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cussion on the question of representation. 1 see no good to be attained by its continued discussion now. I confess I have borne it until my patience 'is totally exhausted, and I must protest against the continuation of a state of things calculated to protract the session of the Convention to an in- definite period. The PRESIDENT (to Mr. Ridgely.) Does [the gentleman from Baltimore county claim the floor? Mr. RIDGELY yielded the floor- Mr. DIRICKSON took the floor, and remarked that he felt himself placed in an awkward po- sition. Mr. BLAKISTONE interposed, and suggested that the gentleman from Worcester, (Mr. Dirickson,) should permit the question to be taken, on the previous question, (there being an evident dis- position on the part of the Convention not to se- cond the previous question at the present mo- ment.) Mr. DIRICKSON yielded the floor. Mr. SCHLEY. I hope that the Convention will not second the demand for the previous question. t regard the subject which is now engrossing Oar consideration, as one of grave importance, and think that the gentleman from Washington county, (Mr. Fiery,) is mistaken in supposing that the same principle will again come up for discussion on the question of representation. I cannot see the connection between the two. But apart from that consideration, if it were time that this question is again to come under our re- vision, I, for one, am disposed to avail myself of all the light I can obtain by discussion among the members of this Convention. I care not if we remain here six months; my constituents "will not make any unreasonable, demands upon me. As their representative "here, I have a duty to perform as well as rights to protect. U becomes the So to discharge my duties here as that When 1 g6 home, I may tell my constituents that I have accomplished the objects for which I came here. There are some gentlemen in this body--I dp not wish to specify— who seem to understand by intuition all the matters that come before us, and are ready to give their votes the moment a question is broached. I am not one of that num- ber; and I am anxious to give to every gentleman who is disposed to speak, an opportunity to do so, that I may myself enjoy the benefit of his views. Whilst 1 should be glad to se.e more rapid progress than we have hitherto made, in order that we might perfect, as soon as possible, the work for which we have assembled, yet I am Very sure that, to the satisfactory accomplish- ment of that Work, debate is necessary. Gen- tlemen must be permitted to express their views, and those gentlemen 'only who are perfectly cog- nizant of every subject, are prepared to vote in the beginning, without examination and without discussion. As I am not one of them-, I desire to move not at a gallop, but at a more reasonable speed. I wish to accord to every gentleman the right to express his opinions and views. I have been a longtime a listener to debates a t the house and elsewhere, and I cannot see that the latidu- dihous and irrelevant debate which gentlenwn

speak of here, has in fact taken' place, I think that gentlemen have confined themselves pretty closely to the legitimate subject matter under discussion. I, therefore, hope that every gentle- man, who desires it, may have an opportunity of being heard. Mr. TUCK, (to the Chair.) What is the ques- tion before the Convention? The PRESIDENT. It is on the amendment of the gentleman from Kent, (Mr. Chambers.) Mr. DIRICKSON took the floor. Mr. FIERT. I move the previous question. The PRESIDENT. The gentleman has not the floor to make the motion. After some conversation, the floor was yielded byJMr. DIRICKSON, for the motion for the previous question. But the Convention refused to second it. • So the question again recurred on the amend- ment of Mr. CHAMBERS, of Kent. Mr. DIRICKSON said : He had listened calmly and patiently to the .debate which for the past two days, had occupied the grave attention of the Convention. He had listened with somewhat more than his usual ear- nestness, seriously regarding the amendment of- fered by the gentleman from the city of Balti- more as not only of the highest and most solemn importance, but as involving principles which might shake bur whole government to its inmost centre, and in a moment of time crumble its fair fabric into dust and ruin. Little did he expect to hear in this Hall, consecrated by so many pa- triotic and historic associations, sentiments like those which but recently had come from more than one quarter of the wise assemblage now around him— sentiments which but for the great respect and high regard he entertained for the sources from which they emanated he would de- nounce, as they deserved to be, as moral treasons against the fair fame and dignity of our noble State, and the peace, happiness and security of her sovereign people. There might be times and places, when and where, the enumciation of such political heresies however agrarian in th'eir tendencies and red-republican in their odor, would be entirely harmless and unimportant. But such was not the case with emanations from this body. He saw around him many among the most eminent and distinguished of the land — men whose past lives and intellectual la- bors had already become a part of the history and pride of their country; and to an assembly graced and adorned by such a presence, the peo- ple might look with more than wonted confidence and hearken with a willing ear to its political teachings. . He did not wish to interfere with those who, by the utter ance of new, and to him strange creeds, sought to place themselves in a popular attitude before their peculiar constituency. The ascent of the politician is ever steep and toilsome — way* new and untried — crooked and tortuous are fre- quently pursued ere station and pomp and power and ill the bright baubles that dazzle around ambition's goal are fairly won. , And was this an ordinary political assembly collected together