Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-03-26
NARYLAND REFORM CONVENTION.


ANNAPOLIS, March IS, 1851
The Convention wes unable to transact any bu-
siness to-day for want of quorum.
March II, 1851
Roll called by the assistant Secretary, when il
was ascertalned there was no quorum IN the city
At IL o'clock Mr.. Bowie moved to adjourn
The question was put by the Secretary, and mega
'tived yeas II, nays %.
After the lapse of few minutes, on motion OF
Mr.. Bowie, the Convention adjourned.
Justbefore the moment of adjournment Mr.. Nor
gan read note from Prest. Chapman, stating that
he had left home for this city, but got fall which
disabled him but that he would be on as soon as
he was able to sit up. One of his children is also
sick. The President pro. tenn, (Col. Blackiston)
left here Saturday, anticipating the arrival OF
the President on that night; thusthcre was nopre-
siding officer this morning, as well as no quorum.
March Is, 1851.
Hon. James NJ. Buchanan this day elected
President pro. tenn, and returned thanks to the
Convention for the honor conferred upon him.
Judge Chambers submitted a rule to prohibit the
reconsideration of any vote decided by yeas and
nays, unless where as large number vote for the
reconsideration as determined the matter in the
first instance.
Messrs. McLane, Brent of Baltimore, Freshman,
Judge Chambers and others, debated this PROPOSE
ton.
Mr.. Bowie offered substitute, when on mo-
ton of Mr. Chambers, of Kent, it was laid on the
table. Mr.. Bowie gave notice that he would
call it up tomorrow.
Mr. Crisfeld, from the Judiciary Committee
made report, providing for an Appeal Court and
for District Judges, to be appointed by the Gov
ernor and Senate to hold office during good beha-
viour. He proposes to divide the State into the
following districts, one judge for EACH to sit joint
1y or separately as, business may require, except
the fifth, where there Is four, with power to the
Off tn Itch n
tied jurisdiction. st. Mary's, Charles and Prince
Georges to be the first district Anne Arundel,
Howard, Calvert and Montgomery. to be the Sc
oond Frederick and Carroll to be the third :;
Washington and Allegany to be the fourth Balti-
more city the fifth Baltimore, Hartford and Cecil
the sixth Kent, Queen Annes, Talbot and Caro-
line the seventh Dorchester Somerset and Wor-
cester the eighth.
The Convention then proceeded to the report of
Mr.. Shriver, Chairman of the Committee on the
Attorney General and his Deputies
The FIRST section of the report proposes the abo-
ltion of the office of Attorney General. After an
interchange of views upon the necessity of such an
officer, by Messrs. Shriyer, Crisfeld, Bowie, Nc
Lane, FRESHMAN, Gwinn ard others, and the pro-
posal of amendments to the section, the Conven-
ton adjoutaed.
March 10, 1851.
The Convention met Hon James NJ. Buchanan
presiding.
The consideration of the report ofthe Committee
on the Attorney General and his Deputies was re-
sumed.
Mr.. Bowie supported the creation of the office
of Attorney General, to be appointed by the Gov
ernor for the term of his election. He objected
to the election of such an officer by general ticket,
unless taken alternately from the gubernatorial
districts.
Mr.. Brent, of Baltimore, defined his position to
be the election by the people Of the State of an
Attorney General at fixed salary, to take charge
of the interests af the State at large. He was al
so in favor of preserving the other features of the
report, that is, the election of prosecuting Attor
ney for each county and Baltimore city, by the
voters thereof.
Mr.. Spencer followed in support of the election
of such an officer.
The debate was continued by Messrs. Gwinn
Jenicer, Brent of Charles, Morgan, Dorsey and
others.
Mr. ShriFer, chairman of the Committee, re-
sponded briefly to the remarks in opposition to the
first section as reported.
The vote was then taken on MIR. Dirickson's "a
mendment to the first section, to allow counsel
employed by the Governor such compensation as
the Legislature may allow, instead of permitting
the Governor to make compensation out of the
contingent fund. Adopted-30 to %.
Mr. McLane offered as substitute for said 1st
section the following
sin cases required by the public interest, the
Governor shall have power to employ counsel un-
der such regulations as the Legislature shall pre-
scribe
Mr. Jenfer offered the following as substitute
for the lst section of said report and the substitute
of Mr. McLane:
ssThere shall be an Attorney General appointed
by the Governor, by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate, whose term of Office shall ex-
pre with that of the Governor, and whose duty
and compensation shall be regulated by law"
On motion of Mr.. Gwinn, the question was first
taken upon striking out the first section as amend
ed, and the Convention; by vote of II to 43, re-
fused to strike out the section:
The question being on Mr.. Mc:Lane S substitute
MIR. Weems moved a substitute for said section and
substitute, which was elected.
Mr.. Crisfeld then moved to add to Mr.. McLane S
substitute provision prohibiting the creation of
the Office of Attorney General by law, which Mr..
McLane was willing to accept but Mr.. Crisfield
preferred vote of the Convention upon it such
vote was taken and the amendment adopted vote
of As to IA. The Convention adjourned.
March 90, 1851
debate on the Attorney General and Deputies at
two o'clock to-day. Adopted, after the rejection
of motion made by Mr.. Morgan to lay it on the
table,
The Convention then, on motion Of Mr.. Gwinn,
proceeded to consider the articles reported to reg
ulate the Attorney General and his Deputies.-
The question being ON the amendment of Mr..
McLane for the first section; amended by Mr..
Crisfeld-
Mr.. Dirickson offered an amendment to MIR. Nc
Lanes substitute, that the Legislature compensate
the counsel employed by the Governor, instead of
leaving it with the Governor, which was adopted.
The substitute amended was then adopted, and
takes the place of the first section reported by the
committee. Yeas 46, nays II.
Mr.. Merrck moved to reconsider the said sec
ton. Decided in the negative.
The second section was amended on motion of
Messrs: shriver and Dorsey, SO as to make it the
duty of those officers to attend to the States bust
ness in the Courts Of Appeal and Chancery, and
the Land Office, originating in their respective
counties, and making it the duty of the Clerk of
the Court of Appeals, Registers of Chancery and
Land Office to give notice of all cases to such At