That no member of the house use any reviling speeches, or name any member by his proper name, but
shall use some other distinction, as the gentleman who spoke last, or the like.
    That none shall deliver his opinion, or speak to any debate, unless he shall stand up in his place, and
reverently direct his speech to the president.
    That no member speak above once on any debate without licence of the house declared by the president;
and if two persons or more shall rise up together, the president shall appoint who shall speak first;
and no member shall interrupt any other until the gentleman speaking hath ended.
    That no person come into the convention, while the same is sitting, with sword or other weapon, upon
penalty of such fine as shall be imposed on them by the president, not exceeding twenty shillings.
    That if any member be absent at the hours and place appointed, after the president and fourteen of the
members are met, according to the order for sitting, he shall be fined according to the discretion of the
president, not exceeding five shillings for any offence, unless upon such excuse as the president shall admit.
    All misdemeanors which shall happen in the house, shall be censured or fined in the house.
    That if any member of the convention depart without leave of the house, such member shall forfeit all
his preceding allowances due to him for his attendance this session.
    That no question be determined the day on which it is debated, if any three members desire the determination
to be postponed to another day.
    That no question be determined (except for adjournment from day to day) unless forty-five members
with the president be present.
    On motion, the question was put, That the reverend Mr. Lendrum be desired to read prayers before
the convention at 9 o'clock in the morning during this session, and that Mr. Paca wait on Mr. Lendrum
for that purpose?  Resolved in the affirmative.

                                                         A  F  F  I  R  M  A  T  I  V  E
Messieurs

Barnes, Fenwick, Dent, Semmes, Parnham,

B. Mackall, Grahame, Fitzhugh, Hammond, Worthington,

Carroll, S. Chase, Paca, Sheredine, Edelen,

Beall, Stull, J. T. Chase, Edmondson, Goldsborough,

Murray, John Ennalls, Joseph Ennalls, Richardson, Mason,

Gustavus Scott, George Scott, Horsey, Lowes.

                                                                N  E  G  A T  I  V  E
Messieurs

J. Mackall, Fischer, Shriver,

Schnebely, Ridgely, Deye,

Stevenson, Shepherd, J. Smith,

Bond, H. Wilson, Love,

Archer, Gilpin, Ewing,

D. Smith, Brevard, Gibson.

                                  Convention adjourned till to-morrow morning 9 o'clock.

                                                    F  R  I  D  A  Y,    August 16, 1776.

    CONVENTION met.  All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Fischer.  The proceedings
of yesterday were read.  Mr. R. T. Hooe, a delegate returned for Charles county, appeared
and took his seat in the house.
    The council of safety laid before the convention the declaration of congress, that the United Colonies
are free and independent states, which was received after the rising of the last convention, and thereupon
ORDERED, That the same be taken into consideration to-morrow morning.
    The petition of sundry freeholders and freemen of Kent county, praying that the proceedings on the
late election for the said county may be rendered void, and that at a new election every associator resident
of the county one year, and 21 years of age, might be enabled to vote, was read and rejected.
    The committee of elections report to the house, That Turbutt Wright, James Kent, Solomon Wright,
and William Bruff, Esquires, are returned by John Seney, Basil Warfield, and Vachel Downes, appointed
by the freemen of Queen-Anne's county judges of the election, as duly elected delegates for the said
county?thereupon the convention taking the same into consideration, RESOLVED, That the election
of delegates for Queen-Anne's county, not being held agreeable to the directions of the last convention,
is void; and that an election for the said county be held by the judges appointed by the last convention,
agreeable to the directions and resolves of the said convention, at the house of Mr. George Hanson, on
Monday the 26th instant, and that the members returned be discharged from further attendance.
                                                                Adjourned till 3 o'clock

                                                          P  O  S  T    M  E R  I  D  I  E  M.

    Convention met.
    On motion of Mr. Gustavus Scott, RESOLVED, That the seat of every member of this house, who
shall hereafter accept a commission in the flying camp, shall be thereby vacated.
                                              Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning 9 o'clock.

                                                      S  A  T  U  R  D  A  Y, August 17, 1776.

    CONVENTION met.  All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Richardson.  The proceedings
of yesterday were read.
    Mr. Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, a delegate returned for the city of Annapolis, appeared and took
his seat in his house.
    On motion, RESOLVED, That a delegate be elected for Caroline county in the room or Mr. William
Richardson, whose seat is vacated by his acceptance of a colonel's commission in the flying camp; that
the said election be held on the 26th of this month at Melvill's warehouse in said county, by Foster Goldsborough,
Jeremiah Colston, and John White, Esquires, or any two or one of them, and that the said
election be held and made agreeable to the directions and resolves of the last convention.
    Agreeable to the order of the day, the convention took into consideration the resolution of congress declaring
the United Colonies free and independent states, and thereupon RESOLVED unanimously, That this
convention will maintain the freedom and independency of the United States with their lives and fortunes.
    On motion of Mr. Samuel Chase, RESOLVED, That a committee be appointed to prepare a declaration
and charter of rights, and a plan of government agreeable to such rights as will best maintain peace
and good order, and most effectually secure happiness and liberty to the people of this state.
                                                                    Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

                                                                    G g