supported, I am not convinced of our right or
power to take this money. And I am opposed
to it in the next place for the reasons set forth
by my colleague (Mr. Davis, of Charles.) I
vote " no "
Mr. PUGH. I have not the least doubt that
the gentlemen who support this proposition,
do so in good faith. I have not a particle of
doubt that they so interpret the law. I have
examined the matter in every possible way,
but I cannot so understand it. At the time
I was elected to come to this convention, I
never expected to get this extra compensation.
I shall vote conscientiously upon this matter;
I am not actuated by any buncombe feeling.
I shall act just according to my convictions.
I do not think I am entitled to this money,
and I do not want it. I vote "no."
Mr. RUSSELL. This matter has been decided
several times in the convention, and in the
committee on accounts, I am very sorry to
see it introduced here again. I believe most
conscientiously that neither legally nor mor-
ally are we entitled to it. Audit this propo-
sition is adopted, I shall decline to receive the
money, I vote "no,"
Mr. SCHLEY. I merely wish to say that
by the operation of the previous question, I
have been prevented from offering an amend-
ment to the pending proposition, which I
think would have been received by the con-
vention. It is unnecessary for me to repeat
my views upon the question now pending. I
shall most assuredly decline to receive the
money, if this shall be adopted, which I hope
will not be the case. I vote " no."
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. I regret extremely that
our record should be marred with this sub-
ject. I shall vote against this proposition
because I do not think it right. There is no
temptation, were the sum much larger than
it is to induce me to do otherwise. At the
same time I desire to say with reference, not
to myself, but to others, that I hold the de-
cision of this convention to make this matter
equally applicable to all members, notwith-
standing any sneer about being charitable at
the expense of others. If the decision of this
convention makes this legal for one, it is legal
for all. If any one chooses to decline to re-
ceive it on moral grounds, it is right to do as
he pleases. But no one has a right to point
any sneer at another who has persistently ob-
jected to this proposition, but considers him-
self overruled by the better judgment of the
convention. I vote "no."
The question recurred upon adopting the
order as amended, as follows ;
"Ordered, That the president of this con-
vention be allowed a per diem of six dollars ;
and that the committee on accounts audit his
accounts accordingly; and that the commit-
tee on accounts be hereby instructed to audit
the mileage account of each member of this
convention according to the joint resolution
of the general assembly of this State at it |
last session, adjusting the mileage of the
members of that body."
Upon this question Mr. SCHLEY called for
the yeas and nays, which were ordered.
The question was then taken by yeas and
nays, and resulted—yeas 39, nays 34—as fol-
lows :
Yeas—Messrs. Abbott, Audoun, Barron,
Belt, Berry, of Baltimore county, Bond
Brooks, Brown, Carter, Crawford, Dail, Del-
linger, Dent, Duvall, Gale, Hatch, Henkle,
Hodson, Hollyday, Jones, of Cecil, Jones, of
Somerset, King, Lansdale, Larsh, Lee, Mar-
bury, Mayhugh, Miller, Morgan, Negley,
Peter, Ridgely, Smith, of Dorchester, Swope,
Sykes, Turner, Wickard, Wilmer, Wooden—
39.
Nays—Messrs. Annan, Baker, Cunning-
ham, Cushing, Daniel, Davis, of Charles,
Davis, of Washington, Earle, Ecker, Gallo-
way, Greene, Harwood, Hebb, Hoffman,
Horsey, Keefer, Kennard, Markey, McComas,
Mitchell, Mullikin, Murray, Nyman, Parker,
Pugh, Purnell, Russell, Schley, Schlosser,
Scott, Sneary, Stirling, Stockbridge, Thom-
as—34.
The order as amended was accordingly
adopted.
M r. MCCOMAS, when his name was called, said:
Though in favor of the former part of this
proposition, yet considering the latter part of
it one of the worst acts of selfish and iniquit-
ous legislation that ever characterized the
general assembly of Maryland, I shall have
to vote against the whole proposition, espe-
cially after having recorded my vote, with
others, in favor of allowing future general
assemblies of this State five dollars a day and
no mileage. There was not one of us who
was elected to this convention who expected
to receive this mileage. I vote " no."
Mr. PUGH, I should like very much to
have had an opportunity to vote for the first
part of this proposition, because I believe it
is justified by precedent and is nothing more
than right. But as the matter now stands,
it is impossible for me to vote for the first
part without indorsing the rider, I am alto-
gether opposed to that portion of it, and am
therefore obliged to vote " no."
Mr. SCHLEY. I ask the unanimous consent
of the convention to have the following en-
tered on the journal.
" Ordered, That it be entered on the jour-
nal that Frederick Schley, one of the delegates
from Frederick county, dissenting from the
decision just come to by the convention, re-
spectfully protests against its action in appro-
priating one hundred dollars to each member
for extra itineracy, and declines to take from
the treasury of the State, the amount of addi-
tional compensation so awarded to him."
Mr. DENT. The gentleman from Frederick
(Mr. Schley) has already fully stated his ob-
jections to the adoption of this order, and
those objections have gone upon the journal |
