most evanescent in nature has been used for
comparison, to show how fleeting those political
parties are. It would be vain, even if it were
desired, to make an attempt to frame any part of
the Constitution for the benefit of any existing
party. Even in ordinary times, legislation for
such a purpose is as apt to result in defeat as in
success.
There are several branches of this subject,
Mr. President, on which I had desired to ex-
press my views; but I find that I shall be unable
to treat them satisfactorily in the time that
remains to me. I, therefore, pass over them en-
tirely. On one point, however, I must say a
few words, and that is the unity of the State of
Maryland. I have always felt great pain at
hearing the criminations and re-criminations
which have passed on this floor between gentle-
men representing different sections of the Slate.
I can say with perfect sincerity, that I have not
sympathised in the slightest degree with any of
these exhibitions of local jealousy. I have al-
ways considered this State not as a mere acci-
dental aggregation of parts, having no natural
connexion with each other, but as united by ar-
teries and veins, sinews and nerves, into one
living sensitive body. I believe that any dissen-
sion among its various members is wrong and
unnatural. I know of no real conflict of inter-
ests between any of the counties and the city of
Baltimore, and no fear of such immediate con-
flict has caused me to resist representation ac-
cording to population. Looking to the future, I
deem it unwise that any concentrated mass of
the people, having identical interests and feel-
ings, should possess an overwhelming political
weight, from which the rest of the community
might hereafter suffer; but at present, the interests
of all seem to me to harmonise, and I am sure
that the most perfect unity of feeling pervades
the whole of Maryland.
I have heard a great deal said by gentlemen
from the Eastern Shore, which implied that the
interests of that Shore are antagonistic to those
of the Western Shore, and of the city of Balti-
more especially. But it certainly is not so. The
mighty Chesapeake, though it seems to separate,
does in fact bring those who live on its shores
into closer communion, than could exist, if as
great a reach of land were interposed The
counties connected with Baltimore by bands of
iron are no nearer to her, than those on the oth-
er side of the Bay—whose broad surface is cover-
ed with numberless white wings, which waft the
various produce of the one Shore to be exchanged
for the commodities gathered into the emporium
of trade on the other Art could never have
furnished a better mode of communication than
nature has so beneficently bestowed upon us.—
One common interest and one common feeling
pervade the whole State. A throb on the Wes-
tern Shore is felt upon the Eastern; fur in this
case, water is a perfect conductor.
In spite, however, of all the bitter expressions
to which I have alluded, my observation, made
in personal intercourse with gentlemen here, has
taught me, that there is no real hostility in their |
hearts, and that these sectional prejudices act
only on the surface. The slight effervescence of
this sort which occasionally lakes place, passes
off rapidly in words, and all that excited it is
soon forgotten; whilst in regard to any question
really affecting the interest or the honor of the
State, we find a most cordial unanimity of feel-
ing and purpose, and a. recognition of brother-
hood, which give the best assurance of future
harmony. It gratifies me to say this, because I
have no sympathy with what is mere sectional—
I love the whole State. It is natural enough,
that those who here represent particular coun-
ties, should think it incumbent on them to urge
extreme claims, and that they should show their
zeal for their constituents by the vehemence with
which they contest the claims of others. But
after the contest is over, and the adjustment
made, the spirit of union and kindly intercourse
prevails as strongly as ever.
Having thus, Mr. President, stated my general
views, and the reasons and feelings which have
led me to seek an immediate settlement of this
vexed question, I now close my remarks, hoping
for a good result from the voting which is to,
follow.
Mr, THOMAS wished to say a few words in re-
lation to his position. He had never abandoned.
his position from the beginning of the session
till this hour, and that was his decided prefer-
ence for the single district system; and, in his
opinion, gentlemen would best accomplish their
purpose by voting for some proposition fixing the
number of representatives to which the city of
Baltimore and the several counties of the State
should be entitled. Now, he had cast his eye
over the list of propositions, for that purpose, be-
fore the House, and he had risen to say, that he
would vote for the plan proposed by the gentle-
man from Washington, (Mr. Fiery.) He did so,
in part, because a large proportion of the inem-
bers of this Convention who desired a new Con-
stitution, appeared to prefer that proposition to
all others before the House. But, he wished to
be understood as not suiting his vote in order to
meet their judgment, he being favorable to the
plan of the gentleman from Washington county
on its merits as compared with others, and seeing
in it nothing that would conflict with his prefer-
ence for single districts. Let the Convention
decide upon what number of representatives
each city and county should be entitled to. Then
the proposition to divide the State into single
districts could be added to the proposition of the
gentleman from Washington as it was not incon-
sistent with it in any respect. He would foretell
another thing: let the majority of the Conven-
tion determine to give to the great counties of
Frederick and Washington, and Baltimore and
to other portions of the State their just propor-
tion of representatives, and he predicted that
those who had adhered to the old Constitution
as it was, would soon find the predicament in
which the communities would be placed whom
they represented; and the warmest, the most de-
cided and enthusiastic champion of the republi-
can mode of representation that he preferred,.
would come from that quarter of the State which |
