the courts of law of this State, having jurisdiction thereof, the Judge or Judges thereof, upon suggestion in writing if made by the Attorney General, or the prosecutor for the State, or upon suggestion in writing supported by affidavit, if made by any other of the parties thereto, that a fair and impartial trial cannot be had in the court where such suit or action at law, or presentment and indictment is depending, shall and may order and direct the record of proceedings in such suit or action, presentment or indictment, to be transmitted to the Judge of any adjoining county for trial, who shall hear and determine the same in like manner as if such suit or action, presentment or indictment, had been originally instituted therein; provided nevertheless, that such suggestion shall be made as aforesaid, before or during the term in which the issue or issues may be joined, in said suit or action, presentment or indictment. And provided also, that such further remedy in the premi ses may be provided by law as the Legislature shall from time to time direct and enact.

Sec. 30. All elections of judges and other officers provided for under this article of the constitution shall be certified, and the returns made by the clerks of the respective counties to the Governor, who shall issue commissions to the different persons for the offices, to which they shall have been respectively elected.

Which was read and laid on the table.

Mr. Smith, submited the following resolution:

Resolved, That the committee appointed by the order of the gentleman of Anne Arundel, (Judge Dorsey,) on page 269 of the Journal, be a committee upon the subject of New Counties; and the order of enquiry submitted by Mr. Smith of Allegany, on page 166 of the Journal, upon the subject of a division of Allegany county, be referred to said committee.

Which was twice read and adopted.

On motion of Mr. Harbine,

The Convention took up for consideration the report submitted by Mr. Johnson, on the 25th ult., as chairman of the committee on the Legislative Department.

Mr. Phelps, moved that the Convention adjourn;

Determined in the negative.

Mr. McHenry, moved for the reading of the report, and after having been read through;

Mr. Spencer, moved that said report be postponed and made the order of the day for to-morrow;

Determined in the affirmative.

Mr. Bowie, moved that the report of the committee on the Judiciary, be made the order of the day for Monday week, the 24th inst.;

Determined in the affirmative.

Mr. Tuck, (the President pro tempore,) informed the Convention that application had been made to him on behalf of the State Temperance Society for the use of the Chamber of the Convention, to hold a meeting on to-morrow evening.

Mr. Bowie, moved that permission be granted them for the use of the Hall;

Determined in the affirmative.

On motion of Mr. Buchanan,

The Convention adjourned until to-morrow morning 11 o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, February 12th,

The Convention met,

Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Graff.

1851.

On motion of Mr. Magraw,

The reading of the Journal of Proceedings was dispensed with.

Mr. Dorsey, presented a petition of sundry citizens of Howard District in Anne Arundel county, praying that said Howard District, be erected into a new county to be called "Howard county;" Which was read, and

On motion of Mr. Dorsey,

Laid on the table.

On motion of Mr. Dorsey,

The Convention took up for consideration the order of the day, being the report submitted by him on the 8th inst., as chairman of the select committee, respecting the formation of New Counties. Mr. Merrick, moved to postpone said order of the day, and take for consideration the report on the Legislative Department. Determined in the affirmative.

up

The Convention then proceeded to the consideration of the report submitted by Mr. Johnson, chairman of the committee on the Legislative Department, on the 25th ult.;

Mr. Dorsey, moved to amend said report by striking out the 1st section, and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

"The Legislature shall consist of two distinct branches, a Senate, and a House of Delegates, which shall be styled the General Assembly of Maryland;"

Determined in the affirmative.

The 2nd section in said report having been read;

Mr. Phelps, moved to strike out said section, and substitute in lieu of it the following:

Section 2nd. "The Senators shall be elected by the qualified voters of this State for the term of four years, and the Delegates in like manner, for the term of two years; from the day of the general election, and the regular session of the General Assembly shall be Biennial;"

Mr. Merrick, moved to amend the 2nd section of the report, by filling the blank in the 2nd line, with the words "one year ;" Pending the question on this amendment, and

After debate thereon,

At half-past 3 o'clock, P. M.;

On motion of Mr. Spencer,

The Convention adjourned until to-morrow morning o'clock.

The Convention met.

THURSDAY, February, 13th, 1851.

Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Graff.

The proceedings of yesterday were read.

On motion of Mr. John Dennis, it was

Ordered, That it be entered upon the Journal that Mr. James U. Dennis, is detained from his seat in the Convention by the illness of a member of his family.

The Convention then resumed the consideration of the order of the day, being the report submitted by Mr. Johnson, chairman of the committee on the Legislative Department, on the 25th ult.

The question pending before the Convention on yesterday, being on the motion of Mr. Merrick, to fill the blank in the 2nd section, 2nd line, with the words "one year;"

Mr. Merrick, withdrew said amendment.

Mr. Sprigg, then moved to amend said section by striking out. all after the word "term,' in the 2nd line, where it secondly occurs, and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

"Of one year from the day of the general elections, the General Assembly may continue its first session after the adoption of this constitution, as long as in the opinion of the two Houses the public interests may require it, but all subsequent regular sessions of the General Assembly shall be closed on the fiftieth day from their commencement, unless the same shall be closed at an earlier day by the agreement of the two Houses;

Which was read.

After debate thereon,

Mr. Brent, of Charles, moved the previous question, that is: "Shall the main question be now put?" and it was

Determined in the affirmative.

The question was then put on the adoption of the amendment. as offered by Mr. Sprigg;

Mr. Dirickson, moved the question be taken by yeas and nays, and being ordered, appeared as follows:

AFFIRMATIVE-Messrs. Tuck, President, pro. tem., Morgan, Donaldson, Dorsey, Wells, Randall, Kent, Sellman, Merrick, Buchanan, Welch, Constable, Chambers, of Cecil, McLane, Bowie, Sprigg, McCubbin, Spencer, George, Wright, Shriver, Biser, McHenry, Magraw, Gwinn, Brent, of Baltimore city, Presstman, Ware, Davis, Andersor, Parke, Shower and Brown-33.

NEGATIVE--Messrs. Ricaud, Chambers, of Keut, Mitchell, Dalrym ple, Brent, of Charles, Bell, Ridgely, Lloyd, Dickinson, Sherwood, of Talbot, Colston, John Dennis, Dashnell, Williams, Hicks, Hodson, Eccleston, Phelps, Miller, Bowling, Dirickson, McMaster, Hearn, Fooks, Jacobs, Thomas, Gaither, Annan,