persons from their debts or obligations to the
State, unless recommended by the Governor
or officers of the treasury department."
The question being taken, it was adopted.
The next question was upon the clause
prohibiting the legislature from passing spe-
cial laws " establishing, locating or affecting
the construction of roads."
On motion of Mr. KEEFER,
The clause was amended by adding the
words, ''and the repairing and building of
bridges."
The clause as amended was then adopted.
On motion of Mr. BOND,
The convention took a recess until 8 o'clock,
P.M.
EVENING SESSION.
The convention reassembled at 8 o'clock,
P.M.
The roll was called, and the following
members answered to their names:
Messrs. Goldsborough, President; Abbott,
Annan, Belt, Chambers, Cunningham, Cush-
ing, Daniel, Davis, of Washington. Dent,
Earle, Ecker, Edelen, Greene, Hebb, Henkle,
Hoffman, Hollyday, Hopkins, Hopper, Jones,
of Somerset, King, Lee, Markey, McComas,
Mitchell, Miller, Mullikin, Murray, Negley,
Nyman, Parker, Parran, Pugh, Russell,
Schley, Smith, of Carroll, Sneary, Stirling,
Stockbridge, Swope, Wooden—42
No quorum present.
The PRESIDENT. The President deems it
his duty to call the attention of the conven-
tion to the absence of the sergeant-at-arms on
this occasion, as he has been absent on sev-
eral other occasions when the convention has
been in session. He mentioned to the Presi-
dent that be designed being absent to-night,
but the President gave him no authority to
leave. When there is a fuller attendance,
the President will deem it his duty to call the
attention of the convention again to this sub-
ject.
Mr. MILLER. I understand that there were
but sixty-six members in attendance this
morning. I learn from the secretary that
gome nineteen members left the city this
afternoon. As it is therefore evident that
we can get no quorum to-night, I move the
convention now adjourn.
The motion was agreed to—
And the convention accordingly ad-
journed.
FIFTY-SIXTH DAY.
SATURDAY, July 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, Belt, Brooks, Carter, Cush-
ing, Dail, Daniel, Davis, of Washington, |
Dent, Duvall, Earle, Ecker, Edelen, Farrow,
Greene, Hebb, Hoffman, Hollyday, Hopkins,
Hopper, King, Lee, Markey, McComas,
Mitchell, Miller, Morgan, Mullikin, Murray,
Negley, Nyman, Parker, Parran, Pugh,
Ridgely, Russell, Schley, Smith, of Carroll,
Smith, of Dorchester, Sneary, Stirling, Stock-
bridge, Swope, Sykes, Todd, Valliant, Wick-
ard, Wilmer, Wooden—52.
The journal of yesterday was read and ap-
proved.
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
The Convention then resumed the consider-
ation of the report of the committee on the
legislative department, which was on its
second reading.
Mr. RUSSELL gave notice that at the proper
time he should move the following as an ad-
ditional section:
"Section— The general assembly shall
pass laws providing that the rites of marriage
between any persons legally competent to
contract marriage may be celebrated by any
minister of any religious denomination, by
any mayor of a city, by any justice of the
peace, or in such manner as is usually prac-
ticed by the society of people called Quakers ;
and providing for the registration of all mar-
riages, however solemnized in this State."
The section under consideration was sec-
tion nineteen, which had been amended to
read as follows:
"The legislature shall not pass local or
special laws in any of the following enu-
merated cases, viz:
"For the assessment and collection of
taxes for State or county purposes, or extend-
ing the time for the collection of taxes ;
"Providing for the support of public
schools, the preservation of school funds, the
location or the regulation of school houses ;
" Granting divorces;
" Relating to fees and salaries;
'' Relating to the interest on money ;
'' Providing for regulating the election or
compensation of State or county officers, or
designating the places of voting, or the
boundaries of election districts;
" Providing for the sale of real estate be-
longing to minors or other persons laboring
under legal disabilities, by executors, admin-
istrators, guardians or trustees;
" Giving effect to informal or invalid deeds
or wills;
"Refunding money paid into the State
treasury, or releasing persons from their
debts or obligations to the State, unless re-
commended by the Governor or officers of
the treasury department;
" Or establishing, locating or affecting the
construction of roads, and repairing and
building of bridges."
Mr. CHAMBERS submitted the following ad-
ditional amendment to section nineteen :
"And the general assembly shall pass no |
