Page:Debates in the Several State Conventions, v2.djvu/563

 A FRAGMENT OF FACTS,

THE MARYLAND CONVENTION,

ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND.

, April 21, 1788.

The following facts, disclosing the conduct of the late Convention of Maryland, are submitted to the serious consideration of the citizens of the state.

On Monday, the 21st of April, the Convention met in Annapolis, and elected the Hon. George Plater, Esq., president. On Tuesday, they established rules for the conduct of business; and, on the same day, the following question was propounded to the Convention:—

"When a motion is made and seconded, the matter of the motion shall receive a determination by the question, or be postponed, by general consent, or the previous question, before any other motion shall be received."

And the following question, viz.,—

"Every question shall be entered on the journal; and the yeas and nays may be called for, by any member, on any question, and the name of the member requiring them shall be entered on the journal."

Which two questions the Convention determined in the negative.

On Wednesday, the proposed plan of government was read the first time, and thereupon it was resolved, "That this Convention will not niter into any resolution upon any particular part of the proposed plan of federal government for the United Stales; but that the whole thereof shall be read through a second time, after which the subject may be fully debated and considered; and then the president shall put the question, 'That this Convention do assent to and