has so far favored the views, on this subject, ex-
pressed by the gentleman from Kent (Mr. Cham-
bers.) At all events, if they did not change positions
during the sittings of this Convention they
would do so immediately after the new Constitu-
tion went into opperation.
He had represented Maryland in Congress
when there were large States and small States.
He had represented, in part, one of the small
States, and had felt the controlling force and pow-
er of the general ticket system wielded by the
large States. Hence, he was ready to predict
how the representatives of the small counties
of Maryland would feel and act when they had
once experienced the power of the large coun-
ties and the city of Baltimore, if authorised to
elect numerous delegatinos under a general ticket
system.
At this point, in the remarks of Mr. T.,
The PRESIDENT interposed, and announced
that the hour, (two o'clock,) had arrived, when,
under the order of the Convention, the general
debate must terminate.
Mr. MITCHELL desired to move to extend the
time to four o'clock He desired, he said, as
other gentlemen did, to express his views.
The PRESIDENT stated the motion to be out of
order.
Mr. SOLLERS moved that the Convention ad-
journ.
The Convention refused to adjourn.
Mr. SHOWER gave notice that he would, to-
morrow, move a reconsideration of the vote by
which the amendment of Mr. FIERY had hereto-
fore been rejected.
Some conversation followed between Mr.
PHELPS and the PRESIDENT on a point of order.
Mr. PHELPS, I should have taken great plea-
sure, if I could have obtained the floor, in argu-
ing at some length in favor of this particular
proposition; but I must restrict my self to giving
my views upon it, and the reasons for its adop-
tion. It has been objected by some that there
is no principle involved in it; that it is a mere
arbitrary rule, by which, arrangement we re-
duce the number of delegates from 82 to
61. Under the compromise of 1836, the rule
was to give two delegates for territory, and one
for every 15,000 inhabitants, to be increased upon
the accession of 10,000, or a fraction over one
half of ten thousand. I do not propose to dis-
turb that rule, except so tar as to give one in-
stead of two to territory. The same principle
which applied to population under the compro-
mise 1836, will attach in full force to the pro-
position before the House.
I had two objects in view in making this pro-
position The first was compromise. Gentle-
men may say that they do not perceive in this
any thing like a spirit of compromise; but if they
will observe, this proposition takes from the
smaller counties one-third, from the medium
sized counties, one-fourth; and from the large
counties one-fifth. That is certainly upon the
principle of compromise, for it yielding a por-
tion of our rights. There is another principle
of compromise contained in this proposition, |
which is that instead of giving two delegates for
territory as under the compromise of 1836, and
the other delegates for population, it yields one
delegate from that heretofore granted to terri-
tory, and thus gives a larger proportion of the
whole population. These are the two elements
of compromise in the proposition I have submitted.
Let me now say a single word to the members
from the smaller counties, Calvert, St. Mary's,
&c. They may say that they will lose, if they
agree to this proposition, and that it operates un-
fairly and unequally. I admit it. It operates
unequally and unfairly for my county. But
hold that we can get nothing better, and I there-
fore make this proposition, not because I prefer
it, for if we could get the proposition of the gen-
tleman from Kent, I should never have thought
of offering this by way of compromise, but because
we have been beaten upon the plan pro-
posed by the general from Kent. The House
have decided that the present basis should not
remain, but that some other basis must be adop-
ted; and it seeing to me that the proposition I
have offered is more conducive to our own safety
and prosperity than any other which has been
brought before the Convention,
Again, sir, my other object in offering this plan
was to protect the slave interest in this State.
Under this compromise, we shall have sixty-one
members, and if you will cast your eyes over the
apportionment, you will perceive that while the
slave counties have thirty-three, the free coun-
ties have but twenty-eight. It is to protect the
slave interest, that I offered this proposition.
This was a very important consideration with
me; and I hope it will have its due weight upon
my friends of the smaller and lower counties.
While I am willing to yield something by way
of compromise, I desire to yield nothing which
will endanger the interests of the State.
I had still another object in view, in proposing
this amendment, I have offered it as a retrench-
ment measure. We have come here professing
a desire to retrench as well as to reform. Here
is a measure which will save us from the ex-
pense of twenty-one members to the General
Assembly, which will be asaving of probably six
thousand dollars for each year, when the legisla-
ture shall be in session at Annapolis.
In order to accomplish the several objects I
have named, I have thought proper to submit this
proposition to the consideration of the House,
and as I see that the five minutes allotted me are
now precisely out, being unwilling to transgress
the rules of the Convention, I take my seat.
Mr. PHELPS called for the yeas and nays, which
were ordered.
Mr. BLAKISTONE asked for a division of the
question.
The question was then stated on the first branch
of said amendment, being in these words :
Each county in this State and the city of
Baltimore, shall be entitled to one Senator."
The question being taken, resulted—yeas 58;
nays 35—as follows :
Affirmative—Messrs. Chapman, Pres't., Mor-
gan, Blakistone, Dent, Hopewell, Ricaud, Lee, |
