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find incorporated upon the organic law of nine- tenths of all the States of this Union. Mr. PHELPS said, before he proceeded (p dis- cuss the second branch of this proposition, it being the amendment offered by his friend and colleague, Mr. HICKS, he would say one word by way of defining his position. Those from the Eastern Shore, and the smaller counties, had over and again been denounced as anti-reformers. For himself, he acknowledged he voted against calling a Convention in the Senate, and also at the ballot-box. He had done so upon high con- stitutional grounds, as well as from expediency. He had witnessed nothing in these Halls to con- vince him that he was wrong. But if gentlemen suppose he was hereto oppose all needful reform, they have mistaken their man. He declared himself a bona fide reformer. He intended to be second to no man upon that subject. The Con- stitution on which they were engaged was intend- ed not only for themselves, but for posterity, and so far as his humble abilities could serve, the work shall be perfect, and shall secure the great- est good to the greatest numbers It should be the pride of every man here, to give the peo- ple the best possible government. But, Mr. President, what is reform ? Does it consist alone, as has been urged here, of represen- tation, based exclusively upon population? If so, we have only, as indicated by the vote a day or two since, but seventeen in ihis body, seven- teen out of one hundred and three members. These seventeen are the Simon Pures; fine gold, tried in the fire. Mr. CHAMBERS, (interrupting.) And some of them are backing out. Mr. PHELPS, ( resuming. ) Well, let them back out — he was proud to hear it. Here some explanations took place, in which Mr. McHENRY, Mr. CHAMBERS and Mr. BRENT, of Baltimore city, took part, and in which Mr. MCHENRY and Mr. BRENT repelled the charge implied in the words, "back out," if directed against them. Mr. CHAMBERS disclaimed any personal allu- sions. Mr. PHELPS resumed, and said, notwithstand- ing the declaratien of his principles, he would doubtless still be denounced by those seventeen gentlemen as opposed to reform. The right, upon the happening of certain contingencies, of the Eastern Shore to secede, was urged before the people of Dorchester during the last campaign, and the proposition has been offered by his col- league in good faith, and he hoped the amendment would prevail. Mr. PHELPS described the East- ern shore as a beautiful champaign country, in- tersected with beautiful rivers and creeks, pene- trating the whole country, and winding arounc the homestead of almost every man. He contend- ed the interests of the two shores were essential- ly different. Whilst the Western Shore was greatly dependent upon works of internal im- provement for her prosperity, the Eastern Shore required no such public expenditures for her benefit. Already you have your great works o internal improvement, reaching far to the west and in tei seeling the State in other directions

iringing into direct competition with our pro- ducts the pioducts of other and distort*' State*. For one, he denied the almost universally re- ceived dogma, that by making the city of Balti- more the great grain market of the Went, J0* would increase the price of our own products. These great works have been constructed fey the common treasure of the whole people. The East- ern Shore was made tributary to these worhs — was taxed to accomplish that which daily con- ributed to her injury. Mr. PHELPS said he lad never assisted to incur the present debt of Maryland, but he was proud to say he had sustain- ed the faith and honor of the State in her darkest lours of adversity, at a time when repudiation bund a resting place even in these halls. Mr. PHELPS said the time, in his judgment, for a eparation had not yet come; but he desired the Convention to recognize the right we contend for. Whenever representation, according to pop- ulation, shall be engrafted upon the Constitution of the State, for one, he was prepared to say, the day and the hour of our separation is at hand. Je never could, and never would consent, that the iastern Shore should be compelled to sit power- ess at the feet of the city of Baltimore and West- ern Maryland. Mr. BROWN said he would make no reply to the gentleman who had referred to the revolu- tisnary movement of Dorr: there was nothing in the condition or character of the State of Mary- and to justify any parallel. Nor would he an- swer the insinuation of the gentleman from Charles, (Mr. Jenifer,) that a time might come when Baltimore might call in the aid of Charles county to protect her against her own friends. These were questions unworthy of notice. Sneers had been thrown out by gentlemen against the seventeen who had voted on Friday for the jopular basis of representation. It was true, it was a. very small minority. But he would inform those gentleman, that the number of them was great— that their name was "Legion." These sev- enteen represented 227,000 of the voters of Ma- ryland. Yettheir fewness on this vote was made a subject of ridicule. But the effort which had been made, and thTnames of those who sustain- ed it, will appear on the record, and not all. the waters which separate Maryland from Delaware and Virginia will wash it out. He moved the previous question. The question was ta-ken, and decided in the negative. So the Convention refused to second the de- mand for the previous question. Mr. BRENT, of Baltimore city , desired to offer an amendment. The PRESIDENT said, it was not now in order, there being two amendments already pending. The question then recurred on the amendment of Mr. HICKS. Mr. PRESSTMAN asked the yeas and naye, which were ordered, and being taken resulted as fol- lows: JMrmalive— Messrs. Lee, Mitchell, Buchanan, Bell, Welch, Ridgely, Dickinson, John Dennis, Dashiell, Hicks, Hodson, Goldsborough, Phelps,