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THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Brenner, I am very proud on

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behalf of the Constitutional Convention to accept this very

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handsome mace. It is another first for Maryland, I believe.

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and it is particularly appropriate, it seems to me, that

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it should be presented to the Constitutional Convention

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of Maryland, one of the original States, by the oldest silver-

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smith still in active business in the United States.

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It is a handsome piece. It will be with us

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daily, and its place on this rostrum will signify that the

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Constitutional Convention of Maryland is in session.

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Again, on behalf of the Delegates and on behalf of

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the State of Maryland I thank you most sincerely.

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On August 17, 1867, the fourth Constitutional Con-

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vention of Maryland adjourned after 75 daily sessions,

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and submitted to the people of the State a constitution

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which endured for 100 years. Today, 100 years, 26 days

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and something more than 200 amendments later we assemble

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as the Fifth Constitutional Convention of Maryland.

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It seems to me that before we begin our work as the

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elected delegates to that Convention it behooves us to

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reflect for a moment on the task before us, consider the