State an idle unthrifty, non-producing class
to pray upon their substance. They propose
to give liberty to the slaves, which for many
will be the liberty to starve. They propose to
fill the jails, almshouses and penitentiaries,
and thereby impose upon the tax-payers of
the State burdens which, in these days of ex-
cessive taxation, they are so little able to
endure.
Mr. CLARKE asked and obtained leave to
place upon the Journal the following amend-
ment, to be hereafter offered as a substitute
for the article:
" That from and after the first day of Jan-
uary, 1865, there shall in this State be neith-
er slavery nor involuntary servitude, except
in punishment of crime, whereof the parly
shall have been duly convicted, and all per-
sons held to service or labor as slaves are
hereby declared free from and after the first
day of January, 1865, provided the Congress
of the United States shall, before the first day
of January, 1865, make an appropriation to
the State of Maryland, of not less than twenty
millions of dollars, to aid the State of Mary-
land in providing compensation to the owners
of slave property, and the Secretary of the
Treasury of the United States shall certify to
the Governor of this State that the said sum
of money is subject to the draft of the Treas-
urer of the State of Maryland, to be disposed
of by the Legislature of the State, to pay the
owners of slaves for their slaves hereby de-
clared free; and provided further, that unless
Congress shall make the said appropriation
as hereinbefore provided, this section shall
be null and void, and it is hereby declared
that it shall be of no effect whatever."
Mr. CLARKE asked and obtained leave of
absence.
On motion of Mr. DANIEL,
The Convention adjourned.
THIRTY-SEVENTH DAY.
TUESDAY, June 21, 1864.
The Convention met at 10 o'clock A. M.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr Patterson.
The roll was called and the following mem-
bers answered to their names :
Messrs. Goldsborough, President; Abbott,
Annan, Audoun, Baker, Barron, Berry, of
Baltimore county, Berry, of Prince George's,
Billingsley, Blackiston, Bond, Briscoe, Brown,
Carter, Chambers, Crawford, Cunningham,
Cushing, Daniel, Davis, of Charles, Davis, of
Washington, Dennis, Duvall, Earle, Ecker,
Edelen, Farrow, Gale, Galloway, Greene,
Harwood, Hatch, Hebb, Hodson, Hoffman,
Hollyday, Hopkins, Hopper, Horsey, Johnson,
Jones, of Cecil, Jones, of Somerset, Keefer,
Kennard, King, Larsh, Lee, Mace, Marbury,
Markey, McComas, Mitchell, Miller, Morgan,
Mullikin, Murray, Nyman, Parker, Parran,
Pugh, Purnell, Robinette, Russell, Sands, |
Schlosser, Scott, Smith, of Carroll, Smith, of
Dorchester, Smith, of Worcester, Sneary,
Stirling, Stockbridge, Sykes, Turner, Val
liant, Wickard, Wooden—77.
The proceedings of yesterday were read
and approved.
Mr. JONES, of Somerset, asked and obtained
leave of absence.
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS—ABOLITION OF
SLAVERY.
The Convention proceeded to the considera-
tion of the order of the day, being the second
reading of the report of the Committee on the
Declaration of Rights. The pending article
was the following:
Art. 23. That hereafter, in this State, there
shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servi-
tude, except in punishment of crime, whereof
the party shall have been duly convicted;
and all persons held to service or labor as
slaves are hereby declared free.
To which Mr. CLARKE had given notice of
the following amendment:
Amend by striking out all after the word
"that," in line 1st, and insert "from and
after the first day of January, 1865, there
shall in this State be neither slavery nor in-
voluntary vervitude, except in punishment
of crime, whereof the party shall have been
duly convicted, and all persons held to ser-
vice or labor as slaves are hereby declared
free from and after the first day of January,
1865, provided the Congress of the United
States shall before the first day of January,
1865, make an appropriation to the State of
Maryland, of not less than twenty millions
of dollars, to aid the State of Maryland in
providing compensation to the owners of
slave property, and the Secretary of the Trea-
sury of the United States shall certify to the
Governor of this State that the said sum of
money is subject to the draft of the Treasurer
of the State of Maryland, to be disposed of by
the Legislature of the State, lo pay the owners
of slaves for their slaves hereby declared free;
and provided further, that unlegs Congress
shall make the said appropriation as herein
before provided, this section shall be null and
void, and it is hereby declared that it shall
be of no effect whatever,"
Mr. BILLINGSLEY. According to parliamen-
tary usage and courtesy, the discussion this
morning is due to the opposition, if any
gentleman wishes to speak upon the question
now, I will waive my right.
Mr. DANIEL. I moved the adjournment,
but it was not with the intention of speaking
this morning. I yield the floor therefore
with pleasure to the gentleman from St.
Mary's.
Mr. BILLINGSLEY. After the intelligent
banquet which was spread before us in the
able, eloquent and elaborate discussion of the
fourth article of the Declaration of Rights,
without accomplishing any favorable results |
