of Delegates, and should we not agree upon some
compromise ground, a future Convention might
deprive us of that advantage,
An important principle has been settled by
the vote on the basis of representation in the
Senate, where territory and county lines have
been placed, where the extremists of the county
advocates might besatisfied. This was a "sina
qua non" with him. That being conceded, he
felt more disposed to give an increased represen-
tation to a limited extent; to the city of Balti-
more, and the larger counties. This should be
met with a corresponding spirit, in which case
Mr. J. thought we might agree upon a compro-
mise which would give general satisfaction. He
regretted to see the course pursued by some gen-
tlemen, in and out of this house, as regards old
party divisions, and to bring into disrepute this
body. Some of the partizan editors throughout
the State, and especially those in the city of Bal-
timore, had denounced the Convention from its
commencement, as if they were the only guar-
dians of the people's rights, and the only judges
of a fit constitution. This might have been ex-
pected. But that members of this body should
lend their aid to administer to popular clamor,
against the acts of the Convention, to gain a lit-
tle eclat at home, and excite one portion of our
fellow citizens another, he did not anticipate,
Great efforts had been made during the dis-
cussion of the elective franchise report to preju-
dice the naturalized foreign citizens of this State
against a large number of the members of the
Convention, because they did not break down all
the guards around the ballot box and permit ev-
ery foreigner to vote the day he was naturalized.
That question had been ably and elaborately ar-
gued on both sides, and the representation from
the city of Baltimore, had shown much ability
and perseverance in support of what they termed
the rights of foreigners, not last amongst the fore-
most was the learned Attorney General, but not
one word was heard from that quarter in defence
or protection of the just rights of American born
citizens, against the frauds committed annually
at the polls by illegal voting
Had a stranger come within these walls during
those discussions, he might well have supposed
that the population of Maryland was composed
solely of naturalized foreigners.
[Here Mr Jenifer gave way at the suggestion
of several gentlemen with the understanding that
he would be entitled to conclude his remarks to-
morrow.
On the following day, Mr. J. concluded his
speech as follows:
Mr.J said, he felt greatly indebted to the
courtesy of the Convention for allowing him to
proceed this morning, which he could best repay
by bringing his remarks to a close as speedily as
possible. After reviewing some of the statistics
of yesterday, he said, he regretted to feel compelled
to respond to remarks which had been
made both in this House and elsewhere, of a par-
ty character and which were well calculated to
prejudice the public mind against a portion of
this Convention. Coming as they did from so |
high a source, who seemed to speak the lan-
guage of the party, they could not otherwise than
have great effect.
Mr. J. said, in looking over the morning papers
and reading an account of the proceedings of a
dinner on St. Patrick's day, in the city of Balti-
more, he was surprised, though not shocked to see
the report of a speech, delivered at that dinner by
the learned Attorney General then as now, a
member of this Convention, in which he is re-
ported to have used the following language:
"Mr. Brent would merely add, that he just
came from a popular body comprising represen-
tatives of the whole State, assembled at Annapo-
lis. convened by the sovereign voice of the peo-
ple to revise and remodel our organic law. In
that body, he was shocked to hear a proposition,
deliberately made a few weeks since, to draw a
line of separation, and literally to disfranchise
the man of foreign birth—to put a brand upon
all who though American in heart, may, by the
accident of birth, have first seen the light of day
in another hemisphere. And that proposition,
he regretted to say, base and monstrous as it was
found many supporters; but he was happy to add
that it was indignantly voted down by a majority
of the Convention"
Mr, BRENT said that the report of this speech
was not exactly correct.
Mr. JENIFER said, he read the speech as repor-
ted in the Baltimore Sun.
Mr. J. said that monstrous proposition was, that
foreigners should be required to reside in the
State thirty days, which was ultimately re-
duced down to six days, before they were enti-
tled to vote,
Mr. J. said, he himself, had not voted for the
proposition, believing that a well regulated reg-
istry law to apply to the whole State, would cor-
rect most of the abuses complained of. It was
well understood that these very denunciations
were intended to prejudice naturalized foreign-
ers against the members of the whig party, who
had voted for these guards against frauds.
Mr. BRENT said, he did not say Whig; he only
wished to be put right; he only made the remark
in reference to those who voted for that proposi-
tion, and he would repeat it. He believed Mr.
J. did not vote for it. Mr. J, admitted the gen-
tleman did not use the word Whig—nor was it
necessary to unite upon a Gun. This is a gun.
Mr. J. said he would ask when had these exclu-
sive friends of foreigners evinced their regard
and confidence, except when their votes were re-
quired to further the news of the great Demo-
cratic party ?
With all these professions of confidence and
consideration, when had a naturalized foreigner a
seat in the Legislature of your State, although
in the city of Baltimore there are many of the
most intelligent and enlightened of her citizens?
Mr. BRENT said, Mr Gallagher.
Mr. J. said, if that was the fact he would ad-
mit the exception—and he would predict that if
the city of Baltimore was not districted and con-
tinued to elect her whole number by general tick-
et, no foreigner would expect to be a representa- |
