that there is not time to get through with
this question, even with afternoon sessions,
by the time the recess should be taken. There
are a number of gentlemen here who desire
to be heard upon this, the most important
question to come before this Convention, At
the rate of two or three speeches a day,
they would occupy a week at least to get
through this discussion. If that be so, then
the adjournment for harvest must come be-
fore this question is settled, or it will be too
late for our agricultural members. I urge
that as a reason why there is no necessity for
pressing these afternoon sessions with that
view.
Mr. KENNARD. I shall vole for an evening
session, but I want it understood that, if that
proposition is carried, and I am not here to-
night, it is in consequence of indisposition.
The question was upon the motion of Mr.
STIRLING, to take a recess until half-past
seven o'clock to-night.
On this question Mr. HEBB called for the
yeas and nays, which were ordered,
The question being taken, by yeas and nays,
it resulted—yeas 41, nays 34—as follows:
Yeas—Messrs. Goldsborough, President;
Abbott, Annan, Baker, Berry, of Baltimore
county, Brown, Carter, Cunningham, Daniel,
Davis, of Washington, Earle, Ecker, Farrow,
Galloway, Greene, Hebb, Hoffman, Holly-
day, Hopkins, Hopper, Kennard, King, McCo-
mas, Mullikin, Murray, Parker, Pugh, Pur-
nell, Robinette, Russell, Sands, Schlosser,
Scott, Smith, of Carroll, Smith, of Worces-
ter, Sneary, Stirling, Stockbridge, Sykes,
Valliant, Wooden—41.
Nays—Messrs. Audoun, Barron, Berry, of
P. George's, Billingsley, Blackiston, Bond,
Briscoe, Chambers, Crawford, Davis, of
Charles, Dennis, Duvall, Edelen, Gale, Har-
wood, Hatch, Hodson, Horsey, Johnson,
Jones, of Cecil, Jones, of Somerset, Larsh,
Lee, Mace, Marbury, Markey, Mitchell, Miller,
Morgan, Nyman, Parran, Smith, of Dorches-
ter, Turner, Wickard—34.
The Convention accordingly took a recess
until half-past seven, P. M:
EVENING SESSION.
The Convention re-assembled at 7 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, Berry, of Baltimore county,
Berry, of P. George's, Billingsley, Blackiston,
Bond, Brown, Carter, Chambers, Cunning-
ham, Cushing, Daniel, Davis, of Washington,
Duvall, Earle, Ecker, Edelen, Farrow, Gale,
Galloway, Greene, Harwood, Hebb, Henkle,
Hoffman, Hollyday, Hopkins, Hopper, Lee,
Marbury, McComas, Mitchell, Miller, Morgan,
Mullikin, Murray, Nyman, Parker, Parran,
Pugh, Purnell, Robinette, Russell, Sands,
Schley, Schlosser, Scott, Smith, of Carroll, |
Smith, of Worcester, Sneary, Stirling, Stock-
bridge, Sykes, Turner, Wooden—59.
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS—EMANCIPATION.
The Convention resumed the consideration
of the report of the Committee on the Decla-
ration of Rights, which was on its second
reading.
Article 23 was under consideration, as fol-
lows :
''That hereafter, in this State, there shall
be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude,
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."
The pending question was slated to be upon
the following amendment submitted by Mr.
Clarke:
Strike out all after the word " that," and
insert—
" From and after the first day of January,
1865, there shall in this State be neither
slavery nor involuntary servitude, 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 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
$20,000,000 to aid the State of Maryland 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 un-
less Congress shall make the said appropriation
as hereinbefore provided, this resolution
shall be null and void, and it is hereby de-
clared that it be of no effect whatever."
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's, I would
ask the Convention to postpone the consider-
ation of this amendment until my colleague
(Mr. Clarke) can be heard upon it. I move
to postpone it until to-morrow.
Mr. PURNELL. I may be in error, but I am
under the impression that it was the under-
standing that this amendment should lie over
until the gentleman from Prince George's
(Mr. Clarke) returned.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's. The gen-
tleman is correct.
The PRESIDENT, if the amendment is post-
poned until to-morrow, it will carry the
whole subject with it.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's. As I un-
derstand that my friend from Cecil (Mr.
Scott) desires to address the Convention, I
will withdraw my motion to postpone.
Mr. SCOTT. Mr. President, I have no par- |
