Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-03-19
MARYLAND REFORM CONVENTION.
ANNAPOLIS, March 8, 1851.

MARYLAND REFORM CONVENTION.
ANNAPOLIS, March 8, 1851
The Convention resumed the consideration OF
the report from the Committee on the Executive
Department. The first section was adopted. Inc
second section regulating the period at which the
next election shall be held for Governor, and the
period for which he shall be elected, was read.
Mr.. Grason offered substitute for the second
section, leaving the time of election and term OF
service blank /; TO lay over for consideration.
MIR. Dorsey remarked that he had propositions
on the subject of different nature, which he de-
sired to submit.
Mr. R. j. Brent asked some questions and doubt
ed the propriety of leaving the blanks.
Mr. Grason said the first election of Governor,
under the Constitution, should not be at an
earlier period than the year 1853, though he knew
there disposition to have it occur in 1852.
After remarks from Messrs. Jenifer and Dorsey,
Mr.. Grason moved to lay aside the section for the
present.
Mr.. Spencer objected to the practice of post
ponement but the motion was laid over-Mr. ).
yielding his objection for the present. but pledgng
uncompromising hostility to the practice in the flu
ture.
The third section, requiring the return of votes
for Governor to be made to the Speaker of the
House of Delegates, was considered.
MIR. Dorsey objected to a change from the old
system of returning them to the President OF the
Senate.
making the report, regarded it as an improvement,
because it brought the matter to the care of re-
presentatives more recently from the people. The
returns to be opened in the presence of members
| of both houses.
| Mr.. Dorsey moved to strike out Speaker and IN
| sert President, WEIGH was negatived.
| MIR. R. J. Brent moved SO to amend as to sub
stitute the Secretary of State but after some sug
gestions, he withdrew it, and the section was a
dopted.
The fourth section, regulating the decision of
ties In the election for Governor, by the Leglsia-
ture, to be determined by a joint ballot, and for
determining the eligibility of persons returned
Amendments were offered and debated An "a
mendment, offered by Mr.. Grason, requiring the
vote of members of the Legislature in selecting
Governor, in of tie, to be by rira roce, was
adopted. The section was adopted.
| The fifth section coming up, MIR. Jenifer moved
to change the gubernatoral districts, so as to de-
tach Hartford county, and to compose two other
| gubernatorial districts, as follows
| Baltimore city, Baltimore, Carroll, ST. Mary's
and Allegany counties, to constitute the second
! Washington, Frederick, Montgomery, Anne A
rundel, Prince Georges, Calvert, Charles and
Howard District, to constitute the third district.
Mr.. Thomas proposed a substitute that the State
shall be divided into four districts, Allegany Wash
ington. Frederick Carroll and Baltimore counties,
to be the first; Hartford and the eight counties
the Eastern Shore, the second; ST. Marys, Charles,
Calvert, Prince Georges, Anne Arundel, Howard
and Montgomery, the third Baltimore city the
fourth
The Convention then, after debate, adjourned
till Monday, II o'clock.
March 10, 1851.
The Convention assembled-Alr Blackstone,
President pro tenn. in the chair.
The Convention took up the articles reported
from the Committee on the Executive Department,
the question being on the amendments to the fifth
section, arranging the gubernatoria districts. On
motion of MIR. Grason, SAID section was informally
passed over.
Mr.. Grason moved to amend the 9th section by
striking out ten years, required in the report for the
Governor to be citizen Of the United States, and
inserting seven years.
Mr. Buchanan moved to insert five years
On motion of Mr.. Chambers, of Kent, the vote
taken first upon striking out 'ten years. and
it agreed to.
The Convention refused to insert seven years, as
moved by Mr.. Grason-yeas 90, nays 35-and in
serted FIVE years, as moved by MIR. Buchanan-yeas
81, nays 6.
On motion of Mr. Grason, said section was fur
ther amended by striking out seven years and in
serting five, as the residence in the State immed-
ately proceeding the election, and by striking out
two and inserting three the residence in the gu
bernatorial district.
Mr.. Spencer proposed an amendment to this
section which was rejected.
Mr.. Brown offered substitute for the entire
section. The vote was first taken upon striking
out the sixth section amended, and the Conven-
ton refused to strike out
These several propositions debated by
Messrs Dorsey, Grason Buchanan, Brown, Spen-
Ger, Gwinn, Chambers, of Kent, and Weber.
The 9th section, as amended, was adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Grason, the seventh section
amended by striking out '.jont ballot, and in
serting 's,jont vote The seventh section was
then adopted and the Convention adjourned
March II, 1851.
The Convention resumed the consideration of
the articles reported by the Committee on the Ex-
ecutivc.
Mr. Grason moved to strike out in the Sth Sec
ton the words ''by the two Houses,' and insert
s'as hereinbefore provided for" Agreed to, and
the section adopted.
Mr. Grason moved an amendment to the 9th
section. when, after some conversation between
himself. Messrs Donaldson, Spencer and Dorsey,
the section passed over informally.
The 10th and lth sections were adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Grason, the following was
added to the 10Th section, ''uness different mode
shall be presented by the law creating the Office
Said section then adopted.
Amendments were offered to the 18th section by
Messrs. Grason and Holiday, and adopted. The
section was likewise adopted. On motion of Mr.
Crisfeld, it reconsidered, and further amend
ed on motion Of Mr.. Chambers of Kent, when a
substitute for the said 18th section was adopted,
on motion of Mr.. Crisield, giving the Governor
power to fill vacancies occurring in the recess of
the Senate in otficeswhere the power of appoint
ment rests in him, Which appointment shall expire
upon the appointment of the or any other per-
son, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate, at the expiration Of one calendar month
ensuing the next regular session of the Senate.
Mr. Brent of Baltimore moved to amend said
substitute by giving the Governor power to appoint
to newly created offices, which may not have been
filled during the session at which created.
On motion of Mr.. Crisfeld, the proposed amend
ment of Mr.. Brent was amended by provision
that such new office shall have been created within
90 days of the close of the session. The amend
ment of Mr. Brent, as thus amended, was agreed