Mr. CHAMBERS stated that at the last Consti-
tutional Convention in the State there had
been several candidates, and that the person
receiving the largest number was then declared
President by a resolution.
Mr. BERRY of Prince George moved that the
calling"' of the roll be suspended in order to
permit the introduction of such a resolution.
Objection being offered, and unanimous
consent being required, the calling of the roll
was proceeded with.
All the members present voted for Henry
H. Goldsborough, except the following, who
were excused:
Messrs, Miller, Harwood, Bond, Turner,
Parran, Dail, Smith of Dorchester county,
Hodson, Chambers, Hollyday, Lee, Brown,
Wilmer, Morgan, Jones of Somerset, Craw-
ford, Dennis, Horsey, Clarke, Berry of Prince
George's, Belt and Goldsborough.
The CHAIRMAN announced that Henry H.
Goldsborough had received 58 votes, and was
therefore duly elected President of the Con-
vention.
Mr. DANIEL moved the appointment by the
Chair of a committee of three members to
wait upon the President elect, inform him of
his election, and conduct him to the chair.
The motion was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN appointed Messrs. Daniel,
Berry of Baltimore county, and Clarke,
The President of the Convention having
been conducted to the chair, addressed the
Convention as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION:—It is with
much diffidence that I enter upon the execu-
tion of the duties of presiding officer of this
body. I am well aware of the responsibilities
belonging to such a position in ordinary times,
greatly increased as they must be in a period
like the present, when the passions of men are
aroused by the exciting events of each day,
demanding in the position I now occupy the
exercise or more than the usual amount of for-
bearance and control, I need not remind you
with what solicitude the people of this State
are watching our proceedings, I am sure I
do not speak with unauthorized hope when I
venture the prediction that you will bring to
the performance of your several duties a fidel-
ity, attention and an enlarged patriotism,
equal to the expectation of those who sent us
here for the purpose of organizing anew the
institutions under which we live. At any
time this is an important duty: at the present,
it cannot be performed without a zealous de-
termination to do our whole duty irrespective
of personal considerations.
I will not advert to the present condition of
our State or National affairs. I deem it
most prudent to leave these to the impartial
judgment of each individual member. While
seeking to exclude from our deliberations all
partisan prejudices, I beseech you to devote
yourselves sedulously to the work before you ;
and while in the performance of our duties |
not to overlook that respect and esteem that
is due from each one to the other. If I should
be successful in the pursuit of such course, 1
am confident that I shall be sustained and
animated by the exhibition of a similar spirit
on your part. We must expect to differ in
our views. Let us determine to present and
advocate them on all occasions in a courteous
manner, one becoming a dignified deliberative
body. By respecting the opinions of each
other we shall be the better prepared to sub-
mit with becoming grace to the will of the
majority, that cardinal principle to be cherished
by all alike if we sincerely desire the pre-
servation and perpetuation of free institutions.
Thanking you for this manifestation of your
kind regards, I now enter upon the discharge
of my duties, with the assurance of your
generous confidence, and an abiding hope that
our labors maty redound to the peace, happi-
ness and prosperity of our State.
On motion,
The Convention adjourned until 12 o'clock
M. to-morrow.
SECOND DAY.
THURSDAY, April 28, 1864.
The Convention was called to order by the
President.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Davenport.
The roll was called and 78 members answered
to their names.
The credentials of Mr. BRISCOE of Calvert,
Mr. MARBURY of Prince George's, Mr. GALE
of Somerset, Mr. SMITH of Worcester, and of
Mr. HENKLE of Anne Arundel, all of whom
had taken the necessary oath before the Gov-
ernor, were presented by their colleagues,
and they took their seats in the Convention.
Subsequently, on motion of Mr. KENNARD,
the Secretary was instructed to enter upon the
journal that the absence of JOHN L. THOMAS,
\ Jr., of Baltimore city, was occasioned by
i sickness.
The journal was read.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Mr. CHAMBERS. I rise more for personal
explanation than for correction of the journal.
A remark is ascribed to me which I could not
have made. "If so unlikely a tiling should
occur as an election by the party to which 1
belong." There could hardly be anything
said more foreign to the real condition of mat-
ters so far as 1, or the gentlemen who sent me
here, are concerned, than this statement. 1
was absent when I was nominated to this
Convention, When I returned I received a
communication from two gentlemen, profess-
ing to be the Chairman and Secretary, who
notified me that I had been nominated to the
Convention by a meeting consisting entirely
of persons opposed to a Convention, without
any other qualification. I said in answer that
1 bad not been a member of any one of the
present existing political parties for years. 1 |
