[3] This was a verbal amendment. I was not able to note it at the time, nor have I since been able to procure it.
[4] I suppose these amendments offered by Mr. Brockenbrough were never printed; certainly no printed copy of them was ever distributed to the members of the Conference, and they were never inserted in the Journal. In preserving my notes, I naturally assumed that I could rely upon the printed copies distributed to the members, for the various amendments offered. At the period of writing out these notes communication with Mr. Brockenbrough is impossible, and I am obliged to omit farther notice of his amendments. I am not even able to state the subjects to which they referred.
[5] The published Journal states that Mr. Alexander dissented from the vote of New Jersey. My notes do not show that he dissented, and I think the Journal may be erroneous in this particular.
[6] I relied upon the Journal for the individual list of the votes. In this respect the Journal is defective, and does not give the names of the States voting. My minutes show that the vote was taken by States with the foregoing result.
[7] The closing remarks of Mr. Baldwin were committed to writing. I am able through the kindness of a member of his family to avail myself of a copy.
[8] I have not heretofore expressed my own opinions upon the action of the Conference or of delegations; but as much has been said about the vote given by New York, or rather the division of the delegation, under which no vote was given, it is due to the parties concerned that I should state my own understanding of the practice of the Conference in this respect. After the rejection of the motion of Mr. Chase (found on [page 209]), and the adoption of the proposition of Mr. Dent, so far as my own knowledge goes it was never deemed necessary that the entire delegation from a State should be present in order to cast its vote. I was present all the time, and frequently cast the vote of my own State upon previous consultation with my colleagues, when a majority of the delegation was absent. This was frequently done, to my personal knowledge, by other States: by none more frequently than Virginia. During several of the sessions the President himself was absent, and the chair was filled for the greater part of the time by Mr. Alexander, or Mr. Morehead, of Kentucky. I can recall to mind several occasions when the vote of Virginia was cast by Mr. Seddon alone, no other member of his delegation being present. When the question arose upon the vote of New York, I was surprised that this point was not insisted upon; but deeming it a matter exclusively for the delegation from that State to settle, I did not think the case one in which others should interfere. L.E.C.
[9] See [page 64], Proceedings of the Conference.
[10] An authentic copy of the Journal was not received until the 21st instant and the Commissioners did not feel prepared to make a report without an opportunity for consulting it.