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sentiment, and force the already too tender sensi-
bilitylnto disease in its most aggravated form.
There was an idea abroad that mig-ht alone would
triumph, and that the counties with their sparse
population were to be trodden down and robbed
of their political existence. He trusted no such
destiny was in store, and he would see oil ponr-
ed upon the troubled waters — calming and res-
toring their deep agitation. Again he invoked the
Convention to abandon abstractions that might
have such fearful tendencies. And he respectfully
asked the gentleman who had introduced this
amendment, what good result he expected from
the proposition inserted in the unguarded form
in which he had offered it for consideration?
Mr. PRESSTMAN here said he was not apprised
of the best mode of carrying it out at present.
Mr. DIRICKSON resumed. He understood the
gentleman then to express a willingness to take
a leap fearlessly in the dark — to urge the adop-
tion of theories, the tremendous consequences of
which no man had anticipated or could begin to
realize until the very crisis was upon him. Born
of the people, he sympathised in all their hopes
and wishes. He was part and parcel of them.
He would have their every right so solemnly
shielded that the very tyranny of numbers itself
would stand abashed and rebuked whenever
tempted to break down the sacred barriers by
which they were guarded and preserved.
He had heard with great pleasure the very able
remarks which had fallen from his honorable and
highly esteemed friend from the county of Dor-
chester, (Mr. Hicks.) He had alluded to the
peculiar legislation of 1836, as affording the
most distinguishing evidence of the spirit of re-
form which had ever marked his whole political
career. So far as the policy of that period had
manifested itself in weeding out ancient draw-
backs upon the rights and privileges of the peo-
ple, and in more j thoroughly republicanising our
present form of Government, it merited and re-
ceived his gratitude and approbation. But to
his deep regret he was compelled to say, that
when he remembered the innovation then made
upon (he representative system, he was compel-
led to regard it as trie darkest hour in the modern
annals of our State.
It was then that the principle of the amend-
ment new submitted, received, in its most modi-
fied and limited form, a sort of quasi adoption.
Then the entering wedge was pointed — and, un-
der the specious and deceptive guise of compro-
mise, a change was effected, which, if now ex-
panded to the extent advocated, might rend the
State to fragments. The idea here sought to be
engrafted in the bill of rights, was nothing less
than the basis upon which certain gentlemen
might rear their darling hobby — "representation
based purely upon population." He could noi
for an instant give countenance to any scheme
with such an aim in view. Neither the past his-
tory of our State, nor its present condition anc
geographical position, warranted or justified it
The statesman who would provide wise laws for
the government of a large community, must no
be swayed in his judgment by mere abstrac
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rights, but looking calmly over the whole field and
weighing every circumstance in the balance, so
draft his code that, whilst the interests of all re-
ceived its beneficial influence, individual liberty
and sectional independence, should be every
where plainly and distinctly secured. The legis-
lation of past days had shown no disposition upon
the part of the smaller counties to use their pre-
sent power detrimental to the prosperity of other
portions of the State; on the contrary, they
now exhibited the noble spectacle of an honest
people cheerfully discharging every obligation
made essential by our common debt, without
present benefit or future hope.
By their combined aid and assistance, the
mountains have been divided — canals opened —
railroads created, and a great city reared up in
all its magnificent proportions. Why then, this
continued and ungrateful clamoring against the
power essential to their security and indepen-
dence ? Why, to illustrate a mere abstraction,
Book to humiliate thcii piide uy placing mem in
a position but little short of mere colonial depen-
cies ?
A distinguished gentleman from Carroll county,
some days since, in speaking of that small minori-
ty of the Convention who had voted for represen-
tation upon a purely popular basis, had said, with
a manner and a menacing expression, that might
indicate a threat, " that their constituency was
named ' Legion. ' " Sir, the day of menace and
threats had gone by. The duty of those who rep-
resented the smaller counties was plain and open
jefore them. The magic of the word " Legion "
could not deter them from their high and resolved
purpose. They could not now desert, in the
hour of peril, without proving shamefully recre-
ant to the sacred trusts which had been confided
to them by a generous people.
To the words of the honorable gentleman from
Dorchester, (Mr. Phelps,) whilst speaking of the
fertility and beauty of the Eastern Shore, in view
of a separation that might too soon be hurriid
upon us, he had listened with mingled emotions
of pleasure and pain. With pleasure he felt the
consciousness that there was no land upon which
Heaven had smiled more kindly, and surely no peo-
ple more open hearted in their generous hospitali-
ty. He trusted the hoar of separation and «e-
session would never come, He was a Maryland-
er by birth — & Marylander by nature and by habit.
Every association of the past, and every hope of
the future, entwined his affections about his na-
tive State. There was not within her whole bor-
ders one spot, from the topmost peak of the Al-
leghanies to yon distant shore, upon which the
eternal thunder of the Atlantic's roar is un-
ceasingly heard, which he did not love and cher-
ish as consecrated ground. The deeds ef her
patriots and sages — of her warriors and states-
men, were one common property, and one com-
mon inheritance. No community or brotherhood
was ever bound by stronger tits or happier rem-
iniscences; and, fratricidal indeed would be that
policy which, tearing asunder these bonds, 'Would
make one of the brightest of the old thirteen, a
"Niobe " amid the brilliant galaxy of her sister
States. He indulged the hope that gentlemen
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