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clause inserted in the legislative department is intended
to prevent the corruptions which exist; this is wise and
proper, but this veto power will produce a far greater
effect. The most efficacious way of preventing unwise,
and even corrupt legislation is to place this power in the
hands of the Governor, and a majority of two-thirds o
all the members should be necessary to overrule it.
Mr. Gill argued the subject at some length.
Mr. Wickes said the veto power had never been granted
to any Governor of Maryland since the framing of the
first constitution, and there must have existed good and
sufficient reasons for the withholding of this prerogative.
This was a grave matter, to which members should give
the most serious attention. Arguments had been made as
to the great necessity of this power in the administration
of the federal government, but there was a great differ-
ence between the States and the federal government. In
1787, when this matter was under discussion, great
doubts were entertained as to the expediency of inserting
it in the federal constitution. There was no analogy be
tween the federal government and the States. The federal
government was composed of communities distinct in
their political organization and different in their interests,
and this veto power might be necessary; but our inter-
ests are identical, and appertain to the whole State
He would ask the question, how would this operate in
the legislation of Maryland? Would it produce good or
evil ? Would it be used to promote the purity of the gov-
ernment, or to be held as a rod over the Legislature, and
to defeat the popular will? He believed that it would be
used as the latter. He did not wish to call up unpleasant
reminiscences, but would ask how many times in the last
fifteen years had there been Governors in Maryland who
did not represent even a decent minority of the people
and who would have taken care to thwart the will of the
people if they had had this power. Was it not a fact that
the Governor for the last fifteen years had been elected by
the majorities sent up from the city of Baltimore, which
majorities had been fraudulently obtained in the interest
of the factions which controlled that city ?
He would ask the gentlemen from Baltimore, when they
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