and treasurer of the State, are hereby autho-
rized and directed conjointly or any two of
them, to sell at the earliest practicable period
to the highest bidder for cash, in lawful
money of the United States, the State's inter-
est in the works of internal improvement,
whether as stockholder or creditor, except the
State's interest in the Washington Branch of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which shall
be and hereby is reserved and excepted from
the sale hereby authorized and directed, and
to apply the proceeds arising from such sale
towards the payment of the public debt of
the State, and after the public debt shall have
been fully paid off, or the sinking fund shall
be equal to its liquidation, the excess of such
sale shall be set apart as a permanent fund for
the support of public education.
" Provided however, that the stock held by
the State in the main stem of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, shall not be sold fur less
than its par value in lawful money of the
United States; and provided further, that the
interest held by the State in the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal, shall not be sold for a less
sum than five millions of dollars, and under
such regulations as the legislature may pre-
scribe."
Mr. MCCOMAS gave notice that at the proper
time be would submit the following amend-
ment to section 39, of said report:
Add to said section the following:
"Provided however, that prior to any of
said sales halving been effected, that notices of
the powers conferred by this section and the
amount of said interests, shall have been pub-
lished at least three times in two newspapers
supposed to have the largest circulation in
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston,
Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, Liverpool,
London and Paris, and that they shall receive
sealed proposals for the same, for at least
— months after the ratification of this
constitution by the people of the State, and
reserving to themselves the right to reject or
accept any or all proposals thus made."
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
The convention then resumed the considera-
tion of the report of the committee on the
legislative department, which was on its
second reading.
SUPPORT OF EMANCIPATED SLAVES, &C.
The pending question was upon adopting
the following additional section proposed 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 manu-
mitted by the adoption of this constitution as
may, by reason of age or other cause, be
unable to support and maintain themselves,"
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. If in order, I would
like to offer a few observations upon this pro-
14 |
posed section. The question before the con-
vention raised by this proposed section, is a
very different one from any which has been
before the convention, and been acted upon
since we have been assembled as a convention.
We have already acted upon the question
whether slavery shall continue in the State;
and upon the question, after having decided
that in the negative, whether or not those
who have heretofore held slaves shall be com-
pensated by the State, and that also has been
decided in the negative.
Mr. SCHLEY. I would ask if the yeas and
nays had not been ordered upon this very
question last night, and if they bad not been
taken, and failed to be consummated only by
the want of a quorum ?
The PRESIDENT. Such is the fact.
Mr. SCHLEY. Then is the subject open for
discussion now?
The PRESIDENT. The chair thinks it is.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. If it is the desire of
gentlemen to proceed to take the vote upon
this question, I will waive the privilege of
addressing the convention.
Mr. SCHLEY. I have no desire of the kind.
I am very anxious to hear the gentleman. I
merely wish to have our proceedings in order.
The PRESIDENT. The yeas and nays hav-
ing been ordered, and the roll having been
called, and there not appearing to be a quo-
rum voting, it is just the same as if the
roll had not been called. The gentleman
from Baltimore city (Mr. Stockbridge) is in
order, and will proceed.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. I should not have pur-
posed to address the convention, but for the
direct personal allusion which, in the course
of the discussion, has been made to me, and
which seems to call for come few words in
reply.
I have just remarked that the question be-
fore the convention differs essentially from
either of those upon which the convention
has acted. We have decided that slavery
shall not continue in Maryland. We have
decided that the legislature shall not make
appropriations to compensate the claimants
of slaves for those that may be set free by the
action of this convention, or by the people in
ratifying its proceedings.
The question now before us is in regard to
the maintenance of superannuated slaves,
the providing for those not able to take care
of themselves. It is proposed to incorporate
a provision here which shall supersede the
action of the legislature heretofore, which in
my humble judgment is full and adequate
upon this subject. We have full legislative
provision made already for the maintenance
of superannuated slaves, in the sixty-sixth
article of the code: and also for the mainten-
ance and care, and prevention of the nuisance
of vagrant free negroes. Both of these are
fully and adequately provided for in the code.
But gentlemen seem to apprehend that |
