The Convention met.

FRIDAY, May 6th, 1864.

Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Davenport.

The proceedings of yesterday were read.

The resolution submitted by Mr. Abbott on Tuesday last, to wit:

"That this Convention take up the Bill of Rights and Constitution, commencing' a careful reading of the same by the Clerk; that as the sections are read each member of the Convention be required to propose in writing such alterations or amendments as he may desire, which shall be submitted without argument or debate during the reading, all said propositions to be printed and referred to appropriate committees, upon whose report ample opportunity shall be given for discussion when the reading shall have been finished and each member has handed in his proposition to alter or amend; all further proposition to alter or amend shall be deemed out of order,

Was taken up for consideration on its second reading,

On motion of Mr. Berry, of Prince George's,

The said resolution was referred to the Committee on Rules.

On motion of Mr. Markey,

It was ordered to be entered on the Journal that Frederick Schley, of Frederick county, is detained from his seat in the Convention by indisposition.

On motion of Mr. Morgan,

It was ordered to be entered on the Journal that Chapman Billingsley, of St. Mary's county, is detained from his seat in the Convention by indisposition.

Mr. McComas submitted the following order:

Ordered, that each delegation from the counties and the city of Baltimore, designate some member or members thereof to ascertain the actual number of tax payers in each county and city aforesaid, and report the same to the Committee on Representation, as early as practicable;

Which was adopted.

On motion of Mr. Pugh,

The vote by which the order was passed, was reconsidered. Mr. Thomas submitted the following amendment:

Ordered, That the County Commissioners of the several counties, and the Appeal Tax Court of the city of Baltimore, be requested to furnish to this Convention a list showing the number of tax payers and the aggregate amount of taxes paid by each county and the city of Baltimore.

Mr. Parran moved to refer the whole subject to the Committee on the Basis of Representation;

Decided in the affirmative.

Mr. Berry, of Baltimore county, submitted the following order:

Whereas, The President of the Convention has announced, that Major General Lew. Wallace, commanding this Department, Hon's. M. T. Odell, G. W. Julien, B. F. Wade, D. W. Gooch and B. F. Harding, members of Congress, are now in this city; therefore,

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to wait on the above named gentlemen and invite them to visit the Convention; Which was adopted.

The President appointed the following committee in accordance with the above order:

Messrs. Berry, of Baltimore county, Purnell, Daniel, Hollyday, and Berry, of Prince George's.

Mr. Thomas submitted a petition from H. P. Jordan, State Librarian, asking for an increase of salary;

Which was read, and referred to the Committee on Civil Officers.

Mr. Davis submitted the following order:

Ordered, That the Committee on the Legislative Department inquire into the expediency of reducing the number of the members of the House of Delegates, and of having annual instead of biennial sessions of the Legislature;

Which was adopted.

Mr. Clarke submitted the following resolutions:

Resolved, That it is inexpedient, in the organization of the

House of Delegates, or the Senate, to adopt a system of sentation based exclusively upon population.

repre

Resolved, That the Committee to consider and report upon a basis of Representation in the two Houses of the General Assembly, and a proper apportionment of representation in the same, inquire into the propriety of limiting the number of members of the House of Delegates to eighty, apportioning them among the several counties of the State, according to the population of each, allowing to Baltimore city four more delegates than are allowed to the most populous county, and providing that no county shall be entitled to less two members.

Resolved, That in the organization of the Senate, each county in the State and the city of Baltimore, shall be entitled to elect one Senator who shall serve for six years from the time of election.

Which were read.

Mr. Abbott submitted the following order:

Ordered, That the printer and folders be required to furnish the members with their five extra copies of the Journal, on each successive day;

Which was adopted.

Mr. Scott submitted the following order:

Ordered, That when the Convention adjourn, it adjourn till Tuesday next.

Mr. Stirling moved to amend the order by striking out "Tuesday" and inserting "Monday."

The question being on the adoption of the amendment,

It was decided in the negative.

The question recurring on the adoption of the original order,

On motion of Mr. Stirling,

It was laid on the table.

Mr. Belt moved to reconsider the vote by which the order was laid on the table.

Decided in the affirmative.

The question recurring upon the adoption of the order,

The yeas and nays were ordered and appeared as follows:

So the question upon the adoption of the order was decided in the negative.

Mr. Daniel moved that when the Convention adjourns it adjourn to meet on Monday next at 12 o'clock.

The question being on the adoption of the motion,

The yeas and nays were ordered and appeared as follows:

So the question upon the adoption of the motion was decided in the negative.

The order submitted by Mr. Clarke on yesterday, to wit: "that all subjects connected with emancipation and the colored population of the State, be referred to the Committee on the Declaration of Rights,

Was taken up for consideration.

Mr. Clarke submitted the following amendment:

Ordered, That a Standing Committee to consist of seven members, be appointed by the President of the Convention, to be styled "A Committee to consider and report upon the Colored Population of the State."

On motion of Mr. Hebb,

The amendment was laid on the table.

Mr. Negley submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the true theory of representation in popular Governments, is that of representation according to population, except in such cases where a portion of the population is denied the exercise of the right of suffrage, in which case representation ought to be according to the population endowed with the elective franchise;

Which was read.

Messrs. Lansdale, Peter, Pugh, Marbury, Parran and Scott were excused from attending the session of the Convention to

morrow.