Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-03-12
MARYLAND REFORM CONVENTION.
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. %, 1851.

ANNAPOLIS Feb %, 1851.
The President laid before the Convention COM
munlcatiOn from Gov. Collier, of Alabama ac-
knowledging the receipt of the resolutions adopted
66y this Convention in favor of the Compromise
Measures of Congress. Gov Collier saws:
"Maryland has spoken frankly and periodically
sincerely hope her voice may receive harmo-
NOUS response from the North, East and West
the South will be true to the Union so long as the
character of our sacred rights is respected and
honored, and the general government manifests a
Willingness and ability sto enforce the laws made
for our protection. -
The President also laid before the Convention
another letter from Gov Collier, in relation to
the School system of Alabama
The Convention resumed the consideration OF
the order of the day, being the report submitted
by Mr.. Johnson, Chairman of the Committee on
the Legislative Department.
Various amendments were proposed and discus
sed. One proposed by Mr.. John Newcomer to
make the per diem of members of the Legislature
So, and 81 for every ten miles travelled, was re-
jectcd-ayes IA, nays 81.
MIR. Freshman moved that each county and the
city ofBaltimore defray the per diem and mileage
of its own members, which was re iected-
On motion of MIR. Grason, the per diem was fix
ed at 81. and the mileage to be regulated by law
The 2lst section was reconsdered, when MIR.
Merrick moved to add to the end Of it the follow
ing:
'.But it shall be competent for the Legislature
ut any time when it can do so, to pay off its out
standing bonds, or any part thereof by an issue of
other bonds or stocks, bearing less rate of inte-
rest, and for no greater amount redeemed or paid
off. -
Mr. Constable moved to strike out the whole OF
the 2lS section and insert the following:
/. The Legislature shall have no power to CON
tract debts or borrow money. except to repel in
vason or suppress Instruction.
2. They shall have no power to authorize any
subscription the part of the State to the CAPT
tai stock or shares of any canal railroad, plank
road, turnpike, banking, exchange, insurance
manufacturing or mining corporation OR any other
corporation or association whatsoever nor shall
they invest or embark any the funds Of the State,
either directly indirectly, in any trade, business
or adventure of mining, manufacturing, CONNER
cial and marine, any other description wEatso-
ever
3. They shall moi be authorised to loan the credit
OF the State in any form or for any object for
which they are not authorised to raise the sum so
appropriated by general State tax.
A. They shall be authorised to impose State
taxes for the following purposes, and none other
whatsoever For the defence Of the State paw
ment of the principal and interest of the public
debt; to defray the necessary expenses of the
government for the improvement and preserva-
ton of the public property, and for the establish
ment of uniform system of public schools through
out the State, adequately endowed, to educate
5. They shall have no power to except from the
operation of any law, imposing general State tax,
any other property than that owned by the State,
or by county, city, or other municipal corpora
ton, or burial ground shall they, by law or
otherwise, enter into any contract or other expe-
dent, or devise to exempt, or which shall operate
rs an exemption or suspension, wholly or partially
OF any property. or body corporate, or ofany per-
son worth over two hundred dollars, from contri-
button, rateably and equally to such general tax,
according to his or its actual worth in real or per-
sonal property
On motion of Mr.. McHenry, the section and a
mendmentS were postponed till the 4th of March,
The 34th section then taken up. and pending
motion, by Mr.. Freshman, to strike it out, the
Convention adjourned.
March |, 1851
The Convention resumed the consideration OF
the order of the day. being the report submitted by
MIR. Johnson, Chairman of the Committee on the
Legislative Department..
The question pending before the Convention on
yesterday, being on the motion of Mr.. Freshman,
to strike out the 34th section,
MT. Thomas moved substitute for said section
and Mr.. Merrck offered as substitute the follow
ing: "The Levy Courts or Commissioners of the
several counties of the State shall be elected by
general ticket. and not by districts BY the voters
OF the respective counties and said commissioners
snail exercise such powers and duties only as the
Legislature may prescribe, but such powers and
duties shall be uniform throughout the State-and
the General Assembly may provide for the election
or appointment of such other county officers as
may be required, and are not provided by this
Constitution, and prescribe their powers and d,l-
ties, but their tenure of office, their powers and du-
ties and mode Of appointment shall be uniform
throughout the State.''
Mr. Thomas accepted the substitute.
Mr. Chambers, of Kent, moved to amend said
amendment, by striking out the words ssor COM
IN nofoc IN,
MIR. Ridgely moved to amend said amendment
by striking out these words ''The Levy Courts
or Commissioners of the several counties of the
State, and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
THAT the county authorities known as Levy
Courts or County Commissioners, shall hereafter
be styled Commissioners
This amendment Mir. Thomas accepted.
The question then required on the adoption of
said amentment,
Mr.. McMaster moved to amend said amend
ment by striking out these words, 'sby general
ticket and net
The question then REQUIRED and was put upon
the amendment offered by Mr.. McMaster to the
amendment offered by Mr.. Merrick, as a substi-
tute for the 34th section and accepted by Mr..
Thomas Determined in the negative.
The question then required upon the adoption of
the amendment as offered by Mr. AIerrick, and a.
mended on the motion of Mr.. Ridgely.
The question was then put on the said amend
ment, and it was adopted-ayes So, nays a.
The 35th section was then read, and on motion
of MIR. Grason, said section amended by strik-
ing out all of said section to the word s.Houses -
inclusive in the 5th line, and inserting in lieu there
of the following:
"Every bill when passed by the General Assem-
bly, and sealed with the great seal shall be present
ed to the Governor, who shall sign the same in the
presence of the presiding officers and chief clerks
of the Senate and House Of Delegates
The said 35th section was then adopted as "a
mendcd, also the Seth.
MIR. Freshman moved to strike out the 9th sec
ton, which was adopted
MIR. Phelps then moved to amend said report by
inserting as the 37th section the following:
Section 9th. Any citizen of this State who