Mr. HICKS had made an effort, the day before,
to obtain the floor, but was unsuccessful, and
had he then succeeded would have occupied the
Convention somewhat longer than he now de-
signed to do. He rose now only from a stern
sense of duty, to add aword if possible to what
had already been said and so well said in favor
of the proposition now under consideration; nor
would he attempt it. at this late stage of the dis-
cussion of this substitute, did he not consider it
to be one of the most important subjects, con-
nected with our doings here. Important first
as a tax-saving measure. But infinitely more
important as a measure—the failure of which,
would, in his opinion, contribute more to jeopard
the Constitution which we are now striving to
prepare for submission to the people of our agita-
ted State, than anything we may do here. And he
now raised the voice of warning, though feeble,
and trusted gentlemen upon this floor would re-
flect well upon this subject and act prudently. He
should have contented himself with the able vindi-
cation by his colleague of his important measure,
together with the valuable aid it received by the
able and distinguished members from Frederick
and Washington counties yesterday, and by others
to-day. But coming from a section of the State
where this measure of biennial sessions has
been earnestly called for and are very popular,
he desired to bear his testimony to that fact, and
confirm, if not strengthen, what his colleague
had said in that connexion. We are engaged,
he spoke of the people of the Eastern Shore—we
are engaged, in helping, at least, to pay a debt for
which we have never received value; therefore
desire to get through as quick as possible and
forget it. He voted for biennial sessions, and so
did his people of all parties, when submitted to the
people, four years ago—and unlike the gentleman
from Howard District, he intended to vote fur it
again. The gentleman from Howard District
and his friend from Frederick, (Mr. BISER,)
seemed to think they have discovered their folly
and are retracing their steps, but he had began
right and intended to keep right. Gentlemen
speak of annual sessions of the Legislature as a
subject not to be considered by the Convention
in connexion with that of expense. Are we not
here to make an organic law, to last, he trusted,
for ages to come; and are we not to guard all the
interests of the people as best we can? He thought;
he felt so; but how do some gentlemen propose to
doit? Why, sir, by the multiplication of officers,
and largely increased salaries. The gentleman
from Frederick, (he meant his friend, Mr. BISER,)
says he voted for biennial sessions too; and why ?
Because, he says, the cry of repudiation was then
to be heard in our State. So it was; and my
word for it, Mr. President, if we choke the
wholesome financial measures which have been
so wisely concocted and now in successful oper-
ation, you will hear it again, for although we are
comparatively quiet now, it is not to be forgotten,
that we have adebt of sixteen millions of dollars
hanging over us, and which, enormous as it is,
we intend to pay, if let alone as we now are. The
game gentleman (Mr. BISER) has told us that no-
thing was said during the canvass last summer by
34

the people of Frederick, upon the subject of bien-
nial sessions. Certainly not; and why? Obvi-
ously, because they there, as everywhere else,
considered it a fixed subject, settled by them, and
never, as they supposed, to be disturbed again.
Had not the people decided this subject of biennial
sessions unequivocally, and shall this Convention
thus trifle with them? He hoped not. Have your
elections once in two years, and your sessions of
the Legislature in like manner, and then you save
money and morals. He felt that it was most de-
sirable to avoid frequent elections, for all knew
as well he does, the demoralizing effect of popu-
lar elections; and he thought all ought, with him,
go for just so many elections as were really ne-
cessary and no more. The people desired repose
and relief from the continual excitement of elec-
tions, and for himself, he felt a great anxiety on
account of the too frequent elections, for the rea-
son that they are demoralizing in their tendency;
and therefore he desired to have the popular elec-
tions of the State less frequent for the two-fold
reason of immorality and expense. As to the ar-
gument founded on the necessity for a strict su-
pervision of the Treasury, he would say, that so
long as we have officers faithful as now, and in
the past, there is no need of such frequent super-
vision.
We come here, professing to take charge of
the public interest, and how do we do it? Why,
by multiplying offices and increasing salaries—
the last thing the people expect us to do. The
people who have so unequivocally decided in fa-
vor of biennial sessions, have not sent us here to
change the system, rely on it.
Why, gentlemen talk as though we had come
here to repeal our entire statutory system. What
have we to do with the statutes ? Our duly is
to frame an organic law, in conformity with our
laws already made, and to which all laws, here-
after to be made, must conform. We are not here
to prepare a statutory code. If we insert in
this Constitution, propositions at variance with
the expressed sense of our people, we do not do
our duty. He hoped we shall be able to form
such a Constitution as will be acceptable to our
people. As to his own votes, he would only say,
they shall be honestly cast. He had repeatedly
served in the Legislature too, but was ready to
admit that his friend from Carroll, (Mr. Brown,)
had been in more legislative bodies and had be-
longed to more parties than he had, and should
not controvert what he had said in connexion
with the industry of the last Legislature; but he
must say, that he knew, as had been said in many
instances, that weeks of the earlier parts of the
sessions were consumed in idleness or pleasure,
Some time must be used in electing officers and
the other processes of organization, but no one
having experience, doubts that much time is lost
in amusements on such occasions. If we can
send out to the people, such aconstitution as we
may reasonably expect them to adopt, we must
be careful what the provisions are which we in-
sert in it.
His friend from Frederick, (Mr. Biser,) had
said that the cry of repudiation was once heard in
Maryland, and that he had then voted for bien-