of society. Then why was it demanded?
There was a motive somewhere; what was
it? What induced the entire Democratic party
to favor this change? Whit was it that indu-
ced the gentlemen from Caroline, and Talbot, and
Queen Anne's, to vote for a reduction of the re-
presentation from those counties. The people of
those counties certainly do not desire any such
reduction, and cannot be benefitted by it. Sir,
it cannot be doubted that they are struggling for
party ascendency.
The gentleman from Montgomery. (Mr. Kil-
gour,) was right when he denounced this whole
matter as an effort on the part of the Democratic
party on this to gain party power. Our friends from
the counties referred to, professed to oppose the
doctrine of representation based on population
simply. They are unwilling to give to Baltimore
all she asks, but yet, they will yield their princi-
ples just far enough to secure a majority, in the
House of Delegates, of their party. Sir, I re-
peat, it is an exchange of local security for party
power.
Mr. President, gentlemen may find their re-
ward , they may, for their services here, become
the objects of party patronage; they may be ele-
vated to high and distinguished positions, but when
the excitements of the day shall have passed, as
soon they will, and their constituents shall have
learned at what cost the triumph was purchased,
these gentlemen may well fear the displeasure of
an injured and indignant people. And, sir, what
has the gentleman from Washington, (Mr. Fiery, )
and those of his way of thinking, who are now
acting with him, to gain by the course they are now
pursuing. They came here with no sympathy with
the great body of those with whom they are now
acting. There is now no bond of union between
them save this vague name of reform,which I have
shown his no practical meaning, so far as this
question is concerned, except to re-cast the par-
ty balances and injure one half the State with
out benefiting the other. Then, why this asso-
ciation ? Did not the gentleman, and those to
whom I have referred, come here pledged not to
increase the weight of Baltimore city beyond the
largest county? Why depart from that pledge?
Will those, by whose favor they have seals on
this floor, justify their course? Will they sus-
tain and approve the course of the gentleman
and his friends in combining wilh their enemies
to injure and ruin their friends?
Mr. President, I have occupied much more of
the time of the Convention than I anticipated;
much more, perhaps, than was desirable, I thank
the Convention for the patient attention with
which I have been listened to. I have now
performed, very imperfectly it is true, the task I
had prescribed for myself. In conclusion, allow
me to say, that I earnestly pray that this body
may beguided by wisdom and patriotism; that
justice, forbearance and a sense of right may
here prevail, and that our action may redound lo
the safety, and honor, and glory of Maryland.
Mr. JENIFER said:
That he did not intend to discuss the propriety
of calling a Convention. It was sufficient for |
him that he was there, sent by his constituents
to represent their interests. He would as far as
it was in his power protect thoie interests, at the
same time that he was anxious to do justice to
all sections of the State; and although he might
differ from some of his constituents, his col-
leagues and others, he felt a consciousness that
the course he had pursued and intended to pur-
sue upon this absorbing question of representa-
tion, was best calculated to promote their inter-
ests.
He did not mean to make any apology for the
remarks he would submit here, nor did he mean
to place himself in any other than on correct
ground; and if he could have been allowed to
give a vote on all those questions, without being
misinterpreted, he would not now have spoken.
He had looked at this matter with intense anxie-
ty, as he had no doubt every member of the Con-
vention had; and permit him to say, that very
great injustice had done him by a misconstruc-
tion if not misrepresentation of his course. Anti-
pathies had been created and efforts made to
prejudice him, because he did not agree with
other gentlemen, with whom he had been ac-
customed to act politically.
If there was any one thing more than another
which had prejudiced Baltimore city and the
larger counties against the smaller counties, and
the smaller counties against Baltimore city and
the others—it was the course adopted by some
of their representatives here on this floor. Day
after day have they assumed an antagonistical
position, and claimed for Baltimore the balance
of power over the whole State.
He, ( Mr. J.,) came herewith no prejudices
against Baltimore. He did not know that there
was a gentleman in the Convention who did not
desire to see her flourish as the great emporium of
the State—but never to give her the whole con-
trol of it.
He knew the course pursued by him from the
commencement of the session to the present time
was not satisfactory to either of the extremes,
and that efforts had been made to place him in a
false attitude, merely because he was disposed to
settle this question of representation in a spirit
of compromise.
He meant to put himself right with regard to
those ungenerous insinuations. He came here as
a member of this Convention, standing upon dif-
ferent grounds from that of other gentlemen.
Nearly all of them were elected pledged to par-
ty purposes. He was elected, whilst denouncing
all who desired to frame a Constitution for the
people of Maryland, upon party principles. He
declined bring elected upon those terms. He
was elected irrespective of parties. He intend-
ed to carry out the principle which he advoca-
ted upon becoming a candidate. He could have
been elected without trouble, and with much
more comfort to himself, had he consented to
take a party stand. In one of the strongest Whig
counties of the State he stood alone. So far from
dministering to popular clamor, be took ground
against it, and was elected, as be believed every
representative should have been, untrammelled |
