Mr. EDELEN. I was not aware of that, but
supposed it had been rejected. Now one
word in reference to what may be said about
the hardship of this thing. That argument,
it seems to me, is entirely met by the framer
of this article when he provides that—
"All fines which may be collected for a vio-
lation of the provisions of this article, or any
law which hereafter may be passed for the
purpose of carrying the same into execution,
shall be set apart and appropriated for the
colonization or removal beyond the limits of
the State, of such negroes and mulattoes and
their descendants as may he in the State at
the adoption of this Constitution, and may be
willing to emigrate"
There is not one word of compulsion in the
article proposed to be incorporated into the
organic law of the State. I think that al-
though gentlemen from Baltimore city and
other parts of the State may not be so deeply
interested in this matter, as those of us are in
other parts of the State, yet we established a
precedent yesterday, in reference to the sale
of real estate, and the action of Courts in re-
lation thereto, which should govern us here.
Though in my judgment (halt was entirely and
purely a question of legislation, and not pro-
per to be incorporated into the organic law,
yet it was determined by a majority of this
Convention that it was a proper subject to go
to a committee tor their consideration; and
although gentlemen here may dissent from
the views set forth in this proposition of the
gentleman from Prince George's (Mr. Clarke)
I think they should at least permit this order
to go to the appropriate committee for the ne-
cessary consideration and reflection. I am
myself serious about this thing, and just as
much in earnest as the gentleman from Prince
George's, although the gentleman from Balti-
more city (Mr. Abbott) has sought to engraft
upon it an amendment not at all germain to it
Mr. DANIEL. I rise not for the purpose of
prolonging this discussion, but to bring it to
a close. I am willing that this subject, as
well as every other, should receive proper
consideration. But it does seem to me that
this is not a time to go into the merits of this
question. I am free to say that I am opposed
to the principle embodied in the proposition
of the gentleman from Prince George's, and
shall oppose its adoption when it comes to a
vote, and may then have something to say
upon it; but at this stage it is merely making
a long discussion which must all be gone over
again at another time, for whether this is re-
ferred to a committee or not, as the gentleman
well says, he has the right to offer it by way
of amendment, and then this discussion must
necessarily be all gone over again; and then
is the proper time to discuss it, and not now
I have therefore risen to move the previous
question, in order to stop the debate at this
time. I will say further that intend to vote
for this reference to the committee; I think it |
is but respectful and proper that every ques-
tion of this sort should go to a committee,
especially as all other question have gone to
committees as a matter of reference; and I
will vole to refer this, as I shall vote to refer
any other proposition not disrespectful to this
body. I now call for the previous question.
Mr. ABBOTT asked the gentleman to with-
draw the call for the previous question for a
few moments.
The demand for the previous question was
accordingly withdrawn.
Mr. ABBOTT. I did not intend to offend the
gentleman from Prince George's (Mr. Clarke)
by doubting his — I do not know what to
call it hardly—in offering his order yesterday.
After, however, listening very attentively to
the debate of yesterday, I heard but one rea-
son given by him why he wished this order
to be referred to a committee. That reason
was the great danger to which Iris constituents
would be subjected, of being overrun by
this class of persons, and the great destruc-
tion which, in his imagination, would follow.
Now, if that he the case, I certainly have no
objection to the committee examining into
the subject. But I also wish to include other
persons from whom we are liable to danger.
1 submit to the gentleman himself if there is
not more danger to lie apprehended from the
class of people included in my amendment
than there is from the negro. While the
negro might steal your sheep, the other would
steal your horse; while the one might take
the life of a chicken, the other would take
the life of your wife and child; while the one
might steal a fence rail, the other would burn
down your house. I ask the gentleman if
that has not been the experience of people in
the territory that has been under the control
of the class of people to which my amend-
ment refers. Now do not let us trifle with a
small matter, when there is one so much
greater in which we are all involved.
1 say that we in Baltimore city are in no
danger from this influx of labor. The gen-
tleman may apprehend danger in his county,
but we do not. But we do feel that there is
danger to be apprehended from the influx of
the very class which I include in my amend-
ment. If the gentleman will permit my
amendment to go with his proposition, so
that the whole question may be considered, 1
am perfectly willing to halve it go to the
committee. I did not intend, however, to
say or do anything to bring up a discussion
of this matter at this time. I simply desired
to get the whole matter before the committee.
Mr. CLARKE. If the incorporation of the
amendment of the gentleman from Baltimore
city (Mr. Abbott) into the organic law of the
State of Maryland will effect what he desires,
1 may possibly vote for it. But as I think
that has become a matter to bedetermined by
the sword rather than by the Legislature, I am
perfectly willing to leave it to be determined |
