and do not understand the oath as being one
of paramount allegiance to the Government
of the United States; but one to support the
Constitution of the. United States.
Mr. RIDGELY. I desire to say that I am
merely giving my construction, expressing
my own opinions, suggesting that according
to my judgment, no gentleman in this Con-
vention, no advocate of State rights, could
object to the incorporation of this article in
the Constitution, if the word "obedience"
was substituted for the word ''allegiance,"
And in point of fact it is only the term em-
ployed which gives to it that degree of disa-
greeable aspect which has awakened so strong
and earnest an opposition to its adoption. I
contend that this is nothing more nor less
than the Constitution of the United States as
it now exists; and that the deduction which
the committee have put into the article is the
necessary sequitur from the premises. That
if the Constitution and the laws passed pur-
suant thereto, are the supreme law, and all
interposing obstacles in the way of conflict-
ing laws must disappear, then it is neces-
sarily the paramount law. If it is supreme
law, then supreme obedience is due to it, and
if supreme obedience, then paramount obe-
dience.
These, sir, are my views, hastily and per-
haps incoherently expressed, I had not pur-
posed to enter into this debate at all; but
had intended to sit here as a listener only.
But an honored friend on the other side of
the house, came to me and spurred me into
these remarks. I owe the house an apology
for thus occupying their time without proper
preparation.
On motion of Mr. DANIEL—
The Convention then took a recess until
half-past four P. M.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention reassembled at 4 1/2 o'clock,
P. M.
The roll was called and the following mem-
bers answered to their names :
Messrs. Goldsborough, President; Abbott,
Annan, Baker, Billingsley, Blackiston, Bris-
coe, Brown, Chambers, Cunningham, Cush-
ing, Daniel, Davis, of Washington, Dellinger,
Duvall, Earle, Ecker, Edelen, Farrow, Gale,
Galloway, Greene, Harwood, Hebb, Hoffman,
Hollyday, Hopper, Horsey, Jones, of Somerset,
Keefer, King, Lansdale, Lee, Marbury, Mc-
Comas, Mitchell, Miller, Mullikin, Murray,
Negley, Nyman, Parker, Parran, Purnell,
Robinette, Russell, Sands, Scott, Smith, of
Carroll, Smith, of Worcester, Sneary, Stir-
ling, Swope, Sykes, Todd, Turner, Valliant,
Wickard, Wooden—59.
ORDERS.
On motion of Mr. SCOTT, the following or-
der was adopted: |
Ordered, That the use of this Hall be given
to Captain Calhoun on Friday evening, for
the purpose of delivering a lecture on the
subject of prison life among the Rebels.
On motion of Mr. WICKARD, the following
order was adopted:
Ordered, That the various Standing Com-
mittees be requested to report on the subject s
they may have under consideration, at as
early a day as practicable.
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS—ALLEGIANCE.
The Convention then resumed the consider-
ation of the order of the day, being the report
of the Committee on the Declaration of Bights,
which was on its second reading.
The 4th article, declaring the paramount
allegiance of every citizen to the Government
of the United States, was under consideration.
The pending question was upon the mo-
tion of Mr. BRISCOE, to strike out the word
" paramount."
Mr. SCOTT said: It is useless, Mr. Presi-
dent, to attempt to disguise the fact that a
sort of languor pervades this Hall, particu-
larly after dinner. It may be the effect of good
eating—I do not know what else it can be.
Nothing certainly was more foreign to my
intention when this article was reported from
the committee, than that I should say one
word upon it, except to record my vote upon
its final passage. I have, however, thought
it due, not only to myself, but to the people
whom I have the honor in part to represent
here, to do something more than recurd my
vote; particularly if a lull occurred in the
storm of debate so that my voice could be
heard without interfering with or in any way
retarding the business of the Convention.
And as that lull appears to have come upon
us, I will occupy a very brief period of time
in the consideration of the subject now pend-
ing before this body.
We are now making history, Mr. President,
and our acts here will be read in the light of
different times. And when our acts here are
read by the people of Cecil county and those
who know their bistory, they might be dis-
posed to question whether Cecil county was
represented upon tins floor; or, if represent-
ed, who he could be who could hear such
heresies advocated here without one word of
reply.
I have no prepared speech. Since this
morning's session I have jotted down a few
points which I thought I might make if op-
portunity was given me. And I propose to
address myself to them as briefly as possible.
I come from a section of country where, in
the sense in which it is understood here, we
have no afternoon. Nurtured among the
woods, the forests and hills, and accustomed
to toil in the fields and in the mills, amid the
clashing and clangor of wheels and machine-
ry, the afternoon is as important to us as the
forenoon. And consequently if I do not fa.- |
