by political purposes. They may think so, but
he believed the number was small, in or out of
this Convention, who entirley concurred with
them in this opinion,
In the nature of things, it is impossible that
we, (at least, as to nineteen-twentieths of us,)
possess no personal knowledge upon the subject,
can make as fair and correct a division of the
counties into districts—as sworn commissioners,
residents of the county, and reviewing or inti-
mately knowing every portion of it could do.—
If this districting system by the Convention, was
designed to be carried out, it ought to have been
submitted for our consideration at a much ear-
lier period of our session.
it was utterly impossible to do justice or sat-
isfy the community, if we should undertake to
carry out this project under existing circum-
stances.
Mr. BUCHANAN said:
That he did not comprehend the argument of
the gentleman from Anne Arundel ( Mr. Dor-
sey.) The proposition, he understood, was not
now to commit them to districting the State; fur
if this was proposed, he would vote in the nega-
tive, because he was unwilling to commit him-
self.
Mr. DORSEY. That was the reason given for
lithographing the map.
Mr. BUCHANAN understood it lobe a mere pro-
position to publish the map lor the information
of the Convention.
Mr. THOMAS. That's all.
Mr. BUCHANAN said:
That it was a map in reference to which he
did not think he could consistently with honor,
vote against lithographing. When this matter
was just spoken of, the gentleman from Freder-
ick, (Mr. Thomas,) was not in his place. He
had spoken of a proposition to net up the map.
A proposition was made to postpone it in conse-
quence of his absence. Upon the subject of that
proposition debate arose, in which, the prospec-
tive value of the map was talked of by members
of that body.
It was said by individuals, that the map would
not cost much. Indeed, there was some probabil-
ity that it would cost nothing at all, and that it
could be obtained gratuitously. Upon that oc-
casion he said, that he thought the laborer was
worthy of his hire.
if the map was worthy of consideration, it
ought to be well done. He understood from a
friend that the gentleman who prepared the map
did not desire compensation. He thought the
least they could do for him would be to publish
it, with the understanding that he was not to be
pledged or committed to the districting of the
State of Maryland, with a view to apportion-
ment. He should vote for the lithographing of the
map, as the object was information. |
The question was then taken on the adoption
of the order,
And it was agreed to.
The Convention then resumed the considera-
tion of the order of the day, being the several re-
ports of the committee on representation; the
question pending before the Convention on Satur-
day, being on the substitute offered by Mr. JENIFER,
as a substitute for the amendment offered by
Mr. JOHNSON, as the second section of the re-
pott.
Mr. JOHNSON gave notice that when his pro-
position should come up, he would move to strike
out seventy-five, as the number of the House of
Delegates, and also the ten delegates which he
proposed to give to the city of Baltimore, leav-
ing both blank, so that the Convention might be
able to vote upon the counties as specified in the
residue of his proposition, leaving them to give
to the city of Baltimore, whatever number they
might think proper.
Mr. MITCHELL gave notice that he should to-
morrow move to reconsider the resolution re-
stricting debate to five minutes, to the mover of
amendments.
On motion of Mr. JENIFER,
The Convention was called, and the door-
keeper sent for the absent members, who after a
short time had elapsed, returned and reported
that he had notified the absent members that their
attendance in the Convention was required.
Mr. JENIFER. Before the question is taken, 1
desire to avail myself of the few moments allow-
ed me, inexplaining the amendment. The ques-
tion now before the Convention is the amend-
ment I submilted the other day. I wish most
sincerely that some other gentleman had submit-
ted it, who could give it greater force and char-
acter. But I propose it as a matter of principle,
believing that in so doing, I am consulting; the
best interests of all the various parts of the State.
Upon reviewing the votes that have been given
upon the great questions which have been propo-
sed, I think this plan approximates more nearly
to that which will give general satisfaction, than
any other plan which has been submitted, it is
precisely the plan of the gentleman from Wash-
ington county—which was lost by asingle vote—
except that it gives an increased representation
to the smaller counties. It gives to Baltimore
city ten; and to the larger counties the number
they require—and I will say here that delegates
from the smaller counties who are opposed to
that plan, because it gave Baltimore ten dele-
gates, owe it to themselves and their constituents,
now to agree to this compromise. It gives to
Frederick, precisely the number that she claims;
to Baltimore county the same, also to Allegany
and Washington, if our friends from Allegany
reject this proposition, let them remember the
responsibility which will rest upon them. Now
I will say to my friends from Caroline, Calvert,
Talbot, Queen Anne's, and from Kent, that if
they reject this proposition, they vote against the
interests of their counties. The proposition of- |
