1866.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.            423

Also, presented a petition of 26 citizens of Kent county, ask-
ing that negro testimony may not be received against white per-
sons;                                                                                       

Which was referred to the committee on Colored population.

Also, presented a memorial of sundry citizens of Kent county
in relation to the weighing of wheat;                           

Which was referred to the committee on Agriculture.

Mr. Stewart presented a petition of sundry citizens of Howard
county praying the Legislature not to repeal the law creating the
office of State Agricultural Chemist;

Which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

Also, presented the petition of sundry citizens of Howard and
Carroll counties praying the Legislature for an appropriation to
aid them in establishing a classical school in Carroll county,

Which was referred to the Howard and Carroll delegations.

Mr. Carper presented a memorial of Valentine Birely and oth-
ers, calling the attention of the Legislature to the necessity of
legislation in reference to unequal taxation;

Which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means;

On motion of Mr. Hall,
The rules were suspended to allow the minority of the commit-
tee on Internal Improvements to make the following
REPORT.

The undersigned being a minority of the committee to whom
was referred the bill from the Senate amendatory of an act, to in-
corporate the Metropolitan Rail Road Company, protest against
the passage of said bill by the House of Delegates, for the follow-
ing among other reasons.

1st. That the proposed amendment if adopted would be in di-
rect violation of a contract made when the charter was granted,
in this, when the charter was obtained, it was upon conditions
and stipulations, clearly set forth and contained in that instrument
and upon the faith of which the State agreed to part with a valu-
able franchise. The most important, it not the controlling con-
sideration was that imposed upon and accepted by the company,
to construct a Rail Road from the District of Columbia through
the most eligible and central portions of Montgomery county to
Frederick city and from thence to Hagerstown. Without this
provision the charter would not have been granted. The amend-
ment now under consideration proposes to invalidate this contract