member, and seconded by two others who
voted in either the affirmative or negative."
Now, if gentlemen will just take the pains
to examine the language I have just read,
they will see that the rule as it now stands,
places it in the power of the minority to
move a reconsideration of any minority re-
port or article which the minority may offer,
after the convention has refused to accept it.
And there is no telling the amount of trouble
the minority can give the majority, under
the operation of such a rule. I do not mean
to say that the minority will avail themselves
of this power. But I do undertake to say,
that it is wrong for the majority to place such
a power in the hands of a minorty.
The question was first upon amending the
forty-second rule by striking out the words
"except those otherwise herein provided for."
The question being taken, the motion to
strike out was agreed to.
The question then recurred upon amending
the forty-fourth rule by striking out the fol-
lowing :
" But should a report or article on its final
passage be declared rejected, for the want of
a majority of the members elected, the motion
for reconsideration may be made by one
member and seconded by two others, who
voted in cither the affirmative or negative."
The question being taken upon the amend
ment, it was adopted.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS, &C.
The convention then resumed the considrea-
tion of the unfinished business of yesterday,
being the following report of a special com-
mittee:
" The undersigned members of the special
committee, to whom was referred the thirty-
ninth section in the report of the committee
on the legislative department, and the pro-
posed amendments thereto, beg leave to sub-
mit the folliwing majority report recom-
mending the following as section thirty-nine
in the aforesaid report:
"Section 39. The governor, comptroller,
and treasurer of the State, are hereby author-
ized conjointly, or any two of them, to ex-
change the State's interest in the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company, for an equal
amount of the bonds or registered debt now
owing by the State, and subject to such regu-
lations and conditions, as the general assem-
bly may from time to time prescribe, to sell
the State's interest in the other works of in-
ternal improvement, whether as a stock-
holder ova creditor, also the State's interest
in any banking corporation, and receive in
payment the bonds and registered debt, now
owing bv the State, equal in amount to the
price obtained for the State's said interest ;
provided, that the interest of the State in the
Washington branch of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad be reserved and excepted from
sale; and that at the election to be held for |
the adoption or rejection of this constitution,
the sense of the people shall he taken for or
against the selling of the State's interest in
all the works of internal improvement or
other corporations."
The pending question was upon the amend-
ment of Mr. CLARKE, as amended upon the
motion of Mr. STIRLING, as follows :
Strike out the latter part of the proposed
section reading—
"And that at the election to be held for
the adoption or rejection of this constitution,
the sense of the people shall he taken for or
against the selling of the State's interest in
all the works of internal improvement or
other corporations "
And insert in lieu thereof, the following:
"Provid:d further, that the State's interest
in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, the Chesa-
peake and Delaware Canal, and the Susque-
hanna and Tide Water Canal, shall be exempt
from said sale."
Mr. NEGLEY. I find that the amendment
of the gentleman from Baltimore city, (Mr.
Stirling) goes far beyond what I think he
intended, and far beyond what those who
voted for it. meant it should go. At least it
goes far beyond what I supposed, and what I
know the gentleman from Baltimore county
(Mr. Ridgely) supposed. It goes to the ex-
tent, not merely of leaving to the legislature
the subsequent ratification of any sale that
may be made of the Stay's interest in the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, the Chesapeake
and Delaware Canal, and the Susquehanna
and Tide Water Canal.
Mr. PUGH. I rise to a question of order.
The amendment upon which I understand
the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Negley)
to be now speaking, has been adopted by the
house.
Mr. NEGLEY, I presume it is competent for
me to speak upon the amendment proposed
by the gentleman from Prince George's (Mr.
Clarke,) as amended on motion of the gentle-
man from Baltimore city (Mr. Stirling.) The
question is upon agreeing to the amendment
as amended. It is to that I am about to ad-
dress myself, and I presume I am in order.
Mr. PUSH. That is all I desired to know.
The CHAIRMAN (Mr.Purnell.) The amend-
ment to the amendment was disposed of at
the last session.
Mr. NEGLEY. The amendment to the
amendment was adopted. The question is
now upon the amendment as amended. After
that is disposed of, then it will be upon the
section as reported by the select committee,
whether amended or not. We must have
two votes upon this subject yet, and I pro-
pose to address myself to the amendment as
amended; whether that should pass or not,
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Purnell.) The chair
is of opinion that the gentleman is in order.
Mr. NEGLEY, Now if the convention will
turn to that amendment to the amendment, |
