THIRTY-NINTH DAY.
THURSDAY, June 23,1864.
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, Bris-
coe, Brown, Carter, Chambers, Clarke, Craw-
ford, Cunningham, Cushing, Daniel, Davis,
of Charles, Davis, of Washington, Duvall, Earle,
Ecker, Farrow, Gale, Galloway Greene,
Harwood, Hatch, Hebb, Hodson, Hollyday,
Hopkins, Hopper, Horsey, Johnson, Jones,
of Cecil, Keefer, Kennard, King, Larsh,
Lee, Marbury, Markey, McComas, Mitchell,
Miller, Mullikin, Murray, Negley, Nyman,
Parker, Parran, Peter, Pugh, Purnell,
Ridgely, Robinette, Russell, Sands, Schley,
Schlosser, Scott, Smith, of Carroll, Smith,
of Dorchester, Smith, of Worcester. Sneary,
Stirling, Stockbridge. Sykes, Thomas, Thrus-
ton, Turner, Wickard, Wooden—77.
The proceedings of yesterday were read
and approved.
On motion of Mr. MULLIKIN,
It was ordered to be entered on the Journal,
that James Valliant, of Talbot, is absent from
his seat in this body on account of business
in Baltimore as chairman of the Committee
on Reporting and Printing.
On motion of Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's,
Mr. BELT was granted leave of absence un-
til Saturday next.
ADJOURNMENT OVER.
Mr. CHAMBERS. There was yesterday laid
upon the table a proposition in regard to the
adjournment of this body. I understand,
and I act upon the assumption, that there is
a disposition generally, and particularly
among those who are engaged in agricul-
tural pursuits, or have interests of that de-
scription to attend to at home, to desire an
opportunity of being at home during harvest.
information has reached me that our harvest
commences, in my portion of the State,
either yesterday or to-day. If an adjourn-
ment is to take place, I should like to have
it at an early period. The suggestion yes
terday was that it should not take place un
til the Convention had disposed of the ques-
tion now before them. I think the develop-
ment sufficiently indicates that that cannot
be expected to-day or to-morrow; after
which time an adjournment will not effect
the purpose for which it is chiefly desirable.
I should hope, therefore, while the House
will indulge in a full and deep interest in
this question before them, they will not wait
for the termination of that debate, which is
not to be expected to-day or to-morrow. I
43 |
move, therefore, that that order be taken
from the table for consideration.
The order was taken up from the table—
ayes 35, noes 33—and was read as follows :
Ordered, That immediately after its final
action on the Declaration of Rights, the
Convention adjourn till twelve o'clock on
the sixth of July, and that until said ad-
journment the Convention hold evening ses-
sions, commencing at eight o'clock, P. M.
To which Mr. Brown had submitted the
following amendment:
Strike out all after the word " Ordered,"
and insert "That when the Convention ad-
journs to-morrow, it shall stand adjourned
until the 6th day of July next, and that the
per diem of the members and officers be sus-
pended during said recess,
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's, demanded
a division of the question.
The question then being on the adoption
of the first clause of the amendment, to wit :
That when the Convention adjourns to-mor-
row it stands adjourned until the sixth day
of July next.
Mr. DANIEL demanded the yeas and nays,
and they were ordered.
The question being taken, the result was—
yeas 34, nays 41—as follows :
Yeas—Messrs. Goldsborough, President;
Berry, of P. George's, Billingsley, Blackiston,
Bond, Briscoe, Brown, Chambers, Clarke,
Crawford, Davis, of Charles, Duvall, Gale,
Harwood, Hodson, Hollyday, Hopkins, Hor-
sey, Johnson, Jones, of Cecil, King, Larsh,
Lee, Marbury, Mitchell, Miller, Parran, Pe-
ter, Purnell, Ridgely, Smith, of Dorchester,
Smith, of Worcester, Thomas, Turner—34.
Nays— Messrs. Abbott, Annan, Audoun,
Baker, Barron, Carter, Cunningham, Cush-
ing, Daniel, Davis, of Washington, Earle,
Ecker, Farrow, Galloway, Greene, Hatch,
Hebb, Hopper, Keefer, Kennard, Markey,
McComas, Mullikin, Murray, Negley, Nyman,
Parker, Pugh, Robinette, Russell, Sands,
Schley, Schlosser, Scott, Smith, of Carroll,
Sneary, Stirling, Stockbridge, Sykes, Thrus-
ton, Wickard, Wooden—41.
So the first clause of the amendment was
rejected.
On motion of Mr. ABBOTT,
The order was laid upon the table.
On motion of Mr. BILLINGSLEY,
Ordered, That it be entered upon the
Journal, that the absence of Mr. Morgan is
occasioned by indisposition.
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS—ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.
The Convention proceeded to the con-
sideration of the 23d Article of the Decla-
ration of Rights, on its second reading, as
follows:
" Article 23. 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 con-
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