that doubt that seems to haunt the gentle-
man from Prince George's (Mr. Belt) of my
qualifications as a member of this body; no''
a particle. If I had, all I have to say is this
if I had a shadow of doubt about the matter,
I should immediately resign, at once refund
all my per diem to which I would have had
no claim at all, and go home. I vote "aye."
Mr, SCHLEY said: The resolution submitted
by the gentleman from Prince George's (Mr.
Belt,) who, I am sorry to see is not in his
seat, does not take me by surprise in any
aspect of the case. The question that is in-
volved here is one that presented itself to
my mind for inquiry antecedent to my nom-
ination to the seat I now hold, and of course
prior to the election, I desire to say that I
have never had a shadow of doubt, since
taking competent legal advice upon the ques-
tion, that I am fully entitled to the scat I oc-
cupy upon this floor, and therefore I have no
difficulty in voting as I am about to vote, and
have no motive for asking to be excused from
voting. Like the gentleman from Howard
(Mr, Sands,) if felt even an uncertainty
about my perfect right to a place upon this
floor, I should not be here, and I should never
have been here. I have no doubt about my
right; and until I shall be excluded by a vote
of this convention, I intend to assert and
maintain it. I vote "aye."
Mr. TODD said: Like my friend from
Charles? (Mr. Edelen,) I have to say that my
nomination to a seat in this body was en-
tirely unexpected to myself. When it was
first proposed, the objection which has been
raised against my occupying a seat here,
presented itself to my own mind. I however
took the advice of legal gentlemen, who I
supposed understood the subject thoroughly,
and all my doubts upon that subject were set
at rest. Since that period I have never had
the first shadow of doubt with regard to my
eligibility as a inember of this body. Had
my mind been haunted by the difficulties
that seem to have thrown themselves around
the mind of the gentleman from Prince
George's, who is the author of the resolution
offered on Saturday (Mr. Belt,) my conscien-
tious convictions of duty as an honest man
would have compelled me to resign my seat,
or never have submitted to come here. But,
believing a I do, that I have as good a right
to a seat in this body as any gentleman upon
this floor, I, without any difficulty or hesita-
tion on the subject, vote "aye."
The report was accordingly concurred in.
The convention then proceeded to the con-
sideration of the resolution submitted by
Mr. Belt, which had been postponed until
the report of the committee on elections
should be acted upon.
Mr. DELLINGER moved that the resolution
be indefinitely postponed.
Mr. EDELEN. I think it is but justice to
the mover of this resolution that it should |
bepostponed until such time as he shall be
again present in the convention. I believe
he obtained leave of absence until Wednesday.
Of course the sense of the house has
been already taken, and the subject effect-ually
disposed of; but I ask that it be merely
postponed until Friday.
The motion to postpone indefinitely was
agreed to.
MILITARY COMMITTEE.
Mr. PUGH. I wish to call the attention of
the convention to the position in which the
committee on military affairs stands. That
committee has not made any report, and I
see no prospect of its ever making a re-
port. I am a member of that committee.
The chairman (Mr. Berry, of Baltimore
county,) has not been here (or a long while.
I saw him very early in the session of the
convention and conversed with him with
regard to it, hut he said it was not necessary
at all then to have the committee called to-
gether; and since that time, it is well known
to members of the convention lie has not
been present. He is engaged in his duty to
the State government; and I suppose he can-
not attend and probably will not attend our
sessions tor some time. I am informed by my
colleague that he is very sick now at home.
I only wish to suggest to the convention, as
we are getting along very rapidly towards
the completion of our labors, that that com-
mittee is not in a condition to report.
The PRESIDENT, The President is informed
that the Adjutant General (Mr. Berry, of
Baltimore county,) is very sick. In the ab-
sence of the chairman of the committee,
the next member takes his place as chairman.
Mr. PUGH. The member from Allegany
(Mr. Thurston) came next, but he asked to
be excused, and was withdrawn.
The PRESIDENT. The gentleman from Bal-
timore city (Mr. Barron) comes next on the
list, and will act as chairman. Mr. Wickard,
of Allegany, was appointed upon the com-
mittee to take the place of Mr. Thurston.
Mr, PUGH. I am informed that the gentle-
man from Baltimore city (Mr. Barron) will
be here tomorrow.
On motion of Mr. STOCKBRIDGE,
The convention proceeded to the consider-
ation of the report of the committee on edu-
cation, which was upon its second reading.
The first section was read as follows :
Section 1. The governor shall, by and
with the advice and consent of the senate,
appoint within ten days after the ratifica-
tion by tire people of this constitution, a State
superintendent of public instruction, who
shall hold his office for four years, receive an
annual salary of three thousand dollars, ex-
clusive of office and travelling expenses,
report to the general assembly within thirty
days after the comencement of its first ses-
sion under this constitution, a uniform sys- |
