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ttau a week we had heard very little but a repe-
tition of what had already been said. If this
evil was not arrested, he, for one, was prepared
to throw ap his commission and go home in dis-
gust. He understood reformers to come here
from "Western Maryland and say, as the gentle-
man from Washington county, (Mr. SCHLEY,)
had said, that they were instructed to claim re-
presentation, based on numbers, for themselves,
and to tlfny it to Baltimore city.
Mr. B. could not but regard this as a monstrous
proposition, and he, for one, would never sanction
it by his vote. Other gentlemen might do as they
please, but he would make no compromise on
this subject by his votes, which should be given
to confer equal rights on alf, and if defeated in
that object by the votes of western reformers, he
would vote to deny them what they denied to
Baltimore city. He wished, therefore, to be dis-
tinctly understood, he had no compromise in his
votes on this subject, hut if a compromise be
made by the Convention on this subject without
his vote, he then reserved the right to look at the
new Constitution when completed as a whole, and
to vote for or against it as his judgment then
dictated; so that while making no compromise
himself, he might or might not vote for a new
Constitution containing some adjustment of this
question, along with other great and salutary re-
forms, but certainly the rejection of the popular
basis would be a great objection to the new Con-
stitution, however liberal the compromise might
be.
The gentleman from St. Mary's, (Mr. BLAKIS-
TONE,) had desired the privilege at once to re-
cord his vote on representation, and Mr. B. was
as ready to register his vote as that gentleman,
but he thought that gentleman came here to com-
pare opposing views as well as to record votes.
Mr. BLACKISTONE explained that he came here
*to aid in making a Constitution, fie wished to
necord his vote on that question and so did oth-
"•srs, and he complained that Mr. BRENT did not
•state all that he had said.
Mr. BRENT replied, that to state all that the gen-
tleman from St. Mary's, (Mr. BLAKISTONE,) had
: said, would take an hour or more. He, (Mr. B ,)
thought they had higher duties to perform here
than merely voting. He desired an interchange
' of view*, that if they failed to establish right and
justice here, the seed sown in this hall should
germinate broad-cast through the State. In
• conclusion, he hoped that as the subject of the
• elective franchise was fixed for Monday, we
should postpone the matter of representation un-
til after we had completed that subject. Let us,
not begin this important discussion for two or
•three days and then leave it incomplete to retrace
•our steps to other unfinished business. Let us
•when we begin it, devote all our time and efforts
tto its demands.
Mr. SPENCER briefly defend his proposition
srgjkist the attacks which had been made upon
it. The committee had asked of the Convention
to adopt their first resolution, declaring it inex-
pedient to establish federal numbers as a basis of
representation; and also their second resolution
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declaring it inexpedient to adopt the popular
basis. If the Convention should pass these two
resolutions, the committee will necessarily be
driven back on a compromise. For this reason
he thought his proposition ought to be adopted.
There was another reason for the adoption of the
amendment. On one side it was contended that
popular numbers should be wholly disregarded;
and on the other, that they constituted the true
basis of representation. It was clear, from the
indications around us, that neither extreme
would succeed.
A compromise would be necessary. This
question then would have to go to the committee
to be settled on a principle of compromise. He
saw no good which could rise out of the discus-
sion now. One part of the State was opposed
to the popular basis, while another part was in
favor of it. How then, in this state of things,
could the question be forced on the House? The
member from Baltimore city, had admitted that
popular numbers was his own choice, but that he
would be willing to yield his preference, in a
spirit of compromise. He was gratified that the
gentleman from Baltimore took that ground. He
stated, that by the adoption of bis amendment,
the Convention would, by their vote, say that th«
question ought to be compromised. He had no
fear of any excitement. He saw round him
familiar faces, and he could not be apprehensive
of any danger. But if any gentlemen feel any
apprehension of this kind, he would ask them to
vote for his amendment, and thus give evidence
that they were desirous to have a compromise.
He was willing to go fora liberal compromise, as
regards the city of Baltimore.
Mr. JENIFER was in favor of immediate action
on the subject He had, at one time, been dis-
posed to postpone the subject, and had voted for
postponement. But times had changed since
that vote was given; reports had been made; the
subject had been fully considered, and all were
now ready to vote. For what purpose should the
subject be sent back to the committee, when it
has been told the House that the committee can-
not agree. It would be the better course to vote
at once on the question, and determine whether
the Convention will take population as the basis
of representation, and, that question decided, the
House will have advanced a step. Without ac-
tion of this kind, on the part of the House, the
committee cannot be brought to an agreement;
but let either, or both of these resolutions pass,
and there will be a ground established on which
the committee can act.
Mr. PRESSTMAN, of Baltimore city, said, he rose
to offer an amendment, in order to hinder the
call of the previous question, on the resolution
from the Committee, which he anticipated was
about being made by the gentleman from Kent,
(Mr. RICAUD,) and at the same time, in a few
remarks, to indicate a spirit of compromise upon
this vexed question of representation.
He read the following amendment :
"That the committee on Representation and
Apportionment be requested to report a plan of
apportionment and representation, making num-
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