30               The Maryland Constitution of 1864.            [376

The Legislature met at Annapolis on January 6, 1864,
and soon after organized. John S. Sellman, of Anne
Arundel was elected President of the Senate, and Thomas
H. Kemp, of Caroline, Speaker of the House of Delegates.
Governor Bradford's message was a long and able docu-
ment. It contained, in addition to the usual discussion of
the financial and other economic affairs of the state, an
account of the controversy and difficulties at the previous
election, with some condemnation of the military author-
ities. Some suitable action on the part of the Legislature
was suggested, so as to remedy military interference and
prevent the use of marked ballots. The Governor also
urged that a Convention Bill be speedily passed, and that
a state system of education and numerous other important
subjects should be carefully considered.

In the House of Delegates, Mr. Stockbridge, of Balti-
more City, on January 8 offered an order that so much
of the Governor's message as related to a Constitutional
Convention be referred to a select committee of five mem-
bers, to be appointed by the Speaker, with authority to
report by bill or otherwise. This was adopted, and on the
12th the following committee was appointed: Messrs.
Stockbridge (chairman) and Jones, of Cecil; Trail, of Fred-
erick; Tyson, of Howard, and Frazier of Dorchester.

This committee reported a bill on January 15, which pro-
vided for a vote of the citizens of the state on the question
of calling a Convention, and for the election of delegates
on the same day. Mr. Tyson presented a minority report,
around which the opposition at once assembled all its
strength, as it was a measure of delay, providing for a
special vote to decide for or against a Convention, with the
addition that in case of a favorable result the Governor
was to inform the Legislature of the fact at a special session
or at the next regular one. This body then might provide
for the election of delegates and the assembling of such
a Convention. The contest lasted for some days and was
quite bitter. The minority report, offered in the form of