tive of the liberal, disinterested, Democratic
party on this floor. Lay off the twenty wards
in ten districts, and two if not four might be re-
presented by naturalized foreigners; for it is ad-
mitted, that Fell's Point and others of the eastern
wards, have a marjority of foreign votes. He
should, therefore, calculate on the support of their
friends the distinguished Attorney General and
his colleagues, in advocating a clause in the Con-
stitution for districting the city of Baltimore, if
not the whole state, as a protection to teh rights
of the naturalized foreigners; we shall then see
who are their real friends.
Mr. SHERWOOD, of Baltimore city, said that
when the Whig party carried the city of Balti-
more, Mr. Lurman, a foreigner was a candidate;
the Whigs were elected, with the exception fo
that gentleman.
Mr. J. replied, that was an evidence of the sin-
cerity of the Democratic party. Although Mr.
Lurman was a foreigner, one of the most intelli-
gent, enterprising, and esteemed citizens of Bal-
timore, he was defeated because he did not be-
long to the Democratic party. There was an
opportunity to show their disinterested zeal and
confidence in a naturalized foreigner. Now if
the several wards were laid off into separate elec-
tion districts, any foreigner having the confi-
dence of his friends in those districts may be
elected. Until that was done they would have
no chance. If these professed friends of the for-
eigners did not go for the district system,
"They hold the word of promise to the ear,
But break it to the hope "
Mr. J. said he had not intended to look at this
question at all as relates to party politics. He
had looked at it, as he said yesterday, with re-
gard to slave population, and with regard to the
eastern and western shores, to class them, if pos-
sible, in such manner as to do justice to all sec-
tions. But from some remarks, thrown out on
former occasions and repeated last evening, he
had turned his attention a little to that. He had
the pleasure to meet with his friend from Baltimore,
(Mr. Brent ) during the last gubernatorial
canvass—when the present Governor made a
tour of the counties; his friend was then attending
Charles county court. It so fell to his, (Mr.
Jenifer's) lot, to respond to the present Gover-
nor of Maryland, then acandidate. He had at the
same time to meet the highly talented gentleman
who now occupies the position of Attorney Gen-
eral Upon a former occasion the late Gover-
nor, Philip Francis Thomas, made a similar tour
and canvass through the lower counties of the
State. He, (Mr, J.,) was the only person who
did meet those distinguished gentlemen upon the
hustings Vet because he would not, either a
home or here, tie himself down by party tram-
mels, his Whig principles were doubted. He
had the temerity to give credit to the late Gov-
ernor, for his bold statesmanlike course, relative
to the finances of the State, which should be approved
of by all who feel for the honor, dignity and
future credit of the State. And should the present
Governor pursue a similar course in promoting
the interests of Maryland, he too, shall have |
his approval. Let those who may, make the most
of that.
The House of Delegates would be composed
of some seventy or eighty members. And if
gentlemen would examine the bills already re-
ported, they would see that the Legislature was
stript of almost the whole patronage, consequent-
ly party political influence could avail but little.
The reason why gentlemen were opposed to
giving Baltimore an increased delegation, was
that it would give them too great a party influ-
ence. He was willing that they should have as
many as were. requisite for legislative purposes,
and for no other. How then would it stand ?
The political aspect of affairs, as presented by
the proposition of the gentleman from Washing-
ton, was a most cunningly devised and ingenious
scheme, if so intended, to give the majority in
the House of Delegates to the Democratic party.
He understood that this plan was adopted in a
caucus meeting.
Mr. FIERY denied that this proposition was
adopted in caucus.
Mr. JENIFER said that this denial would re-
lieve the gentleman from Washington from some
reproaches which his friends might have here-
after cast upon him, for it was certainly under-
stood that a Democratic caucus had been held
on the subject of representation, (though called a.
reform meeting,) at which were present some few
of the Whigs from the upper counties, and who
were the only ones invited to attend.
Mr. J said, in looking over the plan of the
gentleman from Washington county, he found
that good care had been taken of that county in
allotting to her five delegates with the smallest
fraction—6000 being the ratio, and Washington
county having a population of 30,108 If such
an advantage had been gained by attending any
meeting that county had no right to complain.
Mr. FIERY said that this was calculated to pre-
judice him and to create a false impression if
these remarks should go out to the country. Ha
hoped the gentleman would recollect that when
he drew up that projet, he never made a calculation
an to the distribution of political power. He
had not become sufficiently experienced to he a
political trickster. He hoped justice would be
done him. He never dreamed of such a thing.
Mr. JENIFER said that he was perfectly satis-
fied. It was evident then, that his little experi-
ence had been taken advantage of by others more
calculating—else his proposition would not have
received the support of the whole Democratic
party—two extremes from the city of Baltimore
excepted—and they, because it did not give
Baltimore twenty-five or thirty, instead of ten,
in the House of Delegates,
Mr. J. said, the learned gentleman from Anne
Arundel too, in his plan, had done ample justice
to his county and her property, when, by a divi-
sion of that county, and his apportionment of re-
presentation, that county as it now stands would
be entitled to seven delegates, four from the
county proper and three from Howard cut out of it,
Whereas, he assigns to Kent, Caroline and Calvert
but six members to the three counties. He
only referred to this, to show that gentleman |
