878
of taking an oath on any occasinn, ought to be
allowed to make a solemn affirmation in the
manner heretofore allowed, and to be of the
same avail as an oath."
Mr. BOWIE said that the Convention had heard
a great deal about men being tenacious of their
opinions. They would recollect well that this
Convention had over and over again deliberately
expressed their opinion, in the form of the most
solemn instructions to this Revisory committee,
who come in here, and offered amendments to
change the substance of things. They told them
yesterday that the Convention understood what
they meant—that they did not mean to allow
any man to affirm but those who were attached
to a religious creed, which would not allow him
to take an oath, and if a person was allowed to
take an oath, he should have no cause for throw-
ing himself upon his individual responsibility
outside of the church, under the shadow of
which he might commit all sorts of perjuries.
The PRESIDENT stated that the motion was
not debateable.
Mr. BOWIE hoped the Convention would ad-
here to its former opinions.
The PRESIDENT stated that if this article had
heretofore been passed upon, it would require a
motion to reconsider.
Mr. TUCK said that if there was no disposition
on the part of the Convention to entertain the
subject, he would withdraw the amendment.
The amendment was accordingly withdrawn,
Mr. CHAMBERS rose to ask a question which he
thought the House was entitled to learn from its
presiding officer. He believed now that the
House had passed an order that the engrossed co-
py, stated by the chairman of the committee to
be perfect, should besigned by the President and
when signed should be delivered to a committee.
who were to reprint it as the standard copy of
the Constitution of this State. The fact was
known to every member that there now laid on
the President's table a part of that Constitution.
so far as its adoption by the Convention could
make it so, which had not been submitted to the
revision of the committee, and which had not
been engrossed. He desired to know whether
the President would sign that as a part of the
Constitution ?
The PRESIDENT replied that be could only an-
swer the question in this way; when the commit-
tee authorised and appointed by this body, should
present to him the Constitution, attested and cer-
tified to as the engrossed Constitution, paused by
of the courts of law and registers of wills, the
opposing candidates shall have an equal number
of votes, it shall be the duty of the Governor to
order a new election; and in case of any con-
tested election, the Governor shall send the re-
turns to the House of Delegates, who shall judge
of the election and qualification of the candi-
dates at such election."
Mr. CONSTABLE, said that he was in favor of
the first branch of the amendment, but was op-
posed to the second; he was against leaving to
the Legislature the power of settling any con-
tested elections, except those which related
themselves. He therefore asked for a division
ot the question upon each branch of the article.
The question was accordingly taken on the
first branch of the amendment in these words:
"If in any case of election the judges, clerks
of the courts of law and registers of wills, the
opposing candidates shall have an equal number
of votes, it shall be the duty of the Governor to
order a new election."
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