Mr. CHAMBERS, of Kent, moved that the Con-
vention take up for consideration the motion made
by him on yesterday, relative to reconsidering the
vote of the Convention relative to districting the
city of Baltimore and the several counties of this
State.
Mr. CHAMBERS said that several gentlemen, in
common with himself, still deserved to record their
votes upon the simple question of districting the
city of Baltimore, without districting the residue
of the State. After that they were willing that
the Convention should take such votes as they
pleased. He understood that a proposition would
be offered to district that portion of the State in
which the counties were not restricted to two
delegates each. He would willingly vote upon
that proposition, but wished his own to be first
voted upon. He had only to say that so long as
this Convention should last, the effort would be
continued to discover whether there be or be not
a majority of members of this body willing
to district the city of Baltimore, although the
counties should not be districted. When that vote
should be taken, if it should be decided against
them, he would admit that they were fairly
beaten, but not till then.
On motion of Mr. BUCHANAN,
The Convention was called, and the doorkeeper
sent for the absent members.
On motion of Mr. BROWN,
The Convention resumed the consideration of
the report of the committee on the Treasury De-
partment.
The question pending being on the amendment
offered by Mr. BOWIE, this morning, by striking
out after the word "Comptroller," in the second
line, first article, to the word "of," in the fourth
line, and inserting in lieu thereof, the following:
"The Governor for the time being, and."
Mr. DONALDSON proceeded to explain the re-
port of the committee, and to show the necessity
of such an officer as provided therein, as a check
upon the Treasurer. There was an average sur-
plus in the Treasury of $300,000, while the bond
of the Treasurer was only $200,000. The Trea-
surer having no check upon him, and it must be
constant to be of any value, could make his ac-
count appear whatever he pleased, and it would
be impossible for the Governor to detect the er-
ror.
Mr. D, proceeded to read the bill which he
had prepared in 1847, in illustration of his views.
The saving to the State he believed would be
from ten to fifteen thousand dollars annually.
Mr. SPENCER said that he hall ascertained the
sum paid to Messrs. Baring & Company for per
centage, to be nearly $2,500. Large amounts of
money were constantly being invested in the
bonds of the State, on account of their being ex-
empt from taxation, the holders being beyond the
reach of the collector. Still the Barings receiv-
ed as much commission as if every cent was to
be paid in London. This could be avoided by
having a Comptroller.
Mr. DONALDSON remarked that the State taxes
would be paid by the bolder, being reached by
the presentation of the coupons; but the city and I
103 |
county taxes might be evaded. The Treasurer
purchased a great many of these bonds for the
sinking fund. There was now nothing in the
world to prevent his passing these off. The State
had been depending for years upon individual honesty;
and although thus far they had not mispla-
ced their confidence, they had no right to depend
upon that for the safety of the Treasury.
Mr. DORSEY replied to his colleague, [Mr.
Donaldson.] When the Commissioner of Loans
was appointed, he had insisted upon the necessity
of having a check upon that officer. The neces-
sity of a check in the latter case was compara-
tively small. His bank book, and his published
statements would betray him. But what securi-
ty was there against fraud by the Commissioner of
Loans ?
The Doorkeeper returned and reported that
he had notified the absent members that their at-
tendance in the Convention was required.
The Convention then resumed the considera-
tion of the motion of Mr. CHAMBERS, of Kent, to
reconsider the vote of the Convention in relation
to districting the city of Baltimore and the sev-
eral counties of this State.
Mr. RIDGELY desired that the whole subject
should be reconsidered. He could not vote for
any proposition now on the table, except that of-
fered by the gentleman from Frederick. He
proposed, after all the propositions now under
consideration should have been voted upon, to
submit a distinct proposition for himself and
those who had acted with him.
Mr. JOHNSON was in favor of taking up the
whole subject, as a general aggregate. He would
not divide Baltimore city into ten districts, al-
though he considered the principle correct. He
was in favor of the proposition to be submitted,
to divide every county having more than two
delegates, and to divide Baltimore city into
five districts, making each district, as near as
practicable to consist of two counties, or of four
wards in the city of Baltimore.
Mr. CHAMBERS, of Kent, waived his motion,
and
Mr. DENT moved to reconsider the vote of the
Convention on the substitute offered by Mr.
THOMAS, and to he found on page 705 of journal.
Mr. JENIFER agreed with the remarks of the
gentleman from Frederick, [Mr. Johnson.] The
time had now come when every man desirous of
districting the State of Maryland and the city of
Baltimore upon fair and true principles could
come up to the mark. He had no hesitation in
saying that he considered the plan now proposed
the true ground. Baltimore city being divided
into five districts would be placed upon the foot-
ing of the counties; and there they should stand.
He was unwilling to draw distinctions between
Baltimore city and the counties where it could
possibly be avoided. If the State should be dis-
tricted upon the plan proposed by the gentleman
from Baltimore county, [Mr. Ridgely,] he believ-
ed it would be carrying out the true republican
principle that every minority could be heard; and.
at the same time no party ends would be obtain-
ed. He had, himself, given no vote in this Con- |
