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Mr. Tarr, of Worcester, had no intention of impugning
the motives of the gentleman, but he contended for what
was apparent.
Mr. Hammond moved an amendment that Salisbury
shall be the county seat of Wicomico county, which was
agreed to.
Mr. Jones moved an amendment that the question shall
be submitted to all the voters of Somerset and Worcester
counties, instead of to those only residing within the
limits of the proposed new county.
Mr. Page said some of the friends of this measure, who
had run on the ticket for this Convention, had come here
with this object specially in view, but they had managed
carefully to abstain from any discussion on the subject
before the people. His colleague (Mr. Rider) had charged
him with being recreant to the interests of the people of
Somerset county, and that he was acting in defiance of the
wishes of his constituents, because he (Mr. P. ) was pur-
suing a course which he deemed to be right and proper.
His colleague was not here representing Wicomico, but
Somerset, and he (Mr. P. ) believed that the people of
Somerset were largely opposed to this matter which his
colleague was so earnest an advocate of.
The friends of the measure had made boasts that they
had secured eighty-five votes for it, and this in advance of
any information or discussion on the subject. There were
no reasons or public policy or justice which demanded the
formation of this new county. It was contrary to all the
principles of right and justice that all the people of the
two counties concerned should not have an opportunity to
express their choice on this question. This had been the
course taken in reference to the formation of Carroll and
Howard counties. Petition after petition had come up in
favor of forming those counties, and no opposition what-
ever had been made. In reply to the argument that the
formation of the new county would add to the wealth and
prosperity of the county, Mr. P. contended that such
would not be the case. It was asserted that the counties
were too large, that it was too inconvenient for the people
in passing to and fro, and that if it was divided up it
would prosper.
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