votes in one day. And there are some
other districts in the county of Washington
which poll larger votes. They are spread
over considerable territory, and I think afuller
vote would be obtained if two days were
allowed. And I think further, that it would
accommodate the voters in the country dis-
tricts, because it might not be convenient for
them to come in on one day, and they could
come in on the other. In Virginia they have
kept the polls open for three days; it is true
the vote there was viva voce. I do not sup-
pose there will be any danger of anybody
running away with the ballot-boxes, for I
suppose the judges would exercise proper pre-
caution in putting them away and guarding
them.
The question was upon the amendment
proposed by Mr. CHAMBERS, to change the
time of closing the polls from six o'clock to
five o'clock.
Mr. STIRLING. I think it would be better
to take the vote first upon the amendment
reported by the committee on revision. If
we are to have two days for the election,
I think every one will agree that the polls
better be closed at five o'clock.
The PRESIDENT. If no objection is made,
the question will be first taken upon the
amendment reported by the committee on re-
vision, to assign two days for taking the
vote in the counties upon the constitution.
The question was then taken upon the
amendment recommended by the committee,
and upon. a division—ayes 34, noes 23—it
was concurred in.
The amendment moved by Mr. CHAMBERS,
to close the polls at five o'clock, instead of six
o'clock, was then adopted.
Mr. EARLE. The committee next recom-
mend a verbal change in the eighth section of
the article schedule. It is simply to insert
the word " for" after the word "provided,"
in the eighteenth line.
In the sixteenth line of the ninth section,
insert "this constitution" for "the constitu-
tion." And in the eighteenth line of the
same section after the word "State," insert
the following words, " including the soldiers'
vote hereinafter provided for." And in the
twentieth line of the same section insert
"this constitution," for "the constitution."
At the end of section nine of this article.
add the following, as
Section 10. And the governor shall ex-
clude from count the votes of any county or
city, the return judges of which shall fail to
certify in the returns as provided by this
schedule, that all persons who have voted
have taken the oath prescribed to be taken,
unless the governor shall be satisfied that
such oath was actually administered, and
that the failure to make the certificate has
been from inadvertence or mistake. |
SOLDIERS' VOTE.
In the first line of the eleventh section of
this article, which is the first section of the
subdivision "soldiers' vote," strike out the
words "any of the qualified voters," and
insert "any qualified voter," In the twen-
tieth line of the same section insert the word
"no" before the word "officer," and in the
same line of the same section insert " voters"
for "votes."
In tire twenty-sixth line of the same sec-
tion strike out the words "in writing."
And in the twenty-seventh line of the same
section, strike out the word "new" in two
places, before the word "constitution."
At the end of the eleventh section insert
the following as
" Section 12. Any qualified voter of this
State, who shall be absent from the city or
county of his residence on the day for taking
the vote on the adoption or rejection of this
constitution by reason of his being in the
military service of the United States, but
shall be at some hospital or military post, or
on duty within this State, and not with his
company, may vote at the nearest polls to
such place, on satisfying the judges that he is
a legal and qualified voter of this State."
In the first line of the thirteenth section
strikeout the word "or,"and insert there-
for the word "as." And in the seventh line
of the same section after the word "governor"
insert the words "at Annapolis."
In the ninth line of the same section, after
the word "for" insert the words "the con-
stitution."
The committee further report that they
have rearranged the different sections of this
article. This became necessary, inasmuch as
one section was stricken out, two were trans-
ferred to the legislative department, and several
new ones added.
And now the committee have the honor of
reporting to the convention, that they have
completed their revision of the different arti-
cles of the constitution, The work has been
performed with too much speed to be thor-
ough, but it will be remembered that most
important articles of the constitution have
been referred .to the committee within the last
few days, and the convention is evidently
determined to close its sessions forthwith.
Under the circumstances a more thorough
revision was impossible.
To-morrow the committee will be prepared
to present to the convention, for its final ac-
tion, an engrossed copy of the declaration of
rights and constitution.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
GEORGE EARLE, Chairman.
On motion of Mr. HEBB, all the above
amendments recommended by the committee
of revision, were concurred in by the con-
vention. |
