provide that the legislature should pass laws
to carry out this provision; but I thought
this would test the sense of the house on this
provision, If it is adopted, I will add a
clause making it the duty of the legislature
to carry it out.
The amendment to the amendment was
rejected.
Mr. CLARKE demanded the yeas and nays on
his amendment, and they were ordered.
The question being taken, the result was—
yeas 15, nays 36—as follows :
Yeas—Messrs. Belt, Brown, Clarke, Duvall,
Harwood, Henkle, Hollyday, Lansdale. Lee,
Marbury, Markey, Miller, Parran, Peter,
Todd—15.
Nays—Messrs. Goldsborough, President;
Abbott, Annan, Audoun, Baker, Cunning-
ham, Daniel, Davis, of Washington, Dellin-
ger, Earle, Ecker, Farrow, Galloway, Greene,
Hebb, Hopkins, Hopper, Keefer, King, May-
hugh, Murray, Negley, Nyman, Parker,
Pugh, Purnell, Ridgely, Robinette, Russell,
Schley, Scott, Smith, of Carroll, Smith, of
Worcester, Sneary, Stirling, Stockbridge—36.
As their names were called,
Mr. BELT said: As this subject has been
discussed a great deal among our people,
although I should have preferred the adop-
tion of the amendment offered by my col-
league (Mr, Marbury,) yet as the convention
has rejected that amendment, and the slaves
in the State are set free by our action, I shall
vote to exclude them all. I vote " aye."
Mr. NEGLEY said: There might be circum-
stances under which, as a legislative matter,
I would vote fur this; but I think it is purely
a question for the legislature. If the immi-
gration of this class does at any time become
dangerous to the State, I think the legisla-
ture is competent to pass laws prohibiting
them from coming here, and it might in that
case become advisable. Although as a legis-
lative matter, if the increase of these people
were to become dangerous to the people, I
would vote to shut them out. I vote against
this, "no."
The amendment was accordingly rejected.
Mr. MILLER. If this report is ordered to be
engrossed for a third reading, will it be af-
terwards competent to move a reconsideration
of the vote by which any section has been
adopted? I make this inquiry especially
with reference to the vote upon the 5th sec-
tion, in reference to biennial sessions of the
legislature. Will it be in order to amend it?
The PRESIDENT. The 53d rule is as follows :
Rule 53. After a report of any committee
' (embodying proposed provisions for the con-
stitution) has passed through its second
reading, the question shall then be put by
the president of the convention " Shall this
report be engrossed for a third reading?"
If objection is made, then a majority of the
members will decide upon the question of
engrossment. After the engrossment of a |
report is ordered, the secretary shall have the
same printed as engrossed. After any report
of a committee has passed to a third reading,
it shall not be in order to amend the same,
except by the consent of the majority of the
members elected to the convention.
Mr. MILLER. Then I will move to recon-
sider the vote by which that section was
adopted. The previous question was culled,
and it was passed upon by the house, and
the attendance being slim, myself and several
other gentlemen voted for it with a view to
reconsideration at the proper time. I would
prefer that the question should come up
when the convention is full. I know that
several gentlemen of Baltimore city are in
favor of annual sessions, and biennial elec-
tions.
Mr, CLARKE. I voted in favor of biennial
sessions. I am still in favor of biennial ses-
sions; but I will second the motion.
Mr. BELT also seconded the motion,
The PRESIDENT. The vote will be found in
the journal, on page 223, taken July 7.
Mr. MILLER. As I have the assurance of
several gentlemen that there will be no objec-
tion to reconsidering this hereafter in a full
convention, I will withdraw the motion to
reconsider to-night.
Mr. HEBB submitted the following amend-
ment;
Insert as an additional section the follow-
ing:
"Sec. —. The general assembly before
authorizing the sale of the State's interest in
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal and before
prescribing regulations and conditions for
said sale, shall pass all laws that may be ne-
cessary to authorize the counties of Allegany,
Washington, Frederick and Montgomery, 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 purchaser of said
interest."
Mr. HEBB. This is the section offered by
the gentlemen from Prince George's (Mr.
Belt,) page 324 of the journal, slightly
modified.
Mr. NEGLEY. I am pretty sure that Wash-
ington county will never embark in such a
speculation as that,
Mr. HEBB demanded the yeas and nays, and
they were ordered.
The question being taken, the result was—
yeas 36, nays 15—as follows :
Yeas—Messrs. Baker, Belt, Brown, Clarke,
Cunningham, Daniel, Davis, of Washington,
Dellinger, Duvall, Earle, Farow, Galloway,
Greene, Hebb, Hopkins, Hopper, Keefer, King,
Lansdale, Lee, Marbury, Markey, Murray,
Peter, Pugh, Purnell, Ridgely, Robinette,
Schley, Scott, Smith, of Carroll, Smith, of
Worcester, Sneary, Stirling, Stockbridge,
Todd—36.
Nays—Messrs. Goldsborough, President ;
Abbott, Annan, Audoun, Ecker, Harwood, |
