VOTE ON ADOPTING THE CONSTITUTION.
Mr. HENKLE submitted the following reso-
lutions, which were read the first time :
Whereas, The subject about to besubmitted
to the people of the State of Maryland, at the
coming election tor the adoption of a new
constitution, being simply a question of pre-
ference for the present or the proposed consti-
tution, a question affecting vitally the inter-
ests of all our people and the future welfare of
the State; and whereas, it is of the most par-
amount importance that the people should be
thoroughly informed of the nature and ten-
dency of the issues about to be decided in
order that they may vote intelligently thereon ;
therefore,
Resolved, 1st. That the right of the people
peaceably to assemble and publicly discuss
questions of public interest, is an inalienable
right and essential to their liberties, hence we
desire that the people shall so peaceably as-
semble in public places, and fully, freely,
fairly, and without any molestation whatever,
discuss the questions now submitted to their
consideration.
Resolved, 2d. That we recognize as afun-
damental principle of liberty, that "all good
government derives its authority from the
consent of the governed," and to this end in
the language of the fifth article of our bill of
rights, "every free white male citizen, having
the qualifications prescribed by the constitu-
tion, ought to have a right of suffrage."
INTEREST AND USURY.
Mr. STIRLING presented the following peti-
tion, which was read:
" To the Honorable the Constitutional
Convention of the State of Maryland:
" Baltimore Corn and Flour Exchange have
seen with regret that several substitutes have
been offered for the report of the committee
on interest and usury laws, and earnestly hope
that the report of said committee, so much
more in accordance with the liberal spirit and
commercial wants of the day, may be
adopted.
" We need scarcely remind the members of
the convention that capital, like everything
else, will always seek the highest market, and
we can scarcely expect to retain it in our
midst when it will readily command more in
all our neighboring cities. It is an undispu-
ted maxim in trade that no law so effectually
and fairly regulates prices as the law of sup-
ply and demaud; and money, as nothing more
than an article of merchandise, responds as
promptly to this law as any other article.
" The trade and business of the world illus-
trate this truth, and it has come now to be an
axiom in political economy that in matters of
finance and trade the legislative restrictions
there are the better for all concerned, and
that trade and commerce, if left to itself, |
would obey one of the great elements of nature
and seek its own level.
" The Exchange, therefore, trust most ear-
nestly that your honorable body will adopt
the report of the committee, as being not only
in conformity with the wants and wishes of
our city, but identical with the true and per-
manent interests of our State.
" All of which is respectfully submitted,,
WILLIAM CHESNUT,
President of the Corn Exchange."
BEPORTING AND PRINTING THE DEBATES.
Mr. GALLOWAY, from the committee on ac-
counts, made the following report, which was
read the first time ;
To the Honor Me, the President of the Conven-
tion.
The committee on accounts, in compliance
with the order passed the 30th instant, re-
spectfully report that after a careful examination
of said order, they recommend that the
president of the convention pay all bills for
reporting and printing of the journal of de-
bates remaining unpaid after the adjournment
of the said convention, when the same are
duly certified as correct by Mr. Joseph H.
Audoun, or some other member of the com-
mittee on reporting and printing.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
WM. GALLOWAY, Ch'n.
WM. S. WOODEN,
THOMAS RUSSELL,
H. BAKER,
E. L., PARKER.
JUDICIARY DEPARTMENT.
On motion of Mr. THOMAS,
The convention resumed the consideration
of the report of the committee on the judicia-
ry department, which was on its second read-
ing.
The pending question was upon the motion
to insert the following additional section, to
come in after section twenty-one of the re-
port.
" Sec. — The present judges of the circuit
courts shall continue to act as judges of the
respective circuit courts within the judicial
circuits in which they respectively reside,
until the expiration of the term tor which
they were respectively elected, and until their
successors are elected and qualified, viz. the
present judges of the first, second, third,
fourth, sixth and eighth judicial circuits, as
organized at the time of the adoption of this
constitution, shall continue to act as judges respectively
of the first, second, fourth, fifth,
ninth and twelfth judicial circuits, as organ-
ized under this constitution; and an election
for judges of the third, sixth, seventh eighth,
tenth and eleventh judicial circuits shall be
held on Tuesday next after the first Monday
of November, eighteen hundred and sixty-
four." |
