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from Baltimore city had been on the committee, and they
had not asked for such a thing.
Mr. Wickes argued against the proposition of Mr. Arch-
er, and in favor of the majority report.
Mr. Ritchie said the question before the house so vital-
ly affected the interests of the counties and so little af-
fected the city of Baltimore that but for the position
taken by his colleague, (Mr. Brown, ) he should have left
the discussion entirely to the county members. There
had been the greatest disposition on the part of the coun-
ties to give to the city of Baltimore everything which her
interest demanded. The proposition for the three-judge
system, he understood, received 18 votes out of-21 in com-
mittee, representing a large majority of the counties,
and from the debate which has taken place here, he
was convinced that a majority of the delegates on this
floor from the counties were in favor of it, and he should
therefore cast his vote for it. He did not believe the in-
terests of the city of Baltimore would be subserved by
the amendment, nor if they would, that the people of
Baltimore would desire it at the expense of the counties.
The debate was further continued by Messrs. Brown,
Wickes and Gill.
Mr. Gill said the people of Baltimore had been assailed
on this floor in terms of reproach, and gentlemen had
said they wanted no association with them. He knew
the people of those seven lower wards; he had met the
Democrats of that part of the city; they had always re-
sponded to his summons, and were as devoted to free in-
stitutions, and as capable of selecting judicial or any
other officers as the people of any section of the State.
The people of Baltimore numbered 300, 000 souls, paid
more than half the taxes of the State, and if this sys-
tem was to be adopted, it did not do justice to that city.
The Convention then, without further action, ad-
journed.
FIFTY-FIFTH DAY.
ANNAPOLIS, THURSDAY, JULY 25.
Convention met at 10 o'clock. Prayer by Rev. Mr.
Leech.
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