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would be to discharge them if they should ask it,
and then take up the subject in the House. He
thought the instructions contained In the amend-
ment of the gentleman from Queen Anne's (Mr.
SPENCER) would only embarrass the committee,
without leading to any practical result. It was
his opinion that the committee ought to report a
plan.
Mr. CHAMBERS said that the committee could
report a plan directly, if they could have a vote
of the Convention.
Mr. THOMAS replied that this was only a single
opinion. He thought the committee might make
a report without violating the order of the House.
Mr. SPENCER said he had no intention to give
the committee any instruction beyond what the
resolution appointing them gave.
Mr. THOMAS suggested that under the instruc-
tions of the gentleman's amendment, the com-
mittee may not report at all. His object was
that they should be ordered to report a plan.
Mr. SPENCER stated that the committee was
appointed to deliberate and report on the subject
of representation. The amendment he had offer-
ed was to recommit with instructions to do, what
the original resolution instructed them to do-
The gentleman from Frederick objected to it,
on the ground that they might not report at all.
He wanted them to agree and ask instructions.
Mr. GWINN intimated that a majority 'could not
agree.
Mr. SPENCER intimated that if they could not
agree to ask instructions, any two of them, or
even one, might make a report on which the
Convention could go on. Let them separately
report articles which may be taken up and con-
sidered. Unless they do this, how were any ar-
ticles to come before the Convention ? He said
he was not tenacious about the instructions and
was willing to strike them out.
Mr. PRESSTMAN concurred in the views of the
gentleman from Frederick.
Mr. THOMAS moved to strike out the instruc-
tions in the amendment.
Mr. SPENCER accepted the amendment, and
modified his proposition by striking out the in-
structions.
Mr. PRESSTMAN understanding that the gentle-
man from Kent, had said that some members of
the committee wished to bring forwarded plans,
in order to present their views to the Convention,
asked if a member of the committee bad any
greater right to do this than any other gentleman
in this body.
After a brief explanation between Messrs.
CHAMBERS and PRESSTMAN,
Mr. CHAMBERS resumed. His object in rising
was to urge immediate action on the report, as
the safest, surest mode of expediting our work.
Pass this report, and you will probably, in a few
hours after the committee can be convened, have
& report on the compromise plan— reject it and
thereby declare your de termination to take a ratio
of numbers, and you must hare a report accord-
ingly.
It had been remarked that delay was desirable,
. because it was a subject, the discussion of which
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would produce angry feelings, why should such
apprehension exist ? There is nothing in the
question to excite angry or unkind remark —
nothing. He regretted— very much regretted —
to hear such anticipations. They seemed to in-
vite such a state of irritation. Where was the
occasion for it? It is a question of political ex-
pediency and policy; involving no personal im-
putations. We differ — differ honestly. It is fair
a use arguments to convince each other; but pas-
sion is not argument, and of all means is the
least likely to convert or persuade an opponent.
None of us are excited now by any unkind feel-
ing. Then why should we become so in the
calm investigation of such facts, and the cool
expression and consideration of such argu-
ments as should lead us to wise conclusions?
He thought this the place, now the time, and that
the form in which the question should be discus-
sed and decided.
Mr. MERRICK said that the Committee could
have had no intention to violate the spirit of the
order, or to bring up abstract principles. They
thought the resolutions contained practical prin-
ciples, such >s it would be necessary for the
Convention to settle, before the Convention
could consider and report details. It was ne-
cessary that they should know whether popular
numbers was to be the basis of representation or
not, that they might go into the details under the
sanction of the vote of the Convention. The
committee were of opinion that the business
would be expedited if they could get these prin-
ciples settled. The gentleman from Frederick
asked what progress could be made ? He ans-
wered that they might make great progress.
There must be animated discussion on the sub-
ject, and why should we not begin by making
the ground clear. We should advance the busi-
ness of the committee, by coming to a solemn de-
cision as to the character of the basis. To settle
that now would be to get rid of a great sub-divi-
sion of the subject. And if it should appear that
the Convention will adopt neither federal nor
popular numbers exclusively, a compromise of
opinions would take place in the committee. It
was his opinion that individual members, or even
a minority of the committee, had no right to
make reports, but that this right was in the ma-
jority only. But a member of the House was
always at liberty to submit propositions, and, as
such, he had submitted a plan. He had presented
it as his own, not presuming to offer it as a re-
port from the committee. Hitherto there had
been no plan suggested on which the committee
had been able to agree; but hoped that they
would soon come to an agreement, especially if
by a vote of the Convention, the principle were
to be established. The expression of the views
of the House would, at once, terminate the diffi-
culties in the committee.
Mr. GWINN offered the following amendment..
"Ordered, That the committee on Representa-
tion be instructed to report a plan of representa-
tion in the Senate and House of Delegates, giv-
ing one delegate to each five thousand of popula-
tion in the counties and city of Baltimore, in the
House of Delegates, and dividing no county or
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