duty of selling the works, not at a particular
time, but at the indiscretion. It merely mark-
ed out a line of policy to be pursued, leaving
them to decide upon the time and the details.
But these other propositions to sell go much
further than I am willing to go. I was will-
ing to go with the gentleman from Kent (Mr.
Chambers) to confine the sale exclusively to the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and providing
that that should not be sold unless we could
get an equal amount of the State debt extin-
guished. I am opposed to all the other prop-
ositions, and in favor of the report of the com-
mittee, but I do not care much if that is
stricken out. I give notice that if this motion
is not carried I shall move the previous ques-
tion.
Mr. BERRY of Prince George's. I shall vote
to postpone informally this proposition, with
the view of considering the order proposed.
For myself I am opposed to the sale of the
State's interest in the works of internal im-
provements, bank stocks, &c., except the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. That has been an
incubus upon the State from the commence-
ment, and I want that sold. I think, as was
said by the gentleman from Baltimore city this
morning that that never will be a profitable
work to the State of Maryland, I think we
have invested some eight or nine millions of
dollars besides the interest which has accrued,
amounting to upwards of twenty millions of
dollars, with the interest.
The PRESIDENT. The sterling debt at pres-
ent exceeds twenty-five millions.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's continued :
When I was in the senate, the State received
an offer of $250,000 for the whole State interest
in that work, and that was all that was offer-
ed, It was referred to a special committee of
the two houses at that session. I had the
honor of being chairman of the committee on
the part of the senate, ana or reporting a bill
upon the subject. In two days I reported
a bill to sell it for $1,500,000, upon an offer
made by a company in Boston. What was
only worth three days before $250,000 had
gone up to $l, 500,000, and that only received
six or eight votes in the senate. I am for
selling the State's interest in that work, and
for retaining the State's interest in all the
other works of internal improvement. I shall
therefore vote for informally passing over this
proposition, and for the appointment of the
special committee.
Mr. THOMAS. Will my friend from Prince
George's allow me to ask him the question, if
the State's interest in the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal is worthless, or good for nothing, what
is the use of selling it? What will he get for
it?
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's. I will an-
swer the gentleman. In his own argument
he said that the object of the State of Mary-
land in making this investment, was
not to be benefitted by the investment |
as an investment, but to develop the
rich resources of the western part of the
State. It was a State work. It was
for that purpose that the investment was
made, lam for putting it into the hands of
private capitalists, who will develop the rich
resources of the State, who will expend their
money upon it, who will he more active
agents in the control of this work. I have
no doubt that they will make it, in time,
profitable to themselves. So long as it is in
the hands of the State of Maryland, we shall
never make it profitable. It may be because
our agents are insufficient, or because the
State of Maryland is indisposed to expend
further money in the development of this
work, I am for putting it into the hands of
private individuals, or a private company, for
the purpose of carrying out the original pur-
pose of the State in making the investment.
Mr. THOMAS. Suppose, instead of its going
into the hands of a private company who •»
would take an interest in it, and develop
that canal, the stock being worthless, bring-
ing nothing, should go into the hands of a
rival company, who, getting that stock for
nothing, could afford to close up the canal—
then what?
The further consideration of the 39th sec-
tion was informally postponed; ayes 33,
noes not counted.
Mr. NEGLEY renewed his order for a special
committee.
Mr. CUSHING moved to adjourn.
The motion to adjourn was rejected.
The PRESIDENT. The report of the legis-
lative committee is still pending; the 39th
article only having been postponed. There
are two sections still pending; one submitted
by the gentleman from Carroll (Mr. Smith,)
and the other submitted by the gentleman
from Baltimore city (Mr. Thomas.)
Mr. THOMAS. I have another I desire to
submit.
The next section in order was the new sec-
tion moved by Mr SMITH, of Carroll, as fol-
lows :
Sec. —. The legislature shall make no ap-
propriation, gift, or endowment, directly or
indirectly, ii aid of or for the use, benefit or
advantage of the State Agricultural College,
or of its professors, agents or employees, or
any of them.
Mr. SMITH, of Carroll. I offered that sec-
tion upon what I supposed to be satisfactory
grounds; but I have received acommunica-
tion from one of the authorities of that col-
lege which puts the matter in an entirely dif-
ferent light I do not think it would be ex-
actly just at present for me to insist upon the
incorporation of that section. I would rather
defer it until I obtain more satisfactory infor-
mation,
The PRESIDENT. The chair will state that
be has received a communication from the
directors of the college, vindicating the pro- |
