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borough, having received fifty-eight votes, is duly elected
President of the Convention.
Mr. Daniel moved that the President appoint a committee
of three members to wait upon the President elect, and con-
duct him to the Chair:
Which was adopted.
The Chairman appointed Messrs. William Daniel, J. W.
Berry, of Baltimore county, and Daniel Clarke, of Prince
George's.
The President was conducted to the Chair, and addressed
the Convention as follows:
Gentlemen of the Convention:
It is with much diffidence that 1 enter upon the execution
of the duties of presiding officer of this body. I am well
aware of the responsibilities belonging to such a position in
ordinary times, greatly increased as they must be in a period
like the present, when the passions of men are aroused by the
exciting events of each day, demanding, in the position I now
occupy, the exercise of more than the usual amount of forbear-
ance and control. I need not remind you with what solici-
tude the people of this State are watching our proceedings. 1
am sure I do not speak with unauthorized hope when I ven-
ture the prediction that you will bring to the performance of
your several duties a fidelity, attention, and au enlarged
patriotism, equal to the expectation of those who sent us here
for the purpose of organizing anew the institutions under
which we live. At any time this is an important duty. At
the present it cannot be performed without a zealous deter-
mination to do our whole duty irrespective of personal consid-
erations.
I will not advert to the present condition of our State and
National affairs. I deem it most prudent to leave these to the
impartial judgment of each individual member; and while
seeking to exclude from our deliberation all partisan preju-
dices, I beseech you to devote yourselves sedulously to the
work before you; and while in the performance of your du-
ties, not to overlook that respect and esteem that is due from
each one to the others. If I should be successful in the pur-
suit of such a course, I am confident that I shall be sustained
and animated by the exhibition of a similar spirit on your
part. We must expect to differ in our views. Let us deter-
mine to present, and advocate them on all occasions in a
courteous manner, one becoming a dignified deliberative body.
By respecting the opinions of each other we shall be the bet-
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