On motion of Mr. BAKER,
It was ordered to he entered on the journal,
that if Mr. Baker, of Frederick: county, had
been present when the vote was taken upon
the order submitted by Mr. Schley, on the
19th instant, and the order submitted by Mr.
Sands, on the 20th instant,and there solutions
offered by Mr. Stirling, on the 20th instant,
and also upon the adoption of section 40, of
the report of the standing committee on the
legislative department, he would have voted
in the affirmative in each case.
On motion of Mr. CUNNINGHAM,
It was ordered that it be entered on the
journal, that Mr. Schlosser, of Frederick
county, is detained at home by sickness.
Mr. BELT submitted the following order;
Ordered, That the special committee on
the 39th section of the legislative department
be requested to consider the following :
" Section —. The general assembly shall
have power to pass all laws that may be
necessary to authorize the counties of Alle-
gany, Washington, Frederick and Mont-
gomery, or any of them. to create a debt by
the issue of bonds or otherwise, so as to
enable them, or any of them, to become the
parchaser of the State's interest in the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal, whenever the same
shall be offered for sale under authority of
law."
LIMITING DEBATE.
Mr. Pugh submitted the following order:
Ordered, That during the consideration of
the report of the committee on basis of rep-
resentation, each speaker shall be limited to
ten minutes. and the time shall in no case
be extended excepting upon a concurrence
of two-thirds of the members present,
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's. I hope
such an order will not be adopted. I notice
a disposition which I am sorry to see exhibit-
ed in this body. When I came here I thought
the convention were desirous of having a
fair, free, and full discussion of subjects
brought before the convention; and they 30
declared. The gentleman from Cecil (Mr.
Pugh)said that he wanted a free, full and fair
discussion. But on yesterday, I was not per-
mitted to submit three remarks upon a ques-
tion of importance before this body, a courtesy
which I claimed of the members of this body
as gentlemen. I am sorry to see such an ex-
hibition upon the part of the majority here.
Do they mean to choke off debate? Do they
mean to stifle us in debating questions of such
vital importance to the interests of the people
of this State? If they do, it is time for us on
the part of the minority to leave this body,
and let the majority take the responsibility of
their course. I have no idea of remaining in
the body where debate is stifled, where men
are not treated with proper courtesy; and I
shall characterize such a coarse as it deserves
on all occasions when it may arise. |
Mr. PUGH. I would suggest to the gentle-
man from Prince George's that this order is
only the expression of my own desire. Ten
minutes is all I want, although I could take
np a longer time than that. If the gentle-
man thinks that ten minutes is not sufficiently
long, let him offer an amendment. I wish it
understood that such an order is absolutely
necessary. It has occurred to every member
of this house. I do not refer particularly to
gentlemen of the opposition. The gentle-
man very much mistakes in 80 understanding
me. There are a great many gentlemen who
occupy a rather longer time, where dehate ia
unlimited, than in my judgment seems ne-
cessary for the discussion of subjects before
this body. We have been here three months.
There has been great latitude allowed in
debate. I think that under this order, if
adopted by the convention, there will still be
great latitude in debate. I do not think
there ever was assembled in this State or in,
any other State a deliberative body in which
the latitude of debate has been so independantly
fixed as it has been in this body. We should
never get through. No body which has as
much to perform as this convention, can get
along at all without having some such rule.
There are upon all sides of the house gentle-
men who wish to make remarks upon any
subject before us. I have no objection my-
self to listening to them, but there is, of
there ought to be, a limit to discussion.
We have been here three months. Upon
almost every question upon which it was
supposed we had thoughts, we have had
an opportunity to express our thoughts.
This subject, in this particular phase, has not
been before the convention, but it has been
canvassed. I have had a great deal of con-
versation with members throughout the
house, in the house and out of it, in com-
mittee and oat of committee, and I think it
is pretty thoroughly understood.
I submit that it is the proper course for
gentlemen to pursue under the existing cir-
cumrstances to try to condense what he baa
to say within the limit of ten minutes, out of
courtesy to the other members of the body.
It is a question of courtesy. I submit
whether there is not some little courtesy to
be extended lo listeners in this hall, as well
as to those who feel called upon to explain their
views. I ask if we are not entitled as lis-
teners to some little courtesy, and to demand
that every gentleman who undertakes to en-
lighten the house upon this subject, shall at
least endeavor to the utmost to condense big
remarks out of consideration for the other
members of this body, and courtesy towards
them ?
Mr. SANDS. I have an amendment to offer.
The PRESIDENT. The chair is in doubt
whether this is in order, there having been a
rule adopted by the convention on this sub-
ject. |
