The question was upon the proposed section
submitted by Mr, MILLER,
Mr. JONES, of Somerset. I think this pro-
posed amendment needs an amendment to embrace
the idea of an intention to reside in the
State.
It is not intended, I am sure, by my friend
from Anne Arundel (Mr. Miller,) to exclude
those who come here with the intention of
becoming bona fide citizens. I will move to
amend the proposed section by inserting after
the word "State," the words "without the
intention to become a citizen thereof."
Mr. MILLER. I will accept the amendment.
The section as modified was read as follows :
Sec. 7. No person in the military or naval
service of the United States shall be consider-
ed as having acquired a residence to vote he-
cause be has been employed at any barracks,
forts, or naval station in this State, without
the intention of becoming a citizen thereof,
and no citizen shall be deemed to have lost
his residence by reason of his absence while
employed in the service of this State or the
United States, or while engaged in navigating
the waters thereof, or the high seas."
The question was upon the proposed addi-
tional section.
Upon this question Mr. BERRY, of Prince
George's, called the yeas and nays, and they
were ordered.
The question was then taken, by yeas and
nays, and resulted—yeas 17, nays 43—as
follows:
Yeas—Messrs. Berry, of Prince George's,
Billingsley, Bund, Brown, Davis, of Charles,
Dennis, Edelen, Harwood, Hollyday, Jones,
of Somerset, Lee, Mitchell, Miller, Morgan,
Smith, of Dorchester, Turner, Wilmer—17.
Nays—Messrs. Goldsborough, President ;
Abbott, Annan, Audoun, Brooks, Carter,
Cunningham, Davis, of Washington, Dellin-
ger, Earle, Ecker Farrow, Galloway, Hatch,
Hoffman, Hopkins, Hopper, Keefer, Kennard,
King, Markey, Mayhugh, McComas, Mullikin,
Murray, Nyman, Parker, Pugh, Purnell,
Ridgely, Robinette, Russell, Sands, Smith,
of Worcester, Stirling, Stockbridge, Swope,
Sykes, Thomas, Todd, Valliant, Wickard,
Wooden—43.
The amendment was accordingly rejected.
When the name of Mr, ABBOTT was called,
he said: I shall vote "no" upon this section,
because I believe the judges of election are
the proper persons to determine this matter.
The PRESIDENT stated that the second read-
ing of the report of the committee on elective
franchise bad been completed, with the excep-
tion of the fifth section, which had been
informally passed over.
ORDER Of Business.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. I move that the con-
vention proceed to the consideration of the
report of the committee on the judiciary. |
Mr. MILLER. I would suggest to the chair-
man of the judiciary committee (Mr. Stock-
bridge) that one or two members of that com-
mittee are absent. We better take up the re-
port of the committee on the executive depart-
ment.
Mr. RIDGELY. The chairman of that com-
mittee (Mr. Greene) is not here.
Mr. MILLER. I understand that he does not
desire to be present when that report is taken
up. He is to be away for some time.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE, I halve no special prefer-
ence which of the reports is taken up at this
time. I made the motion to take up the ju-
diciary report, because the chairman of the ex-
ecutive committee (Mr. Greene,) thinking that
if it were possible to defer that report until
he was present, it might preferable. Both
of these reports are very important ones,
these departments being the two leading de-
partments of the government, and I should
be glad to see every member of the conven-
tion in ins place when those reports are un-
der consideration, and during the whole consideration
of both of those reports. I have no
especial preference in the matter. It the con-
vention prefers to take up the report on the
executive department, then they can vote
down the motion I have submitted. If they
prefer to take up the report of the committee
on the judiciary department, they can adopt
my motion.
The question was then taken on the motion
of Mr. STOCKBRIDGE, lo proceed to the consid-
eration of the report of the committee on the
judiciary, and It was rejected.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
On motion of Mr. STOCKBRIDGE,
The convention then proceeded to the con-
sideration of the report of the committee on
the executive department, which was on its
second reading.
GOVERNOR.
The first section was then read as follows :
"The executive power of the State shall be
vested in a governor, whose term of office shall
commence on the second Wednesday of January
next ensuing his election and continue for
four years, and until his successor shall have
qualified; but the governor chosen at the
first election under this constitution, shall not
enter upon the discharge of the duties of the
office until the expiration of the term for
which the present incumbent was elected, un-
less the said office shall become vacated by
death, resignation, removal from the State,
or other disqualification of the said incum-
bent. "
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's I would
like to inquire what will be the term of the
governor? The term of the present govern-
or will expire, I think, in 1866. The first
governor elected after him, if I understand it,
will have but two years to serve. |
