him. We have made this contract; let us
stick to it like men, and let Mr. Tatman
be continued in his office until he shall
have accomplished the work to which we
have appointed him. I have no disrespect for
any other gentleman connected with this
body as an officer. So far as I know they
have performed their duties faithfully. And
if it be necessary that the clerk of this body,
or any other officer, should be associated
with Mr. Tatman, in the performance of this,
as it appears to me, his legitimate duty, and
that fact can be shown, I have no objection to
it. But I do protest against ousting a man
from his office, whom we have placed there.
Mr. PURNELL. I indorse with great pleasure
everything that has been said by my friend
from Caroline (Mr. Todd) in relation to Mr.
Tatman, I think he has performed the duties
which have devolved upon him with singular
fidelity. It is true that for the last two weeks
he has performed the entire labor himself.
Mr. Collins, his associate, as has been slated,
has been called home by serious indisposition
in his family, scarlet fever in a very malig-
nant form prevailing among them, and he
has necessarily been .detained by their bed-
sides. That has devolved the whole duty
upon Mr. Tatman; and I think that should
entitle him to some little consideration in dis-
posing of the patronage which this conven-
tion may have in its power.
I shall with great pleasure vote for the or-
der introduced by the gentleman from Alle-
gany county (Mr. Hebb) dividing this duty
between Mr. Tatman and the secretary. It
seems to me that their spheres are different.
It was not contemplated that the folder should
direct and distribute the matter to the vari-
ous members; that more properly belongs to
the secretary of this body. I am in favor of
retaining both of them. And with that con-
viction of justice and right on my mind, I
shall vote for the first order.
Mr. NEGLEY. Would it be in order to
move to amend this substitute?
The PRESIDENT. Not now.
Mr. NEGLEY. Then I indorse everything
that has been said by the gentleman from
Caroline (Mr. Todd.) And I cannot agree
with the gentleman from Worcester (Mr.
Purnell,) that it is proper to divide this labor
with the secretary, it there are two persons
at all needed, the labor should be divided
between those employees to whom the duty
legitimately and properly belongs. The sec-
retary has no connection whatever with the
distribution of the documents of this conven-
tion. The folder and the postmaster are the
proper parties for the distribution of these
papers. And if there is to be any division
of labor which will have to be performed by
the employees of this convention, those two
officers are the only two employees who have
any legitimate connection with this matter.
The folder to fold them, and the postmaster |
to direct and frank them to the different
members. I submit to gentlemen whether
that duty does not legitimately belong to the
postmaster. It is no part. of the duties of the
folder to direct and frank these documents.
And at the proper time I will move to con-
nect the postmaster with the folder. I am
certainly opposed to ousting the folder. 1
think the duty should not be taken away
from him, because it naturally and properly
belongs to him.
Mr. GREENE. If any wrong has been done
to anybody, it seems to me it has been done
to the folder appointed by this convention,
whose name was omitted by the gentleman
from Caroline (Mr. Todd.) The convention
at the commencement of its session appointed
two folders; one of whom has been left en-
tirely out of the question.
Mr. TODD. The folder from Worcester
county, Mr. Collins, was under the necessity
of returning home in consequence of the se-
rious indisposition of his family. When he
left he said he would not be able to be back,
and gave over to Mr. Tatman all claim what-
ever to any position after the convention ad-
journed. That was the understanding be-
tween them.
Mr. GREENE. Every member desires to
have sent to him the remaining sheets of the
debates. We have probably not yet received
the half of them, and it will be months before
their distribution is completed. Some per-
son should be kept here to direct these de-
bates, and perhaps a folder to fold them.
The receiving and folding these documents
will involve the much larger portion of the
expenses, I do not know the folder; I do
not know bow far he is competent to the
duty of addressing a thousand copies per day.
Mr. TODD. He is an excellent penman,
and very rapid.
Mr. GREENE. I am glad to hear it. But
the labor of addressing a thousand copies a
day is very arduous. I contemplate in my
order that the secretary be furnished with
the names of the parties to whom members
desire to have these debates sent. And be
can fold them and address them in Baltimore,
where they are printed, and mail them in the
Baltimore city post office And it strikes me
that the amount of compensation fixed, six
dollars per thousand copies, is a limited one,
and vastly cheaper than the other plan.
And I think that we would be vastly more
likely to receive the remaining copies of the
debates in the way I propose, than we would
be to receive them from Annapolis. That is
all the object I have in offering this. 1
would be very glad to do anything for Mr.
Tatman that '1 could do properly.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. This is perhaps rather
a small matter, this squabbling over a resid-
uary legacy. But after all it amounts to
something as far as the members and the State
are concerned. I believe that it is conceded |
