tion tax of 50 cents or a dollar. There is no
difference between the two; and I am there-
fore opposed to any such proposition. Gen-
tlemen argue in favor of this amendment,
that there is a large class of people in Mary-
land, as in other States, young men who make
handsome incomes but who do not pay any
tax. Now is it not in the power of the Leg-
islature to reach that class of cases, inde-
pendently of a poll tax, a capitation tax, or
an election tax? They can be reached in an-
other and far less objectionable mode. I am
sure you will damage the prospects of the
Constitution you may adopt, by inserting any-
thing in it that looks towards—if it does not,
as I contend it does, substantially—granting
the power to the Legislature to pass a prop-
erty qualification tax. I shall, therefore, op-
pose this amendment, and vote for the article
as originally reported.
Mr. DANIEL. With the permission of the
Convention, I will withdraw my proposition
ill favor of one from the gentleman from Alle-
gany, (Mr. Greene,) which I think is in a
better form than the one I have submitted.
No objection being made, leave to with-
draw was granted.
Mr. GREENE then submitted the following
proposition:
Strike out article 14, and insert the follow-
ing as article 14:
" That paupers ought not to be assessed
for the support of the Government, but every
person in the State, holding property therein,
ought to contribute his proportion of public
taxes for the support of Government, accord-
ing to his actual worth in real or personal
property; and fines, duties or taxes may
properly and justly be imposed or laid on per-
sons or property for the good government
and benefit of the community; provided that
no capitation tax shall be imposed as a quali-
fication for the exercise of the right of suf-
frage.' '
Mr. JONES, of Somerset. I would suggest
that we take until to-morrow morning to re-
flect upon this subject. I therefore move
that this Convention do now adjourn.
The question being taken upon the motion
to adjourn, it was agreed to, upon a divi-
sion—yeas 44, nays not counted.
The Convention accordingly adjourned.
TWENTIETH DAY.
THURSDAY, May 26th, 1864.
The Convention met at 11 A. M.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Owen.
Present at the call of the roll, the follow-
ing members:
Messrs. Goldsborough, (President,) Ab-
bott, Annan, Audoun, Baker, Barron, Belt,
Berry of Prince George's, Billingsley, Black-
iston, Bond, Briscoe, Brown, Carter, Craw- |
ford, Cunningham, Cushing, Dail, Daniel,
Davis of Charles, Davis of Washington,
Dellinger, Dennis, Duvall, Earle, Ecker, Ede-
len, Farrow, Galloway, Greene, Harwood,
Hatch, Hebb, Henkle, Hodson, Hopkins, Hop-
per, Horsey, Johnson, Jones of Cecil, Jones
of Somerset, Keefer, Kennard, King, Lans-
dale, Larsh, Lee, Mace, Marbury, Markey,
McComas, Mitchell, Miller, Morgan, Mullikin,
Murray, Negley, Noble, Nyman, Parker, Par-
ran, Peter, Pugh, Purnell, Ridgely, Robin-
ette, Russell, Schley, Schlosser, Scott, Smith
of Carroll, Smith of Dorchester, Smith of
Worcester, Sneary, Stirling, Stockbridge,
Sykes, Thomas, Thruston, Todd, Wickard,
Wilmer, Wooden—83.
The proceedings of yesterday were read
and approved.
On motion of Mr. SMITH, of Carroll, it
was
Ordered, That it be entered on the Journal
that Dr. John Swope, of Carroll county, is
absent from the Convention on account of
the illness of his brother.
The PRESIDENT announced the first business
in order to be the order submitted by Mr.
Valliant on yesterday, as follows :
Ordered, That 130 copies of the Rules and
Orders for the government of the Convention
be 'printed in pamphlet form for the use of
members.
Mr. CUSHING. Before that is acted on, 1
think the Convention better act on the amend-
ments to the rules, of which I gave notice
yesterday; because if adopted they will make
a material change in the rules. I therefore
move that this order be postponed until to-
morrow.
The question being taken, the motion to
postpone was agreed to.
AMENDMENT OF THE RULES,
The Convention then proceeded to the con-
sideration of the following amendments to
the Rules, of which notice was given by Mr.
Cushing on yesterday:
Amend Rule 42 by striking out the words
"the final passage of a report, or," so that
the rule will read :
"All questions, except on a motion to sus-
pend the rules, or those otherwise herein pro-
vided for, shall be determined by a majority
of the members present; those dividing in
the affirmative rising in their places, those
in the negative continuing in their seats, and
so vice versa, until a decision by the Presi-
dent."
Amend Rule 43 by striking out all after
the word "Journal" in the third line, so that
the rule will read :
"The question on the final adoption of any
article shall always be determined by yeas
and nays, which shall be recorded on the
Journal."
The question was stated to be on the pro-
position to amend the 42d Rule.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's. I hope |
