Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. I move that that mo-
tion be indefinitely postponed.
The motion to postpone was agreed to.
On motion,
The Convention adjourned.
FIFTH DAY.
THURSDAY, May 6th, 1864.
The Convention met and was opened by
prayer.
The journal of yesterday wag read.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. I made the motion yes-
terday that the consideration of the subject,
and not of the motion to reconsider, be in-
definitely postponed, and I desire that the
journal should be so corrected.
Mr. SANDS, Mr. BARRON, Mr. HEBB, and the
PRESIDENT stated that the journal corresponded
with their recollection of the motion that was
made.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE, and Mr. BERRY of Balti-
more county, recollected the motion other-
wise
There being objection, the journal was not
changed.
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE,
Mr. SANDS submitted the following order:
Ordered, That the following named mem-
bers be added to the Committee on the Judi-
ciary Department; Messrs. Daniel, Purnell,
Thruston, Baker, Davis and Billingsley.
Mr. BERRY of Baltimore county. I object
to that. If the gentleman desires the com-
mittee to he increased, let him ask for that
and let the President appoint. I think it is
areflection upon the President to put such
an order as that upon the journal.
Mr. SANDS. I take pleasure in assuring the
gentleman that the order is no such reflection.
I have now met that committee several limes;
and I think it wants more members. All the
members have not been present at any meet-
ing of that committee. I think we need a
larger committee. I disclaim any idea of re-
flecting upon the President or anybody else.
The original motion was for the President to
appoint seven, which he has done. Now,
sir, as a member of this body, after meeting
with that committee several times, I say that
my conviction is that it needs enlarging, and
I have offered an order that the committee
may be enlarged, simply that the business of
the body may be facilitated. I repeat that I
utterly disclaim any reflection upon the Pre-
sident, or upon any gentleman whatever.
Mr. MILLER submitted the following amend-
ment:
Ordered, That the number of the Commit-
tee on the Judiciary Department be increased
by five additional members, to be appointed
by the President.
Mr. CUSHING, I should like to know for
what reason an increase of this committee is
desired. The committees were established by
vote of the Convention, seven in each. I |
have heard no allegation that the members
are insufficient to do the work. So far as my
own experience has gone, too large commit-
tees are not desirable. The Convention had
this subject under discussion when the com-
mittees were ordered to consist of seven mem-
bers each. Before voting for the increase of
any committee, or the addition of any members,
I wish to know on what grounds the
increase of the committee is desired.
Mr. SANDS. Of course it gives me pleasure
to inform the gentleman. At the first meet-
ing I think there were five members present;
and after a little informal talk we adjourned.
This morning again at half past 10 we met,
and one member was absent; and it was pro-
posed that we should adjourn in consequence
of the absence of that member. To-morrow
morning I shall not be able to be here, I think ;
my health being in that condition which will
necessitate my returning home. Of course
the same ground will be taken for adjourn-
ment, the absence of a member of the com-
mittee, there being but six there. I think by
the addition of the names embraced in that
order, we shall have a sufficient number of
gentlemen to enable the committee to keep
straight forward in the transaction of its
business. That was the only purpose which
I had in view. I want to get away as soon
as I can; and I want the business of the
committees with which I am connected to be
transacted as speedily as possible. Those are
the reasons upon which the order was based.
Mr. CLARKE. I do not know whether it is
properly in order to refer to proceedings which
have transpired in committee: but inasmuch
as the gentleman from Howard has referred to
the matter, I deem it due to state that the
committees were only announced on yester-
day. I thought as one member, Mr. Jones,
of Somerset, was absent yesterday and had
not yet returned this morning,—being de-
tained by the pass system going into opera-
tion this morning without his knowledge and
being unable to secure his pass in time—it
would be well to wait for him. The com-
mitteee started at the very earliest period to
go to work and discharge the duties assigned
to us, and have worked faithfully and pro-
gressed rapidly. Probably if the committee
had been larger, and the discussion had ex-
tended to more members, we should not have
accomplished as much work as we have
already accomplished. The committee have
already passed upon various matters; and if
now, after it has determined what course it
will take, other members are added before
the committee had an opportunity to submit
the report to the Convention, it destroys the
work already done, for it must all be consid-
ered again. The committee purposes to go
on faithfully in the discharge of its duties. I
have no desire, if the House wishes a larger
number, that it should be limited to the
number of seven. But I see no reason for |
