Kent, Weems,
Dalrymple, Bond, Sollers, Brent of Charles, Bell,
Colston, John Dennis, Dashiell, Williams, Hicks,
Goldsborough, Phelps, Miller, Bowie, Tuck,
Sprigg, McCubbin, Bowling, Spencer, Grason,
George, Wright, Dirickson, McMaster, Hearn,
Fooks, Jacobs, Sappington, Stephenson, Carter,
Hardcastle, Fiery, Davis, Kilgour, Waters and
Smith-47.
Negative-Messrs. Dorsey, Wells, Randall,
Howard, Buchanan, Welch, Ridgely, Lloyd,
Sherwood of Talbot, Eccleston, McCullough,
McLane, Thomas, Shriver, Gaither, Biser, An-
nan, McHenry, Magraw, Nelson, Thawley,
Gwinn, Stewart of Baltimore city, Brent of
Baltimore city, Ware, Schley, John Newcomer,
Harbine, Brewer, Anderson, Hollyday, Parke,
Ege, Shower, Cockey and Brown-47.
So the Convention agreed to strike out.
The question then recurred and was taken on
the adoption of the article as offered by Mr.
CHAMBERS of Kent; and
Determined in the affirmative.
On motion of Mr. PARKE,
The preamble to the report of the Declaration
of Rights was amended by inserting after the
work "Maryland," first line, these words "grate-
ful to Almighty God for our civil and religious
liberty." and
Mr. PARKE, moved further to amend the pre-
amble by strking out in the third line the words
"best means," and inserting in lieu thereof "pro-
priety,"
Determined in the negative.
Mr. FOOKS moved that the Convention reconsider
their vote on the 14th article of said report,
for the purpose of enabling him to move to strike
out from the beginning of said article to the word
"State," in the second line, and insert "that cap-
ital punishment ought to be abolished,"
Determined in the negative.
Mr. PARKE moved to reconsider the first article
of the report for the purpose of amendment.
Determined in the negative.
Mr. JOHN DENNIS presented 'a petition of sun-
dry citizens of Somerset county, praying for a
modification of the license law.
Which was read, and |
Referred to the select committee appointed on
that subject.
The Convention then proceeded to the consid-
eration of the day, being the propositions rela-
tive to districting the city of Baltimore, and
the several counties of the State.
The question pending being on the motion of
Mr. CHAMBERS of Kent, to reconsider the vote
of the Convention, striking out the amendment
offered by him, which was as follows:
"The Legislature at its first session, shall pass
such laws as may be necessary to lay off the city
of Baltimore, into ten districts, to be composed
of compact contiguous wards, and as nearly as
may be of equal population."
On motion of Mr. BROWN,
The Convention was called, and the door-
keeper sent for the absent members:
On motion of Mr. TUCK,
The Convention resolved to proceed with the
ordinary business of the session, during the ab-
sence of the doorkeeper.
On motion of Mr. TUCK,
The Convention reconsidered the thirtieth ar-
ticle of the report of the Declaration of Rights;
On motion of Mr. TUCK,
The article was amended by striking out in the
third line, the words "Chancellor and," also by
striking out from the word "address" in the sev-
enth line to the word "or" inclusive, in the
tenth line.
The article was then adopted as amended.
On motion of Mr. TUCK,
The forty first article was amended by strik-
ing out in the first line from the words "that
this" down to the word "ought" inclusive in the
third line, and inserting "Constitution shall,"
also by striking out in the same line the words
"but in such" and inserting "except in the;" and
by striking out the words "as this Convention
shall prescribe and direct," and. inserting the
words "therein directed."
The report having been read through, was
adopted as amended.
Mr. TUCK moved that it be recommitted to the
committee on Revision, for the purpose of being
engrossed.
Determined in the affirmative.
The doorkeeper having returned, reported that
in obedience to order he had notified the absent
members, that their attendance in the Conven-
tion was required.
The Convention then resumed the considera-
tion of the order of the day, being the proposition
relative to districting the city of Baltimore, and
the several counties of the State.
The question pending being on the motion of
Mr. CHAMBERS, of Kent, to reconsider the vote
of the Convention striking out the amendment
offered by him.
Some debate ensued upon the extent to which
this motion would bring the question before the
Convention.
Mr. THOMAS moved that the question be taken
by yeas and nays,
Which being ordered,
Appeared as follows: |
