thereof, with a view to accomplish this desirable
object, and the result of his examination was
that the most convenient and just mode by
Which the two districts could be formed, would
be to unite Baltimore and Harford counties and
the city of Baltimore into one district, which
would contain a population of 239,000, and all
the other counties on the Western Shore into
another district, which would contain a popula-
tion of about 325,000. This was the nearest
approximation to perfect equality of numbers
that could be obtained, and produced more har-
mony and unity of interest in the several parts
of the same district that could be attained by
any other process by which the districts could
be laid off.
He agreed with the gentleman from Freder-
ick that there were objections to any formation
of gubernatorial districts in the state, but there
were counteracting benefits, and the greater the
number of the districts, the greater were those
objections; and consequently he was decidedly
opposed to the proposition of the gentleman
from Frederick intended to constitute four in-
stead of three districts.
Now if the principle was correct as asserted
by the gentleman from Frederick, that because
the conventional nominations preceding an elec-
tion were made by the whole state, and the
election was the result of the votes of the whole
state; therefore it could not matter to which dis-
trict Baltimore city or county was attached.
Suppose there were on the Western Shore
eight districts, of which the city of Baltimore
was one, and the other districts were composed
of two counties each) would it be the same
thing to St. Mary's should it be united with
Baltimore county, that it would bo if St. Ma-
ry's and Charles were united? Looking to the
'peculiar and local interests of each, and that
when Baltimore county was united, the city
of Baltimore would virtually select one of
its own citizens as the governor. Baltimore
would in effect enjoy the advantages of consti-
tuting two districts, while St. Mary's would lose
all the benefits of being a component part of any
district, and so if in forming the two districts,
Baltimore city and county were separated, Bal-
timore city would in effect enjoy all the advan-
tages intended to be conferred on both districts.
Mr. JENIFER said that he had expressed his
opinion at the beginning of the discussion of this
subject as being wholly opposed to the district-
ing system for governor. And the question now
was, whether they would adopt the districting
system or not. The argument of the gentleman
from Anne Arundel (Mr. Dorsey) was, that the
manner proposed of districting the state was not
such as in his Judgment ought to be adopted.
But he (Mr. J.) would say that if they were to
adopt the districting system at all, he believed
that the plan proposed by the gentleman from
Frederick was at least the most equal for the
whole state.
Mr. BUCHANAN said, he felt satisfied on yester-
day that the remarks which the honorable gen-
tleman from Anne Arundel (Mr. Dorsey) then
made had no hearing on him; and he [Mr. B.] so
27 |
expressed himself in the debate which then took
place. To-day, however, (said Mr. B.,) I have
heard the honorable gentleman again, and I have
been constrained to change the opinion which 1
had previously formed. My friend does not al-
ways make direct attacks, but he has a habit of
insinuating, and intimating and hinting his views,
in a manner which, to those who are present,
leave but little doubt of his real design.
He [Mr. B.] had said in the debate on yesterday
that he had felt highly gratified that his friend
from Anne Arundel was becoming day by day
more and more liberal in his views. The opinion
he then expressed he sincerely entertained. He
had listened to the speech of the honorable gen-
tleman delivered a few days before, on the subject
of the rights of the naturalized citizen, and was
deeply and favorably impressed with its strength,
its justice and its liberality. That speech had
gone for to convince him that the gentleman was
becoming liberal in all things appertaining to his
duties here.
It gives me pain now to be compelled to admit
that I have changed, in a great degree, the favor-
able opinion I had formed of the liberality in all
things of the honorable gentleman. He [Mr. B.]
here maintained, with all respect for his friend,
that there never had been furnished stronger evi-
dence of illiberality (not to say selfishness) than
he had this day evinced in the speech delivered
by him.
From the beginning of the session down to the
present hour, it is known to the Convention that
most of the speeches of the gentleman have been
interspersed with attacks on Baltimore—that Bal-
timore would manage the elections just as she
pleased, and bring all the rest of the State under her
dominion and control. And now what does the
honorable gentleman propose ? Why, after hav-
ing asserted the omnipotence of Baltimore—her
determination and capacity to govern the State—
the recklessness and depravity of a portion other
people, he modestly proposes that the pure in-
habitants of Baltimore county shall be brought
immediately within her grasp, by adding the
county to the city, and constituting the two one
district—a connection which, according to his
own showing, would completely annihilate the
political existence of the county. The propriety
of this arrangement, according to the honorable
gentleman, rests upon the ground that the people
of the county deal with the people of the city,
and some of the lawyers who live in the county
practice in the city. Their interests, therefore,
according to the gentleman, are identical, and
they should be joined together.
Now, (said Mr. B.,) according to this doctrine,
the district in which my honorable friend himself
resides, should beadded to Baltimore also. Howard
district is in as close proximity to the city of
Baltimore as Baltimore county is. Her people
deal with the people of Baltimore. Her lawyers,
or some of them, practice there. Why not,
then, add Howard district to Baltimore? Is the
gentleman indisposed to the association himself,
and yet so ready to drive us into it against our
wishes and indisregard of our protest? How
can the gentleman reconcile this doctrine to a. |
