(Mr. PHELPS,) was one of no slight or trifling
importance. Endorsed by the most solemn and
unequivocal sanction of the whole people of Ma-
ryland, it commended itself with weight and seri-
ousness to the earnest and deep consideration
of every member of the Convention. Quite con-
tent himself, in listening to the remarks of others,
he, (Mr. D.,) would have gladly obeyed the dic-
tates of his own feelings and inclinations—by
giving his vote cheerfully and without the utter-
ance of a single word, in accordance with the
commands of that sovereign will, so clearly, and
so plainly manifested. But the debate which had
arisen since the agitation of this subject had
been singular in many respects—expressions had
fallen, and arguments deduced so novel and sur-
prising in their character, as to require that an
answer should be at once, directly, and promptly
given. He should shrink from no duty attached
to his position as a representative to whom a
portion of the community had confided their in-
terests, And however reluctant at all times to
assail the opinions and doctrines of others, he
should never, for a moment hesitate to speak fear-
lessly, whenever in his judgment their interests
seemed to demand it. Like the distinguished
gentleman from Frederick, (Mr. Thomas,) whose
eloquence was heard with so much pleasure—he
had long looked upon the biennial policy as part
and parcel of the great fundamental law of the
land. As having been directly inserted and pla-
ced amid its provisions by the irresistable fiat
and authority of the very source of all power it-
self. Sir, this is not the first time the discussion
of this subject had been agitated within these
balls or disturbed the popular mind. Every one
was as familiar with its object, design, and ten-
dency as with any political event of the past or
present day. Years ago its policy was tried by
the fiery ordeal of public sentiment. It was alike
the theme of the hustings and the argument that
filled the columns of every newspaper in the land.
And eventually it sprang into full vitality and
being, consecrated by the direct and distinct sanc-
tion of the popular vote. All here knew and
well-remembered the peculiar history of the
measure. It was useless to trace it distinctly
through all its course, or in its every progressive
step. Abundant precaution had been taken to
prevent the slightest degree of surprise. There
was no unwise hurry, no unsafe dispatch. Full
time was given for the exercise of the most seri-
ous and calm reflection, and for the use of the
ablest and soundest discretion. And the result
was a manifestation, so triumphant and over-
whelming, that no one for a moment could be
mistaken in its character. Judgment, final and
conclusive, clear and explicit, had been prompt-
ly rendered by the only majesty recognized and
revered by freemen. And all had bowed deferentially
and willingly to such mandate. The Le-
gislature that succeeded the ratification by the
people, at once engrafted the provision as part of
the organic law, and the record of the times will
show how slight and feeble was the resistance
then made to that "voice" which our noble old
Commonwealth had echoed from every quarter.
Under »such circumstances and with such historic

recollections fresh upon his memory, he had wit-
nessed the undisguised hostility exhibited by very
many upon this floor against this great measure
of economy and reform, with a feeling of wonder
and amazement. "'Twas strange, 'twas passing
strange," to see how speedily and completely
time, with its despoiling touch, had wiped away
every impression and vestage of the recent past,
though it had been made even by the sovereign
hand. 'Twas wonderful that those who professed
to drink "par excellence" from the very fount of
Democracy—who worshiped at no other political
shrine, and bowed to no other political God—
should have so soon not only scoffed at the man-
dates, but absolutely by their speeches rebuked
the very wisdom of the people. Democracy did
indeed assume strange guises, and well might the
delusive resemblance be at times mistaken for the
pure reality.
No one could be suprised at the course which
had been taken by the whole distinguished dele-
gation from the county of Anne Arundel; recog-
nising, as they doubtless did, the sacred relation
that existed between constituent and representa-
tive, they had faithfully and honestly shadowed
forth the trust and sentiment that was entrusted
to their keeping. Nor was he in the least degree
disposed to find fault with the kind and hospita-
ble community around him. They were, after
all, like the rest of us, but human beings, en-
dowed with the virtues and the frailties that be-
long to our common nature; and all history had
shown, that the wisest judgments had been dis-
colored and perverted by the " cunning of inter-
est," even when guarded by the most exalted in-
tegrity. No doubt, their convictions of proprie-
ty sprang from the most conscious exercise of all
their reasoning faculties, and surely the views of
no section of the State were more legitimately
entitled to be heard with deference, within the
walls of the capitol. But other gentlemen had
opposed the amendment already alluded to, whose
views did not seem to be in harmony with the
constituency they represented, at least so far as
the returns of the vote given upon that subject
might indicate. Familiar with that people from
whose bosom they had come, it might be that
they justified themselves by the belief that a
change, great and radical, had been effected—
that they were even now anxious to reverse the
judgment which they had so recently given with
such general and singular unanimity; and though
it had already been announced from a high source
that every thing was in a state of mutation and
revolution—that change was written upon the
whole moral and physical world—until some more
substantial evidence than mere conjecture had
been given, he should be unwilling to believe
that the people, like bubbles upon the water,
were liable to be blown hither and thither by
every passing whim and momentary caprice. Na-
tions and communities, like individuals, might be
fickle in their moods and wayward in their course,
but they seldom departed from that line of policy
which had been sanctioned by the maturest re-
flections, and in the propriety of which their
judgments and their interests alike concurred.
We are told, however, that apart from these con-