that may be under consideration. Some two
or three gentlemen obtain the floor and make
their speeches, and then the previous ques-
tion is sprung upon us. Now I submit it to
the justice of the convention to say whether
that is fair. If all the gentlemen who desire
to speak had spoken, I should vote to
sustain the previous question. But I shall
vote against it now, because I think that each
gentleman who wishes to avail himself of the
brief time allowed under the rule, should
have that privilege. And injustice is done to
every gentleman who is cut off by the pre-
vious question. I vote "no."
Mr. EDELEN. I shall vote against sustain-
ing the call for the previous question, although
I am not influenced at all by any desire to
prolong this discussion to any considerable
length. I tried to get the floor to make a re-
mark or two in reply to the gentleman who
last spoke (Mr. Daniel.) I shall vote " no "
on this question, in order that I may have the
Opportunity of correcting one or two errors
into which I think he has fallen.
Mr. MILLER. I will say that having been
one of those who have participated in the
privileges of debate upon this question, under
the twenty minute rule, I cannot vote to cut
off any gentleman who desires to debate this
question, from the privilege of doing so.
And I cannot see how common courtesy and
common honesty can allow any gentleman
who has spoken upon this question, to vote
for sustaining the previous question.
The PRESIDENT. The gentleman from Anne
Arundel (Mr. Miller) is out of order.
Mr. BARRON. That is twice we have had
such language applied to us this afternoon,
Once we were called robbers, and now we
are told that we have not got common hon-
esty.
Mr. MILLER. I said nothing about common
honesty.
Mr. BARRON. Yes, you did; you said
those very words.
The PRESIDENT. The president will not
permit any member to impugn the motives of
this convention.
Mr. MILLER. I did no such thing.
The PRESIDENT. The gentleman used the
expressions "common courtesy" and "com-
mon honesty." No gentleman can be allowed
to occupy the floor for the purpose of im-
puting improper motives to members, of this
convention, as if gentlemen were voting here
with a view to deprive members of their con-
stitutional rights.
Mr. MILLER. If I used the words "common
honesty," I did so unintentionally. I mean
common courtesy.
The PRESIDENT. It was the manner of the
gentleman more than anything else, which
attracted the notice of the chair.
Mr. MILLER. I disclaim any intention of
using such language, I vote "no."
Mr. PETER. I do not desire to exercise any |
right upon this floor which I am not willing
to extend to others. And as I have had an
opportunity to speak upon this question, and
other gentlemen desire to do the same, I shall
vote "no."
Mr. PUGH. Being one of those who have
not spoken upon this question, I feel much
less hesitation in voting than some of the
gentlemen who have spoken. I might possibly,
if the opportunity were afforded me
have somewhat to say upon this question.
But I would long since have voted "aye"
on a call for the previous question, had it
been made, for the reason that I think every-
thing has already been said upon this ques-
tion that can be said. Further debate is only
going over the same old ground, and I am
tired of it. I vote "aye."
The question was upon the amendment of
Mr. DENT, to strike out the following words:
"The judges of election shall administer
to every person offering to vote, the oath or
affirmation prescribed by this constitution,
and should any person offering to vote refuse
or decline to take said oath, he shall not be
permitted to vote at such election, but the
taking of such oath or affirmation shall not
be deemed conclusive evidence of the right of
such person to vote."
Mr. DAVIS, of Charles. I now rise to a
personal explanation.
The PRESIDENT. It is not in order at this
time. The ordering the previous question
compels the house to proceed and take a vote
upon the pending amendment and upon the
section. After that is done the gentleman
will have ample opportunity for explanation.
Mr. DENT called for the yeas and nays upon
his amendment, and they were ordered.
The question was then taken by yeas and
nays, and resulted—yeas 25, nays 35—as
follows::
Yeas— Messrs. Belt, Billingsley, Blackiston,,
Brown, Chambers, Crawford, Dail, Davis, of
Charles, Dent, Duvall, Edelen, Henkle, Hol-
lyday, Horsey, Johnson, Lansdale, Lee, Mar-
bury, Mitchell, Miller, Morgan, Parran, Peter,
Smith, of Dorchester, Turner—25.
Nays—Mess's. Goldsborough, President •;
Abbott, Annan, Audoun, Baker, Barron. Cun-
ningham, Cushing, Daniel, Davis, of Wash-
ington, Dellinger, Ecker, Galloway, Greene,
Hebb, Jones, of Cecil, Kennard, King, Mar-
key, McComas, Mullikin, Murray, Parker,
Pugh, Purnell, Russell, Schlosser, Scott,
Smith, of Worcester, Sneary, Stirling, Stock-
bridge, Swope, Todd, Wooden—35.
The amendment was accordingly rejected.
The question then recurred upon. the sec-
tion as reported by the committee.
Upon this question Mr. DUVALL called for
the yeas and nays, and they were ordered.
The question was then taken, by yeas am
nays, and resulted—yeas 35, nays 25—a
follows:
Teas—Messrs. Goldsborough,, President |
