over, communicate to the people important geo-
graphical information not accessible by any other
means, it does, therefore, seem to me to be im-
portant that we should have this map lithograph-
ed.
Mr. THOMAS could not allow the error of the
gentleman from Anne Arundel, (Mr. Dorsey,) to
go forth without correction. It was true, that
the forms of the small election districts might not
he preserved with perfect accuracy, but the con-
tiguity of every electron district in the State was
shown with distinctness. The documents accom-
panying the map contained the number of the
inhabitants, according to the census of each coun-
ty, the vote for Governor at the last election, in
each election district, and the number of each
election district. With the aid of these docu-
ments the State can readily be divided into sin-
gle districts. His colleague, (Mr. Johnson,) had
submitted a proposition to have the State dis-
tricted by the Convention, The gentleman from
Anne Arundel seemed to signify that that duty
should devolve upon the Legislature. He, (Mr.
T.,) could not vote for a proposition of that cha-
racter. They were here to make a basis of re-
presentation, and if they districted the State it
would be permanent. It was more proper that
the Convention should fix upon the districts than to
devolve it upon the Legislature, who would use
it for mere party purposes. How easy it would
be for them now to postpone the further conside-
ration of this branch of the Constitution and take
up the judiciary question, in the mean time
this map could be lithographed, and would come
in a form prepared to assist them in disposing of
this question. The map was made by a skilful sur-
veyor, who had had the magnanimity to perform
the labor for nothing, (he meant the Secretary
of State, Mr. O'Neal,) assisted by the delega-
tions on that floor He supposed there was as
much accuracy as could be obtained.
Mr. CRISFIELD said that he understood the
gentleman to state that the map had been made
out by the aid of the various delegations.
Mr. THOMAS replied that he did not mean that
every delegate had been consulted.
Mr. CRISFIELD said that he had not seen it, so
far as he was concerned,
Mr. THOMAS replied that he said by the aid of
delegations; he did not say that every delegate
participated in it, but that the Secretary had
been aided by such members as professed to be
able to lay off the districts.
Mr. SPENCER said that the map was laid on
the table in the committee room, and each dele-
gation, as it passed through, was requested to
mark off their districts.
Mr. DORSEY said, that the reasons assigned by
his colleague, (Mr. Randall,) ought to satisfy
every one, that this Convention, with the in-
formation before it, is incompetent to divide the
counties into delegate districts, either upon the
basis of numbers or any other just principle of
representation. |
To make such a division, some of the present
election districts must be divided by arbitrary
lines, and who, by an inspection of the plat be-
fore us, and any reliable information which we
possess, can, with a semblance of accuracy say,
what numbers compose the population of the
districted election districts on either side of those
lines? indeed, properly to divide the counties
into delegate districts, would, in many, if not in
most cases, require that the outlines of the present
election districts should be wholly disregard-
ed. It may be said that the members of this
body from the several counties could furnish all
the information not appearing on the plat. Such
information but few of us are able to give. Hacknied
electioneering politicians might be able to
do so in their respective counties, but they so
often deceive themselves by believing what they
wish, that their opinions ought not to be receiv-
ed as sufficient foundation fur the action of this
body on so important a subject. We are by no
means certain that we should represent the wish-
es of our constituents; we came here under no
expression of their will on this subject, and many
of us, I apprehend, may not, be at this time, the
organ through which the people on this occasion
might wish to speak. Every county in this State
would, I am inclined to believe, greatly prefer
confiding this important power to commissioners
of each county, acting only for their own county,
and under oath too, with a perfect personal
knowledge of every thing they ought to know, to
form a correct decision. If we act it is under no
security which an oath affords; as to nineteen-
twentieths of us at least without knowledge, and
upon faith in revelations which certainly have no
divine inspiration to commend them to our cre-
dence. If this Convention district the counties,
party politics will be the controling influences;
which should be deprecated by every just and
conservative member of this body. The Legis-
lature acting through its commissioners, in the
only tribunal to which such a power can be faith-
fully confided.
Mr. THOMAS said;
That the map did not contemplate disturbing
the boundaries of the election districts at all, but
to make them as near as might be contiguous and
equal in population.
Mr. DORSEY said:
That for the reasons he had stated, he was en-
tirely opposed to our districting the counties, be-
cause acting without the requisite knowledge, it
would he impossible to do justice or to approxi-
mate to equality of population, and the remarks
of the gentleman from Frederick demonstrated it.
Nothing would defeat a Constitution sooner than
the measure now proposed for adoption by this
Convention.
If the counties should think they had been
gerrymandered, as he believed they would be,
when necessary for party purposes, they would
vole against the Constitution on that ground, if
on no other. Many of the gentlemen of the
Convention might say they were not influenced |
