" Provided that all slaves who, at the time
that this Constitution shall go into effect,
shall be manumitted thereby, and shall be
minors, shall be thenceforth in the condition
of negro apprentices, under the law of this
State, to their owner; males until they shall
arrive at the age of twenty-one years, and
females until they shall arrive at the age of
eighteen years,"
Upon this question Mr. JONES, of Somerset,
called the yeas and nays, and they were or-
dered.
The question being then taken, by yeas and
nays, it resulted—yeas 15, nays 35—as fol-
lows :
Yeas—Messrs. Bond, Clarke, Cunningham,
Dent, Duvall, Edelen, Hollyday, Jones, of
Somerset, Lee, Markey, Mitchell, Miller, Par-
ran, Peter, Sykes—15.
Nays—Messrs. Goldsborough, President ;
Abbott, Annan, Audoun, Cushing, Daniel,
Davis, of Washington, Earle, Ecker, Furrow,
Galloway, Hatch, Hebb, Hoffman, Hopkins,
Kennard, King, McComas, Mullikin, Murray,
Negley , Nyman, Parker, Pugh, Purnell, Bus-
sell, Sands, Schley, Stirling, Stockbridge,
Swope, Thomas, Todd, Valliant, Wooden
—35.
The amendment was accordingly rejected.
Pending the call of the yeas and nays,
the following explanations were made by
members as their names were called :
Mr. DANIEL. I am not opposed to the
principle embraced in either of these propo-
sitions. But as I think this matter is alto-
gether within the power and jurisdiction of
the legislature now, both to make necessary
provision for those called decrepid, as well as
to bind out the minors that come within the
provision of the law, I shall vote "no."
Mr. NEGLEY. For precisely the same rea-
son assigned by the gentleman from Baltimore
city (Mr. Daniel,) I shall vote " no."
Mr. SANDS. Because I believe the legisla-
ture entirely competent to act in this matter,
and because I do not want to see any ap-
prenticeship system adopted in the constitu-
tion of Maryland, I shall vote " no."
Mr. TODD. I shall feel compelled to vote in
the negative upon these two propositions as
they now stand together; partly for the rea-
sons assigned already by gentlemen, but
more particularly because the matter in the
present shape does not suit me. I am in fa-
vor of the apprenticeship by the orphans'
courts of emancipated negroes who are mi-
nors to their masters, with discretion and
authority, where those masters are hu-
mane. At the proper time, when the judiciary
report comes up, I shall offer an amendment
to it to that effect. I therefore vote "no."
Mr. DENT moved that the convention do
now adjourn.
Upon this question, Mr. PUGH called for
the yeas and nays, which were ordered.
The question was then taken, by yeas and |
nays, and resulted—yeas 24, nays 26—as fol-
lows :
Yeas—Messrs. Bond, Clarke, Cunningham,
Daniel, Dent, Duvall, Edelen, Galloway,
Hoffman, Hollyday, Jones, of Somerset,
King, Lee, Markey, Mitchell, Miller, Mullikin,
Parker, Parran, Peter, Russell, Swope, Tho-
mas, Todd—24.
Nays—Messrs. Goldsborough, President;
Abbott, Annan, Audoun, Cushing, Davis, of
Washington, Earle, Ecker, Farrow, Hatch,
Hebb, Hopkins, Kennard, McComas, Murray,
Negley, Nyman, Pugh, Purnell, Sands,
Schley, Stirling, Stockbridge, Sykes, Val-
liant, Wooden—26.
The motion to adjourn was accordingly
rejected.
Pending the call of the yeas and nays, the
following explanations were made by mem-
bers as their names were called :
Mr. SANDS. I had intended to vote in the
affirmative upon this motion to adjourn; bat
after the vote of my venerable colleague
(Mr. Hopkins,) I am ashamed to do so. I
therefore vote " no,"
Mr. VALLIANT. I have to say in explana-
tion of my vote, that I remained in town to-
night tor the purpose of assisting in the set-
tlement of this question, and I intend to
vote against all propositions to adjourn until
this question is settled. And if the majority
of this house will consent to remain here un-
til tour o'clock to-morrow morning, I will
consent to remain here with them. I vote
"no."
The question recurred upon adopting the
following additional section submitted by
Mr. MILLER :
" Section —. The legislature shall provide
by law and make appropriations from the
treasury, if necessary, for the comfortable
support and maintenance of such slaves man-
umitted by the adoption of this constitution
as may, by reason of age or other cause, be
unable to support and maintain them-
selves."
Upon this question Mr. MILLER asked for the
yeas and nays, and they were ordered.
The question being then taken by yeas and
nays, it resulted—yeas 11, nays 38—as fol-
lows :
Yeas— Messrs. Clarke, Dent, Duvall, Ede-
len, Hollyday, Jones, of Somerset, Lee, Mitch-
ell, Miller, Parran, Peter—11.
Nays—Messrs. Goldsborough, President ;
Abbolt, Annan, Audoun, Cunningham, Cush-
ing, Daniel, Davis, of Washington, Earle,
Ecker, Farrow, Galloway, Hatch, Hebb,
Hoffman, Hopkins, Kennard, King, Markey,
McComas, Mullikin, Murray, Negley, Nyman,
Parker, Pugh, Purnell, Russell, Sands, Schley,
Stirling, Stockbridge, Swope, Sykes, Thomas,
Todd, Valliant, Wooden—38.
Not a quorum voting.
Mr. AUDOUN moved a call of the conven-
tion, which was ordered. |
