any debt, either to the printers, book-binders or
any one else, after that date. The object of this
resolution, and its legal effect, was to give power
to the committee after the first of June, to certify
to the President the correctness of the accounts.
Mr. THOMAS said, that even those who voted
against the contract could not vote against this
proposition. The reporter was paid according to
the amount of his work when printed. Twenty
per cent of that was retained. It would be im-
possible, before the printing was concluded, to
ascertain what was due to him. It was admitted
by all that the printing could not be finished by the
first of June. The question then was, whether
there should be any power to pay him his com-
pensation when it became due by the completion
of the printing; or whether the reporter should be
deprived of $1200 fairly earned under his con-
tract. He had not participated in the debates
upon the contract. He had not been cognisant
of its progress. This was a different question.
As to the expense of the committee, he should
not think the people of Maryland would refuse
to pay the miserable pittance of $4 per day for a
few days in the fulfilment of their contract with
a faithful public servant.
The order was then twice read and adopted.
Mr. RANDALL from the Committee on Revis-
ion reported to the Convention certain amend-
ments to the report of the Legislative Commit-
tee,
Which were read and disposed of.
Mr. SPENCER submitted the following order:
Ordered, That one hundred copies of the engrossed
copy of this Constitution be printed and
bound, under the direction and supervision of the
Committee on Printing, and that the said engross-
ed copy and one copy of the said bound and
printed copy, be deposited among the records of
the Clerk of the Court of Appeals, and that the
residue of the said bound and printed copies be
deposited in the library, to be disposed of by the
Legislature.
The order was twice read and adopted.
Mr. RIDGELY submitted the following order:
Ordered, That the Treasurer pay, upon the
warrant of the President of the Convention, such
sum of money as the Committee on Printing may
contract to pay for printing the new Constitution,
payable upon the performance of the work.
The order was twice read and adopted.
Mr. TUCK from the Committee on Revision,
made a report on sundry independent articles
proposed,
Which was read and adopted.
On motion of Mr. STEWART, of Baltimore
city,
The Convention took a recess until nine o'-
clock, p. m.
EVENING SESSION.
TUESDAY, May 13,—9 o'clock, p. m.
The Convention met and
The roll was called.
Mr. RIDGELY said, that he understood there
was some doubt entertained by the President as |
to his power of signing warrants to allow per
diem to members of the Convention since yesterday.
To remove all doubt, he would move that
the President be authorised to sign warrants for
members of this Convention up to to-morrow inclusive.
Mr. JENIFER understood that this question was
disposed of yesterday. It was expressly understood
that they should adjourn, and that the accounts
should be paid up until yesterday. He thought
they should do some little good for the public;
and if they delayed until tomorrow to perfect the
work they had done, they should not charge one
cent. If they were compelled to remain here,
the officers of the House should be entitled to pay,
but they had no right to open the accounts for
themselves.
Mr. SPENCER saw no reason why they should
not have their per diem for to-day and to-morrow.
He was as willing as any person to yield his per
diem, but he thought that the members had a.
light to receive it. He suggested to the gentle-
man from Baltimore county to accept, in lieu of
his motion, the following:
Resolved, That the journal of accounts having
been closed, the President of this Convention
draw upon the Treasury for two days per diem
in favor of each attending member of this Con-
vention, and each of the attending officers.
Mr. RIDGELY accepted the resolution in lieu of
his motion.
Mr. JENIFER said, that if they should receive
their per diem for to-day and to-morrow, it
would take away from them the credit which
they really thought they were entitled to. He
certainly believed no member remained here un-
der the idea of receiving his per diem. He was
not making a speech for Buncombe, but inasmuch
as they had been charged by the public of being
here six months fur their per diem, they should
show the public that they could stay here with-
out their per diem.
The question was then taken on agreeing to
the resolution, and it was decided in the affirma-
tive.
So the resolution was adopted.
Mr. SPENCER moved to suspend the rule so as
to enable him to move an amendment changing
the phraseology of the second section of the bill
on the Elective Franchise; which motion was not
agreed to.
Mr. TUCK said that he was directed by the
committee on Revision to make a report on the
Bill of Rights. The report was in reference to
the thirty-sixth article, prescribing the manner
of administering an oath. When the question
was under consideration, the Convention struck
out all after the word "Divine Being." and it was
left in that condition. He had been informed
that some members of the Convention did not so
understand it, and that they supposed there
would be something inserted that would protect
all those who were conscientiously scrupulous
about taking an oath, which it would not do if
it was left to stand as it now was. Under it no
person would be allowed to affirm unless he |
