tionally limited to those major points and
particular passages I most enthusiastically
endorse or most seriously question. In all
cases, I feel that there is room for further
discussion and continued call for compro-
mise based upon consistent logic and prac-
tical considerations. Flexibility for future
generations compels flexibility in present
attitudes.
The challenges of your charge are as in-
spiring as they are formidable. The State
is blessed and commended by the experience
and talent of its delegates to this Conven-
tion. In the weeks ahead you will find the
intellectual demands exhausting, the efforts
almost superhuman, the decisions often
agonizing. Yet you shall meet these de-
mands and make those decisions necessary
to create a totally vital and viable docu-
ment. If at times you despair that con-
sensus is impossible, compromise inconceiv-
able and, in fact, that this is too great a
test for human minds, know that encour-
agement and inspiration reach out to you
from the past — that what you attempt
has been successfully accomplished before.
Confidence and comfort for today are to
be gained from memories of our nation's
first Constitutional Convention, where ex-
perienced and dedicated — yet fallible and
mortal men — assembled to constitute a
totally new, representative and democratic
government. Conscious of their limitations
but confident in their principles, they
forged a free and flexible federal system
and gave birth to an enduring government.
A government so good and great, its char-
acterization by Thomas Jefferson almost
two centuries ago is applicable today:
"With all the imperfections of our present
government, it is without comparison the
best existing, or that ever did exist."
THE PRESIDENT: I am sure that I
speak for all the delegates of the Conven-
tion in expressing to Governor Agnew our
very sincere thanks and appreciation for
his most informative and splendid address.
Arrangements have been made to have
distributed to each delegate a copy of the
Governor's address.
The Convention will come to order,
please.
I think a word of explanation as to the
resignation, or as to the form of the resig-
nation of Delegate Webster is desirable at
this point. As I am sure every delegate
knows, Delegate Webster has been very
seriously ill since August. He has been
hospitalized and his condition is very grave. |
In accordance with a resolution of this
Convention adopted some time ago, we sent
him our best regards and wishes for a
speedy recovery. It became obvious to him,
however, that his illness was prolonged
and that his absence from the Convention
deprived Allegany County of the additional
fourth representative to which they were
entitled. He communicated this to his wife,
and through her to the other delegates.
His illness was such that he was unable
to sign his name. We consulted the At-
torney General and were advised that it
would be perfectly proper for Delegate
Webster to sign his resignation by mark.
In order to assure the Convention that the
resignation signed by mark was indeed the
resignation of Delegate Webster, his asso-
ciates from that county took the precaution
of having his signature by mark witnessed
by these two attendant physicians, and the
additional precaution of having the two at-
tending physicians execute the affidavit
which was read to you, certifying to the
fact that Delegate Webster fully under-
stood his resignation.
In addition, the resignation was submit-
ted to the Attorney General, Mr. Burch,
and he has advised me that it is in proper
form and legally sufficient.
I have, therefore, accepted it on behalf
of the Convention, and pursuant to the
suspension of rules, I at this time designate
Delegates J. Glenn Beall, Sr.; C. William
Gilchrist; and John H. Mosner as a Selec-
tion Committee to nominate a successor to
fill the vacancy caused by the resignation
of Delegate Webster. Pursuant to the sus-
pension of the rules adopted by the Con-
vention yesterday, the Selection Committee
may retire to consider its report.
I might add further that, following the
same procedure as I did with respect to the
resignation of Delegate O'Conor, I early
this morning advised the three delegates
whom I have just named as a Selection
Committee that I would do so, provided the
Convention suspended rules, and suggested
that they have an informal meeting this
morning so that they would be prepared to
act promptly.
I understand they have done so.
DELEGATE BEALL: Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Beall.
DELEGATE BEALL: I appreciate the
remarks that you have made about Dele-
gate Webster, and I want to say, speaking
as a delegate and carrying on in behalf of |
