|
|
|
members of this Convention from doing what was right
and proper in this matter. It is an imputation on the com-
mon sense of the constituency of Maryland when it is as-
serted that they will be degraded by the incorporation into
the constitution of a plain principle of jurisprudence. At
the present time one-fifth of the population of Maryland
are black. We are asked to trust to these people in our
ordinary, everyday dealings, and we know that many of
them are as much entitled to credence as the whitest Cau-
casian who ever put his foot on this free soil, and why,
then, should this matter be opposed from false pride?
The doors of testimony had been flung wide open, and
every means had been resorted to to obtain the truth—
all possible restrictions on the right of testimony had been
removed, and it was for the benefit of society that this
last restriction should be swept away. Why should any
man feel lowered by an association on the witness stand
with a negro? The respectability of any man must be
very meagre indeed if it could be affected by that! His
patent of nobility was but a flimsy texture, and should
be torn from him. [Applause on the floor and in the
lobbies, which was suppressed by the Chair. ]
Before Mr. Merrick had concluded his time expired, and
the hammer of the President fell.
Mr. Groome moved that the gentleman from Howard
county be allowed to proceed.
Mr. Brewer, of Baltimore city, objected, and Mr. Mer-
rick declined to conclude his remarks.
Mr. Ritchie said the gentleman from Howard county,
(Mr. Merrick, ) had on several occasions raised his elo-
quent voice against subjects being considered by the Con-
vention which properly belonged to the Legislature, and
why should he advocate the insertion of this?
Mr. Merrick said, for the simple reason that the last
Legislature of Maryland had been derelict in its duty ?
Mr. Nelson asked if the Legislature did not represent
the sentiments of the people.
Mr. Merrick said, theoretically they might, but prac-
tically they did not.
Mr. Ritchie was in favor of giving the right of testi-
343
|
|
|
|
 |
