of representation as first settled by our fore-
fathers, while they were yet in a state of coloni-
al' vassalage to the crown of England. On that
occasion, sir, which was nearly two hundred
years ago, they awarded to each county or dis-
trict a representation of four members. That
representation was continued in the Provincial
Assembly for more than one hundred years, it
was adopted in forming the Convention which
framed the first Constitution of our independence,
and by that Convention was re-adopted for the
House of Delegates of Maryland without an ef-
fort from any quarter of the Slate to prevent it.
Not a murmur had been raised against this basis.
which had existed for so long a time. It had
worked no evil in government; therefore, expe-
rience was favorable to its re-adoption. They
who framed that instrument were men of wisdom
and undoubted patriotism. The} had learned
to appreciate the rich blessings of liberty and
equal justice in a school of trial, of which, we
sir, can form no adequate conception. Pure, dis-
interested, patriotic and devoted to the general
good of all, they sought not to increase the power
and influence of one county at the expense of
another, as now intended, and that, too, sir, by
the delegates from a county, which at that time
had little less than one fourth the population of
St. Mary's, and but little less than one fifth that
of Charles county, I mean Allegany county.
By the consent of these and other counties now
smaller than herself in population, but not pre-
senting such a disparity in that respect now as
then existed, she was ushered into the sisterhood
of counties in full dress, sir, clad with all the
rights, powers, privileges and immunities which
were possessed by her elder sisters. Aye, sir
she was thus clad by her mother, (if I may be al-
lowed so to speak,) fur St. Mary's has often and
aptly been denominated the mother of counties.
But, alas ! sir, that filial and reverential regard,
which, on occasions of pilgrimage from other
counties to our shores, has been so loudly and
eloquently professed for the venerable matron.
evaporates into thin air and empty sound, when
invoked to aid in warding off the injustice and
oppression that is sought to be fastened upon her.
The charge of ingratitude may excite a smile
on the self-complacent faces of those who are en-
gaged in perpetrating this act of injustice. But,
sir, if they desire fully to appreciate my feelings,
let them, if they can, change situations with me,
in imagination, and they will feel, as I do, that
the act will tie one of ingratitude, it will be a
disfranchisement unwarranted by any necessity
that has existed, exists now, or is ever likely to
exist. And all this, sir, is to be visited upon us
for being guilty of the unpardonable sin of having
a sparse population within our BORDER=0s, How
was it, sir, when Allegany had forty-eight hun-
dred inhabitants, and St. Mary's had fifteen thou-
sand five hundred? Allegany was guilty of the
same sin then of which St, Mary's is guilty now.
But it was not regarded then as a sin, or even as
a misfortune, so far as the distribution of repre-
sentative power was affected. But, sir, a change
of circumstances often begets a change of opin-
ions and conduct; oftener of conduct than of |
opinions The man who has risen from poverty
and obscurity to abundance and wealth, often
contemns his less fortunate neighbor for his mis-
fortunes, and courts the company of the wealthy
and high stationed. He affects to forget his for-
mer associations, and no longer remembers the
help of those by which he has risen so high on
fortune's ladder. He becomes proud, pompous
and dictatorial in his dealings with those whom
he now arrogantly regards as his inferiors, but
whose patronage and aid, he once solicited with a
becoming modesty. Does the history of that
man present any simile to that of Allegany? Are
there any features of striking resemblance in the
conduct of that man and that county ? Others
may answer. I ask, sir. by whose aid has she
grown wealthy and populous? Who helped to
bore her mountains and unearth and bring to
market her hidden treasures? St. Mary's coun-
ty and others similarly situated. And now, forsooth,
when our dearest interests are at stake,
when that, power which we have so long enjoyed
and used for the good of others more than our-
selves, is assailed and about to be wrested from
us and bestowed elsewhere, whom do we find
foremost among our assailants? Allegany, if the
gentleman from that county, (Mr. Weber,) speaks
out her views.
I have digressed somewhat, sir, from the ob-
ject which I had in view, when I called atten-
tion to the basis of representation, as first settled
in Maryland. I intended to allude to it as a pre-
cedent, established and re-established, and worthy
the approbation and adoption of this body. It
was not found while it existed, to work any evil
in government. No experience ever found it in-
jurious or oppressive to any section of the State.
Established when it was, and by whom it was,
and having answered so well, the purposes for
which it was established, I repeat, sir, that it is
worthy of our approbation and adoption. As a
precedent and example, sanctioned by a long ex-
perience, it applies with much force, as a reason,
or argument in favor of the proposition which I
have submitted. But, sir, I am not wedded to
that proposition. I wish only to apply to the pre-
sent basis, (which is the nearest I had hoped to
approach it,) whatever of force and argument
may be deduced in favor of it. from past experi-
ence. Has any evil been shown; has any act of
oppression and injustice been pointed out. as the
result of this basis? Has it not worked favorably
to every section of the State? Has Baltimore
city been defeated in any favorite measure she
has presented to the consideration of the legisla-
ture? Why then this hue and cry about injus-
tice, oppression, inequality and all such things?
Let gentlemen point them out, when they talk
about them. tell us what they are, when they
declaim against then)—show their grievances,
when they demand a remedy. If any such evils
exist, they are conversant with them. If the
musty records of past legislation, could have fur-
nished them, they would have been produced.
If of more recent date, they would have been
fresh in their memories. But, sir, these are
things that cannot be found. They cannot be pointed
out. Gentlemen have searched and studied— |
