ever true is the proposition that the Constitu-
tion of the United States and the Laws made in
pursuance thereof, are the Supreme Law of the
land, yet it has never been deemed necessary by
the statesmen who framed that Constitution
or by those who framed the Constitution of
this State, or, in so far as the undersigned
have learned, by the framers of any one of
the numerous Constitutions of the other
States, to insert amongst the rights and pre-
rogatives of their citizens any language en-
forcing the obligation of allegiance to the
Government of the United States.
Nor do the undersigned perceive the neces-
sity for a departure from the universal prac-
tice that has obtained in all the States, and
which practice has been adhered to even in
those instances where Constitutions have been
framed in the midst of the existing civil war ;
or for the voluntary offering of allegiance to
the Government, on an assumed condition of
hostility in the legislation of the State to the
Government of the United States.
The undersigned also dissent from the
adoption of the 23d Article, as proposed in the
majority report, believing it to contemplate a
sudden, violent and most mischievous destruc-
tion of the relation of master and slave,
which, commencing with the earliest history
of the colony, has been maintained during
all the intervening period, with the regular
and progressive advancement of the State in
all that is useful and honorable, and with a
conviction of its usefulness and propriety on
the part of our citizens, so deeply and univer-
sally felt, that they have carefully prohibited
by their Constitutions, as well as that of 1776
as that of 1851, any interference with this rela-
tion, the rupture of which is now recommended
by the majority of the Committee, without
the slightest preparation on the part of either
master or slave for the extreme change of con-
dition so instantaneously precipitated upon
them, inflicting" upon each very serious and
unnecessary injury and suffering, and par-
ticularly upon the slaves, and, in the absence
of compensation, iniquitous and unjust in the
extreme to the master.
There are some minor alterations, the ne-
cessity for which was not perceived by the
undersigned, and which of choice they would
not have made, but winch are not deemed of
sufficient importance to require especial notice
B F. CHAMBERS,
EDWARD W. BELT,
GEO. W, MORGAN.
Mr. STIRLING moved that these two reports
be made the order of the day for Thursday
next at one o'clock.
Mr BELT. I should greatly prefer that my
friend the chairman of the committee should
delay a proposition of that sort until we re-
assemble. I do not think I shall be here next
week, and I believe my senior colleague upon
the committee will also be absent. I should, |
of course, prefer to be here when the subject V
taken up.
Mr. CHAMBERS, I am unwilling to ask of the
Convention any favor personal to himself. My
professional duties will require me to beabsent
a day or two next week. My present purpose
is to be here on Thursday, but I have not a
very clear foundation for expecting to lie here
at that time. I hope the Convention will not
terminate the discussion of the question until
I have an opportunity of hearing or of read-
ing the arguments upon it.
Mr. DANIEL. I hope the motion will prevail
to make this the order of the day for Thurs-
day. We are not likely to get through with
it for several days. I wish all gentlemen who
desire lo be heard to have that opportunity.
But if we postpone in consequence of the ab-
sence of one or two members to Friday or
Monday, somebody else may then be absent.
If it is found necessary, when the hour arrives
on Thursday, we may then postpone the con-
sideration of the order of the day.
Mr. BELT. To save the necessity for further
discussion I will withdraw my opposition.
Mr. STIRLING. If upon Thursday next mem-
bers of the committee are necessarily absent, 1
would not press the discussion but would
prefer that it should go over. I wish all my
colleagues upon the committee to be here
when it is discussed. But as the gentleman
may be present on Thursday I prefer not to
postpone it now beyond that time.
The motion was agreed to.
MISCELLANEOUS.
On motion of Mr. DUVALL)
Ordered, That the Chairman of the respec-
tive Standing Committees have placed in some
conspicuous position in the Rotunda notices
of the time and place of the meetings of their
several Committees.
Messrs. BLACKISTON, VALLIANT. and HOLLY-
DAY asked and obtained leave of absence for
to-morrow.
On motion of Mr. STOCKBRIDGE,
The Convention adjourned.
TWELFTH DAY.
FRIDAY, May 13th, 1864.
The Convention met.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Patterson,
Present at the call of the roll, the follow-
ing members:
Messrs. Goldsborough, President; Greene,
Hebb, Wickard, Robinette, Miller, Harwood,
Henkle, Hatch, Kennard, Stockbridge, Stir-
ling, Daniel, Abbott, Cushing, Thomas,
Berry of Baltimore county, Ridgely, Parker,
King, Smith of Carroll, Ecker, Swope,
Wooden, Jones of Cecil, Earle, Scott, Pugh,
Turner, Edelen, Mitchell, Todd. Carter,
Keefer, Schley, Markey, Annan, Baker, Cun-
ningham, Schlosser, McComas, Hopper, Rus-
sell, Hopkins, Sands, Sykes, Lansdale, Peter,
Belt, Marbury, Morgan, Gale, Horsey, Mulli- |
