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unheard of in the United States except in Rhode
Island, and aa the doctrine of thegentleman from
Baltimore city, (Mr. PRESSTMAN.)
. He, (Mr. D.,) designed no reflection upon gen-
tlemen, but he must say, that in every age of the
world, persona were found ever ready to minis-
ter to the popular cry and popular caprice. It
was an old saying "vox poputt, vox Dei." He
(Mr. D ,) wouldfrun after no masses — he would
minister to no morbid sentiments. He referred
to the effects which a similar doctrine had pro-
duced in former ages of the world, and more re-
cently in France; and to the various forms and
isms which it had assumed in our own country.
He was no advocate of this absolute and uncon-
troled license of the mob; and he hoped the day
would never come when the sound and reflect-
ing portions of any community, were to give up
the restraints of law, and submit to the rule of a
violent and unprincipled mob.
Mr. Hicks said, he did not like to detain the
Convention by any remarks of his, but it might
probably be expected that he would say a few
words on the proposition he had submitted. He
was perfectly serious in offering that proposi-
tion. He thought it legitimate and proper; and it
was no new idea. It had not originated with him.
If gentlemen would refer to the proceedings of
the Convention of '76, they would find that a sim-
ilar effort was made in that body, and although
the provision was not inserted in the Constitution,
yet the 59th article was adopted as a compro-
mise. How t Why, by declaring that any part
of the organic law, directly affecting the interests
of the Eastern Shore, should be changed by a
two-thirds vote of the legislature.
It must be apparent to every gentleman that,
Owing to the peculiar geographical position of
the State of Maryland, some such arrangement
seemed to he demanded by the different interests
of the Eastern and Western Shores. And it
seemed to him, that, whilst the work of reform
was going on, it might be as well to guard every
point. He had not the slightest ill-feeling to-
wards the Western Shore — nor any desire, if he
bad the power, to withdraw the Eastern from
the Western Shore: But his object was to pro-
vide for a crisis such as might occur in the histo-
ry of those who were to come after us — by as-
serting the right of the Eastern Shot e to with-
draw — not by means of revolution, but peace-
ably; and to unite herself with Delaware or
Virginia, whenever the in terests and happiness
of the people might require it.
We had been told that the only question WM
one of political power. This did not alarm him
as muck as it seemed to have alarmed others,
Baltimore was increasing largelj — she would
continue to increase — and, as a matter of course,
would look vigilantly to her own. interests. She
wanted the construction of a number of public
works, in order that the various interests which
muat always cluster around a large pod growing
ettyi might be drawn together and concentrated
for ier beneftt. To all this, he had.no objection;
but the old adage that "a burnt child dreads the
fire," was aa true as it was trite. He and his
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people had no desire to trammel the interests of
Baltimore; they were proud of her; they oared
not to what extent Uer public works might be "
carried on, provided they were not taxed heavSy
for them. They had no prejudice towards her—-
their object, no less than their duty was, self-
preservation alone. All they asked was that
power should not be given to one part of the
State to oppress another, and that, if such a time
should every arrive, the people of the Eastern
Shore might be permitted, quietly if they could,
to make such an arrangement as would secure
their own protection.
Allusions had been made to his opinions on
the subject of reform, and he had been taunted
with being an anti-reformer. There was no
foundation for the charge. For twenty-five or
thirty years his name had been recorded in favor
of all the most important reforms in the State.
But some gentlemen here seemed to think that
no man was to be regarded as a reformer, unless
lie chose to follow them to the bitter end of all
their wild and ultra schemes of reform.
He repeated, what he had on a former occa-
sion stated, that he had voted against the call of
this Convention; yet that call having been deter-
mined upon, he had come here honestly to give
to the people all such reforms as he thought they
needed. He wished Baltimore to prosper, but
he was not willing to concede to her all the re-
forms that she demanded. He was not willing
to award undue political and legislative influence
to her, and thus to place other parties of the
State at her mercy, or within her control. When
he came here, he was disposed to give her and
the larger counties' of the State, an increased
representation; but he had found opinions so
various and conflicting, that he thought the best
coarse now might be to settle down upon the old
basis, or upon some other approximating to it.
It has been hinted to me this morning (con-
cluded Mr. H.) that if the time should ever come
when we, of the Eastern Shore, should avail our-
selves of the right which this provision would
guarantee, we ought at least to carry with us our
portion of the debt of the State of Maryland.
Sir, I scorn the idea that we would ever with-
draw,' without paying the last dollar of our due
proportion of that debt. I should feel ashamed
of the people of the Eastern Shore, if I believed
that there was a man amongst them who would
entertain such a proposition. I have only to add
that^I hope my amendment may be agreed to,
whether that of the gentleman from Baltimore
city, (Mr. Presstman,) is rejected er not.
Mr. STEWART of Caroline, said, it seemed to
him that .the right claimed by the amendment o
the gentleman from Dochester, {Mr. Hick*,] was
within certain restrictions and limitations; al-
ready recognized. The amendment provided
"that any portion of the people of this State, shall
have the right to secede and unite themselves
»nd the territory occupied by them to such ad-
joining State as they shall elect." Secede from
what? He supposed from the other part of the
State— that Ure Eastern Shore should have the
right to cut loose from the Western Shore, and
attach henelf to some other State.
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