4. The General Assembly shall have full power, and it is hereby made the duty of the same to pass all laws necessary to carry out effectually the provisions of this article.

Pending the consideration of which,

The hour arrived for the consideration of the order of the day, being the report of the Committee on Rules.

It was taken up.

The question being on the amendment submitted by Mr. Hebb, to wit:

Strike out the 54th Rule and insert: The previous question. shall be always in order in Convention, and shall be in this form: "Shall the main question be now put?" It shall only be admitted when demanded by a majority of the members. present, and its effect shall be to put an end to all debate, and to bring the Convention to a direct vote upon pending amendments, and the section of the Constitution then under consideration. On a motion for the previous question, and prior to the seconding of the same, a call of the Convention shall be in order, but after a majority shall have seconded such motion, no call shall be in order prior to a division of the main question; and on the previous question there shall be no debate.

By general consent, Mr. Hebb amended the amendment as follows:

Strike out the words "and the section of the Constitution then under consideration," and insert the words "and the special matter to which they relate."

Strike out the words "division of," and insert the words "vote upon.

Mr. Clarke submitted the following amendment to the amendment:

Strike out the words "special matter," and insert the words "distinct proposition.

The question being on the adoption of the amendment to the amendment,

It was decided in the negative.

The question recurring upon the adoption of the amendment submitted by Mr. Hebb,

It was decided in the affirmative.

Mr. Briscoe moved to refer the 54th Rule to the Committee on Rules;

Decided in the negative.

Mr. Briscoe submitted the following amendment :

Rule 54, after the word "debate," in the last line, insert the words: "but the application of this rule shall not apply to reports or articles under consideration upon the second reading,

Decided in the negative.

Mr. Clarke, submitted the following amendment:

Insert as Rule 56, the following: "It shall be a standing order of the day throughout the session, for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole on the condition of the State.

The question being on the adoption of the amendment; Mr. Clarke demanded the yeas and nays,

The demand being sustained,

The yeas and nays were called and appeared as follows:

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

Mr. Daniel moved to re-consider the vote on the forty-ninth rule;

Decided in the negative.

The report was then ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

Mr. Stockbridge gave notice that he would on to-morrow move a reconsideration of the vote by which the order authorizing the Treasurer to pay a sum of money to Thomas Corkran, was passed.

The second Order of the Day, the Report of the Committee on the Bill of Rights,

Was taken up,

Pending which,

The Convention adjourned.

The Convention met.

SATURDAY, May 21st, 1864.

Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Owen.

Present at the call of the roll the following members:

Messrs. Goldsborough, President, Abbott, Annan, Audoun, Baker, Berry, of Prince George's, Billingsley, Blackiston, Briscoe, Brown, Carter, Chambers, Clarke, Crawford, Cushing, Daniel, Dellinger, Earle, Ecker, Edelen, Gale, Galloway, Green, Hatch, Hebb, Hoffman, Hollyday, Hopkins, Hopper, Jones, of Somerset, Keefer, King, Lee, Marbury, Markey, Mayhugh, McComas, Miller, Morgan, Mullikin, Murray, Negley, Nyman, Parker, Pugh, Purnell, Robinette, Russell, Schley, Schlosser, Scott, Smith, of Carroll, Sneary,

Stockbridge, Swope, Thomas, Thruston, Todd, Valliant, Wickard, Wilmer, Wooden.

The proceedings of yesterday were read.

The order submitted by Mr. Clarke on yesterday, instructing the Committee on the Legislative Department to inquire into the expediency of inserting certain Articles in the Constitution, prohibiting free negroes or mulattoes from coming into or settling in this State.

Was taken up,

On motion of Mr. Schley,

Mr. Clarke accepted as an amendment to his order the following: In the first section, after the word "Constitution," insert the words, unless such free negro or mulatto be a Federal Soldier, engaged in the military service of the United States, or come into this State by the authority of the same.

Mr. Abbott submitted the following amendment:

Amend by including all sympathisers with the Rebellion of the Southern States, and any one now living North of Mason and Dixon's Line;

Mr. Stockbridge called the previous question,

On the question being put, "shall the main question be now put?'

It was decided in the affirmative.

The question then being on the amendment submitted by Mr. Abbott,

It was decided in the negative.

The question recurring upon the adoption of the order submitted by Mr. Clarke,

It was decided in the affirmative.

Mr. Stockbridge moved to re-consider the vote by which an order was adopted yesterday directing the payment of certain money to Thomas J. Corkran, for services alleged to be rendered as page to this Convention.

Decided in the affirmative.

On motion of Mr. Todd,

The said order was referred to the Committee on Accounts.

The hour having arrived for considering the Order of the Day, being the Report of the Committee on the Bill of Rights.

On motion of Mr. Smith, of Carroll,

It was postponed until Monday next at one o'clock.

Mr. Thomas submitted the following order:

Ordered, That the Committee on the Legislative Department be requested to inquire into the expediency of engrafting a provision in the Constitution, exempting an amount to the value of $500 (five hundred dollars) of a debtor's property from execution.

Which was adopted.

Mr. Galloway submitted the following order:

Ordered, That it be entered upon the Journal that if Mr. Galloway had been in his seat on Friday the 13th inst., he would have voted in the affirmative for the resolution submitted by Mr. Stirling tendering the thanks of the State to the Soldiers of Maryland in the Army of Gen. Grant.

Which was adopted.

Mr. Todd submitted the following order:

Ordered, That it be entered on the Journal that Mr. Noble, of Caroline county is detained from his seat in this Convention by indisposition.

Which was adopted.

Mr. Negley submitted the following order:

Ordered, That J. W. Garmond be added as an additional Committe Clerk, pro tempore, his services being already employed by several Standing Committees, and that he be detailed on the Committee of the Treasury, Basis of Representation, Education, and Future Amendments to the Constitution.

Mr. Daniel submitted the following amendment:

Ordered, That the President be requested to apportion the several Committee Clerks among the several Committees of this Convention, and if he should believe any Clerk, or more, necessary he be and is hereby authorized to appoint the

same.

Mr. Jones, of Somerset, moved a division of the question, Decided in the affirmative.

The question then being on the first clause of the amendment;

It was decided in the affirmative.