Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1864-06-02

nays A.
The order of the day, being the report of the
Committee on the Declaration of Rights, was
taken up The amendment Of Mr. Green, Of
fered yesterday, to article 14th Of the report,
being article ID of the present declaration Of
rights, which provides that the Legislature shall
have authority to impose poll tax, but that
the payment of said tax shall never be made
prerequisite to the right of voting-being un-
der consideration, the subject was discussed at
length and with great ability, by Messrs Jones,
of Somerset Peter, Of Montgomery Negley,
of Frederick Marbury, of Prince Georges ia
opposition to the amendment, and Messrs
Dennis, Of Somerset Miller, of Anne Arundel,
and Pugh, Of Cecil, in favor of the amend
ment. as:
The amendment Of Mr.. Green was adopted
(both parties dividing on the subject) by yeas
As, nays 38.
Mr.. Miller offered the following amendment
to article 18th, as amended by Mr. Green :,..-
"But it being the duty of every qualified vo-
ter to exercise the right of suffrage, the Lesis-
lature ought to provide by law fines and penal
ties for the refusal or neglect to vote without
reasonable excuse"
Mr.. Miller quoted the precedent of 1916.
when a similar provision existed in the laws Of
this State, and spoke generally in support Of
yeas g. nays 70.
Mr.. Ridgely offered the following amend
ment:
''And the Legislature shall pass no law lays
ing capitation tax, except in aid of public
education" and addressed tho Convention in ito
support. After discussion the amendment was
81. nays 81.
Mr.. Stirling offered an amendment substitn-
ting the section as reported by the committee,
with the words prohibiting poll-tax," &C.,
stricken out, which was adopted-yeas A, nays
%.
SO the article now stands as in the present
Constitution, with the clause prohibiting poll
tax, and the words son persons or property,
with political vew," omitted :a r. -
The Convention adjourned. u f15
Hay 27.-The Convention met. Present 81
members. ,..Ess.-ss .ss.i
Mr.. Cushing renewed his motion to amend
rules AZ and 4S for the government of the
Convention, so as to provide that the vote of
a majority of the members present 'shall be
necessary to the adoption of a report on its
final passage" instead of majority Of all the
members elected" &c. e-:-et
After lengthy debate, which occupied two
hours, Mr.. CushiDg's amendment to the 42d
rule was adopted by ayes A. nays 81, and the
second amendment was adopted by ayes 55,
nays %. A motion to reconsider was voted
down $3.50.
Mr.. Todd, of Caroline, Chairman Of the Com
mttee on Future Amendments to the Constitu
ton, made the following unanimous report, Ito
be Incorporated in the new Constitution: 81
Section l. Either branch of the General AS
semby may propose amendments to this Consti-
tuition, and if the same shall be agreed to by
three-fffths of the members elected to each
House such proposed amendments shall be en-
tered Cd the journals, with the yeas and nays
taken thereon, and shall be published in two
newspapers in each county in the State where
two are published, aud in three newspapers 10
the city of Baltimore, one of which shall be
sIsaF'on f. ssss5Es
which time the same shall be submitted Is the
electors for their approval or rejection and II
majority of the electors voting at such election
shall adopt such amendments the same shall
become part Of the Constitution. When more
than one amendment shall be submitted at tho
the same time, they shall be so submitted as to-
enable the electors to vote on each amendment
separately 80
Section 2. Whenever two-thirtls of the merry-
bers elected to each branch Of the General As
sembly shall think it necessary to call Com
ventlon to revise, amend or change this, Gonsti-
tuition, they shall recommend to the electors 10,
vote, at the next election for members of the
General Assembly for or against Convention,
and if majority of all the electors voting at
said election shall have voted for Convention,
the General Assembly shall, at their next ses-
sion, provide by law for calling the same. The
Convention shall consist of as many members
as both Houses of the General Assembly, who
shall be chosen in the same manner, and shall
meet within three months after their election
for the purpose aforesaid.
Section 3. At the general election to be held
10 1882, and in each twentieth year thereafter,
the question ffShall there be convention to re-
wise, alter or amend the Constitution ?" shall be
submitted to the electors of the State, and in
case majority Of all the electors voting at such
election shall decide in favor of Convention,
the General Assembly at its next session shall
provide by law for the election, of delegates and
the assembling of such Convention as is pro-
vided in the preceding section but no amend
ment OF this Constitution, agreed upon by any.
Convention assembled in pursuance of this ar
ticle, shall take effect until the same shall havs
been submitted to the electors Of the State and
adopted by majority of those voting thereon
Mr.. Abbott, Chairman of the Committee on
the Basis of Representation, reported nnani-
mously in favor of the proposition of Prince
Georges, respecting "the passage by the Legis-
lature of registry law for the whole State"
and ask the Convention to refer the same to an
appropriate committee, with instructions to re-
port suitable provision to be incorporated into
the body of the Constitution.
Mr. Abbott, Chairman of the Committee on
the Basis of Representation, made the following
report, to be inserted in the new Constitution:
Section 1. Immediately after the adoption Of
Of this Constitution, and before there shall have
been held any general election under it, the
Mayor and City Council Of the City Of Balti-E
more shall proceed to lay off and divide tho.
said city into three several districts Of equal
population and contiguous territory as near az.
may be. -
Section 2. Every county in the State and