here until Thursday night before I left.
This has occupied the time of the convention
upwards of a month; and the time of the
body has been consumed in that way.
Mr. PUSH. I understand that the gentle-
man tried his best to get away, but was un-
able to do so.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's. I did.
When I came here I found it was unnecessary
for me to be here. I saw the president and
had a conversation with him upon the subject,
and I saw other members; and they said
they had had an informal understanding of
some sort to meet again on Tuesday. I
thought it unnecessary to be here, and under-
stood that the rebels were in my county, and
I wanted to get home.
Mr. PUGH, That was precisely my case.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's. Now, with
reference to this very important subject,
does the gentleman recollect that this very
subject occupied the attention of the conven-
tion of 1850, at least five or six weeks—longer
perhaps than any other subject brought to
the notice of the convention? Are we to
consider and act upon a question of this mo-
mentous importance in a day? Gentlemen
are too anxious to leave here. They are too
anxious to return home. I am equally anx-
ious with them; but I am here to discharge
the duty I owe to my constituents, and I
shall remain here if it is until Christmas, if
it becomes necessary to do so in the discharge
ofthe duties which devolve upon me.
My friend from Howard (Mr, Sands) says
that he does not, and the majority do not in-
tend to impose any rule upon the minority
they do not come under and submit to
themselves. Let me tell the gentleman
they stand in a different position from the
minority of the convention. We are hereto
try to convince those gentlemen that they
are wrong in thier premises and their conclu-
sions.
Mr SANDS. That is exactly what we
want— to convince you that you are wrong,
Mr. BERRY Prince George's. We are
here to try to show the gentleman by rea-
soning, by bringing to their minds lights
which perhaps they have not yet received, to
show them that they are in error, to convince
them that we are right and they are wrong.
Mr. Ecker. I do not like to interrupt the
gentleman, but I rise to a point of order,
that according to an existing order no gen-
tleman can speak more than once on the
same question.
The PRESIDENT. There is a rule of the
convention that no member shall speak more
than once until others desiring to speak
shall have had an opportunity. The chair
does not interpose when a member rises the
second time, unless some member objects
Mr. Berry, of Prince George's. I was not
aware of such an order; so many orders
resolutions are adopted in my absence. Reality |
I am not responsible for anything done in my
absence. I have only to say that although
this is an important question— I think at
least half an hour ought lo be given to any
one who desires to participate in the discus-
sion of this question—it is not a question
which admits of very extended debate. The
considerations to be brought to bear in con-
sidering the question are limited, and I should
suppose no one would occupy over half an
hour. I should be perfectly satisfied with a
speech of that length. But certainly in fifteen
minutes, a man cannot, no matter how he may
condense, consider this question in all its bear-
ings. I hope therefore that the convention, in
consideration of the importance of the subject,
whether they consider us or not, whether they
consider the courtesies which ought to char-
acterize conventions or deliberative bodies, or
not, will give us the power of addressing the
convention on this important subject at least
thirty minutes.
Mr. SANDS. Will my friend compromise
between ten and thirty minutes, and say
twenty 7 I will be as liberal as he is.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's. I will.
Mr. SANDS. Then I will withdraw my
amendment and move twenty minutes.
Mr. DAVIS, of Charles. I move to insert
thirty minutes.
Mr, THOMAS moved the previous question.
The PRESIDENT. The chair has not yet
ruled upon the question of order.
Mr. CHAMBERS. I am very sorry to see this
continued, if not increasing disposition to
arrest debate upon subjects of such vital in-
terest in the community. I beg the attention
of the convention to the fact that they them-
selves, on a former occasion, considered thirty
minutes too short a time to discuss this sub-
ject. It Is a matter Involving statistics io a
very considerable extent. Does not every
gentleman familiar with the subject see at
once that this is a matter in which the facts
necessary to elucidate a proposition are spread
over a surface which will necessarily require
a very considerable time?
It is claimed that it places us all in the
same category. I think that is a great mis-
take, an entire mistake. There is known to
be a large majority here who can assemble at
any time. Upon an intimation from the
chair a particular portion of the convention
can remain in session and can discuss questions
without any reference to time. If my friend
from Howard (Mr. Sands) confines himself to
ten minutes in those discussions, I shall he
very much surprised to hear it. There they
discuss questions, form conclusions, and then
come into the house to tell us what they have
agreed upon.
Mr. THOMAS. Have not the minority the
same privilege?
Mr. CHAMBERS. We have the privilege of a
man standing at the bar before his judge.
You may just as well tell me that the counsel |
