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the great principle of popular representation, ow-
ing to her peculiar position to the counties, as
far as we can go, we will go, injielding to heran
equivalent. What that is to be, must depend up-
on the compromise which must take place.
Pass the amendment of the gentlemen from
Kent, and carry it out, and you had better adjourn
at once. The Constitution which we may adopt
has to be ratified by the people. If you set Bal-
timore against it, what prospect of ratification is
there. It is too important an interest lo be over-
looked. It is entitled to the highest respect, and
demands our serious consideration. We must
not neglect it. If you pass the amendment
of the gentleman, and say to her, that she is
not to be heard in this compromise, her entire
weight will be put in opposition to your Consti-
tution. And so, in the same spirit, he said to the
gentlemen from Baltimore, and the larger coun-
ties, if you adopt the rule of representation
according to population, and attempt to force it,
on the smaller counties, then you will array
them against our proceedings, and raise, in them,
one united army of opposition, who will stop at
no point short of a total overthrow of the Con-
stitution, which we may recommend. I appeal
then to the reformers in this House, who are truly
desirous to get rid of the abuses and inconve-
niences of the old Constitution, and to adopt one
in conformity with the progressive spirit of the
age, and which will give to you a more economi-
cal, a better, and a purer government, to vote
down the amendment of the gentleman from
Kent, and unite in a spirit of conciliation. Let
it go forth from these Halls, that we will fra-
ternise on this great question, and we will still
the storm of passion, and prepare the public
mind to accept with favor the work of our
bands.
The gentleman from Kent, is further opposed
to extending the compromise to Baltimore, be-
cause the original Constitution fixed a ratio of
representation which was just, and which, by
subsequent compromises, has tended to the in-
jury of the counties.
The gentleman can find nothing to sustain him,
in the ratio of representation, as adopted in our
Constitution of seventy-six. At that time, we
had no large city within our limits. The coun-
ties, which now constitute the smaller counties,
were then the important sections of the State,
and very much equal; and there were several
commercial points on the Eastern Shore, of far
greater magnitude than Baltimore town, as it
was then known. Besides, our government was
then one of experiment, and framed in the very
midst of war. The gallant spirits who framed
it, are entitled to our highest praise, and should
ever be remembered with tears of gratitude and
smiles of admiration. Under the circumstances
which gave it birth, it was admirably suited to
the crisis, but still it was imperfect, necessarily
imperfect. The defects eoon became manifest,
and from that time to the present, have been un-
dergoing changes. It is unnecessary to enume-
rate them all. But he might ask, what were the
restrictions on the right of suffrage, and on pub-
lic officers, from a Sheriff to a Governor? A
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property qualification was essential in every
case. Again; how imperfect was our Judiciary
system, and the mode of appointing the Go-
vernor? Time has corrected many of the
evils, and this Convention has met to correct tkem
all. And yet the gentleman refers to that Con-
stitution as his guide, on this great question. He
could not consent to do so.
The gentleman said that Baltimore had got
all she claimed; had fixed the public taxes upon
us, and was now anxious to throw off her share
of them. He thought this was unjust. Balti-
more was not alone responsible for the system of
internal improvements and the public debt. The
Potomac and the Chesapeake counties, had their
share of the reproach. In the Potomac counties
the strongest champions of the system were to be
found. Nor was there any deficiency on the
Eastern Shore. It was made a question, in his,
(Queen Anne's) county. He had canvassed every
part of it in opposition to the system, not as a
candidate, but as one of the people. He had
predicted what would be the result, and that
every species of property, would be taxed to pay
for the system. But the people sustained it and
went for the measure, as they did in other
counties on that shore. Let no unjust censure
then be imposed on Baltimore for this measure,
and remember too, that one of the great public
works of the State— the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal — is antagonist, in every respect to the city
of Baltimore, and always was. Its outlet is in
the District of Columbia, where all its commerce
must find its way. And this is the great work
of the State, from which the people were led to
expect such rich returns and so golden a harvest.
He hoped it would be realized, though the hope
has been long deferred.
We should have no unkind feelings towards
the city of Baltimore. It was the heart of the
State, diffusing vigor into every part. Into her
was pouring the wealth of other States, and other
counties. We furnished her with the rich and
varied products of our fertile lands, whilst she
furnished us in leturn with her comforts and
luxuries. Let us then forget all sectional dis-
cord and meet on common ground, in a spirit of
just and honorable concession, each to the other.
Whilst we say to Baltimore, we cannot give you
a representation to which you would be entitled
on the basis of population, because to do this
would confer on you the means of absorbing all
the political influence of the State, yet we are
willing to yield you an equivalent, one which
will make you stronger than you now are, and as
far as possible balance the power in the State
without detriment to any.
Mr. NEILL suggested to Mr. CHAMBERS, of
Kent, so to modify his amendment as to add the
words, "and that representation in the counties
shall be according to population."
Mr. CHAMBERS declined, remarking that the
gentleman could offer his amendment as a sepa-
rate proposition.
Mr. NEILI supposed it would not be in order
for him now to do so.
The PRESIDENT, [Mr. Ricaud.pro tem,] said it
would not be in order.
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