Baltimore and upper counties. No change in
representation was advocated by others.
How do we now stand? A portion of each of
those extremes have yielded something of their
ultra views.
Mr, J. said, without this, no Constitution could
be framed—with a proper spirit of compromise.
i may be done.
In this he admired the course of his friend
from the city of Baltimore, (Mr. Presstman,)
and others, who although believing they were
entitled to a larger number, had voted tor ten
delegates for Baltimore city, and six from the
largest counties—so had gentlemen from the
smaller counties, and why? Because neither
extreme could carry out their views, and some
intermediate system must be resorted to; in which
course Mr. J. had no doubt they would be sustained
by their respective constituents. And he
would here remark, that if such a constitution as
would be accepted by the people, is not adopted,
it will be justly attributable to the extremes of
which the Reformers, par excellence, will be most
responsible. Mr. J said, he came here as a Re-
former, but not to the extent required by some.
He would not say as others had, that they would
vote for no Constitution, which did not embody
their particular views. He would not say that
he would reject any plan because his constituents
might prefer some other,
He would go for none that compromised their
interests. But he would not reject a Constitution
because all they desired could not be obtained.
Even the gentleman from Carroll, (Mr.
Brown,) had yielded to what he considered the
best alternative--a compromise. So the gentleman
from the city of Baltimore, (Mr. Brent,) who
although claiming for Baltimore twenty-eight to
thirty, was willing to compromise in certain con-
tingencies, to take twelve, or double the number
of the largest county.
it then becomes our duty, and certainly is our
best policy, to meet them as far as we can go.
Of one thing Mr. J. felt confident, which was
that in any Convention hereafter to be held, in
alter or frame a Constitution—the smaller coun-
ties never will have so favorable a representation
as in the present. They are now represented,
under the present Constitution framed by
themselves, as their relative numbers entitle
them the Legislature of the State. Their in-
terest, in preparting a Constitution such as may
be ratified by the people, is equal to that of any
portion of the State. An adherence to ultra
views to defeat it, will recoil upon themselves.
Mr. J , said, he regretted that much had been
said to array one portion of the State against an-
other, by drawing invidious comparisons between
the city of Baltimore and the counties This he
considered entirely out of place and productive
of no good to other. There interests in many
respects are different, but not necessarily antagonistic.
Each can move in its respective sphere smooth-
ly and prosperously, without prejudice to the
other; indeed in perfect harmony and mutual
benefit. No part of the State should be looked
to exclusively as being independent or indifferent |
to the other, all had a common interest in the
prosperity of every portion of it; hence our duty
so to frame a Constitution to protect the whole.
For himself he should endeavor to adopt the
course most likely to effect that object. Mr. J,
said, he would analyze the three plans referred
to, and which he considered as a basis upon
which a compromise might be agreed on. These
are, the one of the gentleman from Anne Arun-
del, (Mr, Dorsey.) the one of the gentleman from
Washington, (Mr Fiery,) and the one of the
gentleman from Kent, (Mr. Chambers,) being
the report of the minority of the committee ap-
pointed on the subject of representation. The
two latter have been rejected, but stand under
motions to reconsider, whilst the former is the
immediate bill before the Convention.
They propose that the House of Delegates
shall consist of 83 of 73, and of 88 members,
apportioned as follows:
Dorsey. Fiery. Chambers.
Allegany county, 4 4 4
Baltimore county, 6 6 6
Baltimore city, 10 10 6
Carroll, 4 3 4
Frederick, 6 6 6
Harford, 3 3 4
Cecil, 3 3 4
Washington, 5 5 5
Howard, 3 2 3
44 42 42
Anne Arundel, 4 3 4
Caroline, 2 2 3
Calvert, 2 2 3
Montgomery, 3 2 4
Dorchester, 3 3 4
Charles, 3 2 4
Kent, 2 2 3
Prince George's, 4 3 4
Queen Anne, 3 2 3
St. Mary's, 3 2 3
Somerset, 4 3 4
Talbot, 3 2 3
Worcester, 3 3 3
39 31 46
Total, 83 73 88
Mr J. said he did not know that the question
of the slave holding counties proper, as contrasted
with those less interested in that species of pro-
perly, had been taken into consideration by either
of the gentlemen who had submitted those plans,
nor would he now advert to it, had not some reference
been made to it, both in and cut of the
Convention This had induced him to turn his
attention to the subject and to analyze the several
propositions Upon comparing the representation
as proposed, the result was that in the House
of Delegates hereafter, the eight counties, with
the city of Baltimore, least interested in that
properly, would have by
Judge Dorsey's plan 44 members out of 83
Mr Fiery's --42 " " 73
Judge Chamber's 42 " " 88 |
