not offer the same propositions as amendments
to the majority report ?
The PRESIDENT. Certainly.
Mr, BELT. Will the result of this vote in
any way affect the right of debate?
The PRESIDENT. No, air.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's, demanded
the yeas and nays, and they were ordered.
The question being taken upon substituting
the minority report, the result was—yeas 25,
nays 46—as follows :
Yeas—Messrs. Belt, Berry, of Prince
George's, Blackiston, Bond, Briscoe, Brown,
Chambers, Clarice, Crawford, Dail, Davis, of
Charles, Duvall, Edelen, Harwood, Henkle,
Hollyday, Horsey, Jones, of Somerset, Laos-
dale, Lee, Marburg, Mitchell, Miller, Morgan,
Peter, Wilmer—26.
Nays—Messrs. Goldsborough, President ;
Abbott, Annan, Audoun, Baker, Barron, Car-
ter, Cunningham, Gushing, Dellinger, Earle,
Ecker, Farrow, Galloway, Hatch, Hebb,
Hopkins, Hopper, Jones, of Cecil, Keefer,
Kennard, King, Markey,McComas, Mullikin,
Murray, Negley, Nyman, Parker, Pugh, Par-
nell, Ridgely, Robinette, Russell, Sands,
Schley, Smith, of Carroll, Sneary, Stirling,
Stockbridge, Sykes, Thomas, Todd, Valliant,
Wickard, Wooden—46.
When their names were called,
Mr. BRISCOE said: I vote for the adoption
of this report in preference to the other, not
committing myself wholly to a proposition
of this kind upon its final passage. I vote
"aye."
Mr. CLARKE said: I stand in the same posi-
tion with the gentleman from Calvert (Mr.
Briscoe,) and vote " aye."
The substitute was accordingly rejected.
The question recurred upon the considera-
tion of the article as reported by the majority
of the committee. The first section was read
as follows:
"Section 1. Immediately after the adop-
tion of this constitution, and before thee
shall have been held any general election un-
der it, the mayor and city council of the city
of Baltimore shall proceed to lay off and di-
vide the said city into three several districts,
of equal population and contiguous territory,
as near as may be."
Mr. BELT. I proposed to myself within the
limits which the rule allows, to submit some
considerations upon this grave and most im-
portant subject; bat it occurs to me that that
may be entirely a work of supererogation. I
do not want to speak upon a subject already
decided; and I have concluded, for my own
relief and satisfaction, and for that of a good
many who act with me here, to propound an
inquiry to the chairman of the committee. I
see no objection to the inquiry, and no reason
why it should not be answered in the same
spirit in which it is put. If it is answered
affirmatively, it supersedes the necessity of
any argument whatever. I wish to know of |
that gentleman, or, if be will not answer me,
of any gentleman of the majority, whether or
not the majority of this convention, as &
political organization, has determined in any
manner to adopt this majority report?
Mr. ABBOTT. I do not think that is a
proper question.
The PRESIDENT. It is not in order to pro-
pound an inquiry of that sort. This is a.
body for deliberation, consultation, consid-
eration, whether a party has done so or not,
does not elucidate any question brought be-
fore this convention. A party has an un-
questioned right to organize and adopt any
principle of action it may choose. But it is
not competent for gentlemen to put interro-
gations here with a view to ascertain what
has been done outside of this hall.
Mr. BELT. I have a right to interrogate;
there is no law to prevent that. My question
was only based upon fair and open dealing.
The PRESIDENT. The impression of the
chair is that nobody has a right in this house
to interrogate any member as to what baa
been done outside of this house. Gentlemen
are bound, in honor, bound by every obliga-
tion due from one amendment to another, not
to respond to such an inquiry, unless with
the consent of every gentleman associated
with him. if that universal consent is given,
the president will not restrict the gentleman
in any interrogations he may choose to pro-
pound. Is it the pleasure of the convention
that this interrogatory shall be answered ?
Mr. SANDS. I object; but I will say at the
same time that I know nothing at all of any
such conclusion that has been had.
Mr. SCHLEY. I object to the question. It
will open an unnecessary discussion of a par-
tisan character.
Mr. AUDOUN. I object, for I regard it as a
matter not connected with this body at all, in
session. If gentlemen feel disposed to ask
such questions outside of this hall, then we
may be disposed to answer them.
The PRESIDENT. The gentleman from Prince
George's has the right to discuss the question
within the time prescribed by the convention,
and in the mode sanctioned by parliamentary
usage. If he does not desire to discuss it, it
is a matter of discretion with himself.
Mr, BELT. I do not care to discuss it par-
ticularly. I supposed if there was such an ar-
rangement, gentlemen would be willing to
assume the responsibility of it, and not put
the rest to the necessity of making speeches
unnecessarily. It is no particular pleasure to
make a speech upon a question of this char-
acter, upon which all parties have ordinarily
heretofore been divided, unless they are to
have some possible effect.
The PRESIDENT. The gentleman has a right
to assame that state of facts if he desires,
and to abstain from the discussion. So far
as the president is personally concerned, he
has not the slightest objection to any gen- |
