under any circumstances any possibility of a
fraud by any of the officers of the govern-
ment, yet it certainly puts them in a position
where it might he for the interest of the Bal-
timore and Ohio Railroad Company, for in-
stance, to offer them a very large gratuity to
sell to them the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
for a very small sum. I think it is injudicious
always to make it possible that any induce-
ment should be offered to officers of the gov-
ernment, to make a pecuniary profit from the
sale of any of these public works. I ap-
proved therefore of the resolution of the
gentleman from Kent, which made it obliga-
tory upon the officers whom the legislature
should appoint to sell, provided only that
they could at the same time close up an equal
amount of the public debt of the State. The
public school fund would beat the same time
provided for, of course. I also desired that
the bank stock should be sold—
SEVERAL MEMBERS called the gentleman to
order, for malking a speech instead of an ex-
planation of his vote.
Mr. CUSHING. I was giving; reasons why,
although I entirely approve of the amend-
ment in some respects, yet taken as a whole,
I must vote "no."
So the amendment wan adopted.
Mr. DUVALL submitted the following amend-
ment, which was agreed to :
Amead by adding to the end of section the
words, "Provided, however, that no such sale
shall be binding on the State until the same
shall have been ratified by the general assem-
bly, after having been duly reported to the
same."
Mr. HEBB submitted the following amend-
ment :
Amend by adding to the end of the section
the words, " And provided further, that
the State's interest in the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal, shall not be sold for less than
$5,000,000."
Mr. PUGH moved to amend by inserting
$8,000,000.
The amendment to the amendment was re-
jected .
The question recurred upon the amendment
submitted by Mr. HEBB.
Mr. RIDGELY, That is subject to the same
objection, that it is contradictory to and in
conflict with the amendment itself, which
gives the control,—the entire discretion to
sell on the best terms they can,—to the per-
sons authorized to sell.
Mr. HEBB. The very object of the amend-
ment is to limit that discretion.
The amendment was rejected..
Mr. DANIEL moved to reconsider the vote
adopting the amendment submitted by Mr.
DUVALL.
Messrs. VALLIANT and TODD seconded the
motion.
Mr. RIDGELY. If the house will consent to
reconsider, I will not press the vote upon the |
proposition to-day. I am very willing to
defer that until we get a full house,
The motion to reconsider prevailed.
The question being upon the adoption of
the amendment submitted by Mr. DUVALL.
On morion of Mr. VALLIANT,
The convention adjourned until Monday
next, at 12 o'clock, M.
FIFTY-SEVENTH DAY.
MONDAY, July 25,1864.
The Convention met at 12 o'clock, M.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Owen.
The roll was called, and the following mem-
bers answered to their names :
Messrs. Goldsborough, President; Abbott,
Annan, Audoun, Bond, Brown, Carter,
Chambers, Crawford, Cunningham, Cushing,
Dail, Daniel, Davis, of Charles, Davis, of
Washington, Dent, Duvall, Earle, Ecker,
Edelen, Farrow, Hatch, Hebb, Hoffman,
Hollyday, Hopkins, Jones, of Somerset, Ken-
nard King, Larsh, Lee. Markey, McComas,
Mitchell, Miller, Mullikin, Murray, Nyman,
Parker, Parran, Pugh, Purnell, Russell,
Sands, Schley, Smith, of Carroll, Smith of
Dorchester, Stockbridge, Swope, Sykes,
Thomas, Todd, Valliant, Wilmer, Wooden—
55.
The proceedings of Saturday were read
and approved.
On motion of Mr. TODD,
It was ordered to be entered on the jour-
nal, that the continued absence of Mr. Noble,
of Caroline, from his sent in this Convention,
is occasioned by his serious illness.
On motion of Mr FARROW,
It was ordered to be entered on the journal,
that the absence of Mr harrow from this
body has been occasioned by his necessary
attendance upon the circuit court for Worces-
ter county, and had he been in his seat here
he would have voted fur all the resolutions
and orders adopted by this convention in re-
lation to the late rebel invasion, &c.
On motion of Mr. AUDOUN,
It was ordered to be entered on the journal,
that William Brooks, of Baltimore city, is
absent from his seat on account of being en-
gaged as one of the board of enrolment and
draft in the drawing of the draft in said city.
Mr. SYKES submitted the following order :
" Ordered, That no member shall speak
more than once on any question before the
house, and then not longer than fifteen
minutes."
The PRESIDENT. The chair has already-
ruled that to make any limitations of the time
contrary lo the rule adopted by the conven-
tion, it will be necessary to reconsider that
rule.
Mr. SYKES. I will withdraw that part of
the order. |
