one proposed by the gentleman, except, perhaps,
one, which I regret to say, was also presented
by a member from the Eastern Shore (Mr.
Lloyd), which gives us twenty in a House of
eighty-one. Others reduce the actual number
of our delegates to twenty, but they also reduce
the whole number of the House, thereby giving
us a greater proportion of the aggregate
amount. Such were the plans and proposals
which were pressed by those of us who had
earnestly urged the claims of the Eastern Shore,
and the small counties on the Western Shore,
to protection against the overpowering strength
and influence of the large counties and Balti-
more city. When defeated and driven from our
position, we have from time to time endeavored to
take shelter wherever we could find the nearest
measure approximating to our wishes and our
wants. Any plank in a storm is preferable to a
wrecked mariner, to the unprotected surges of
the raging billows. And yet, when in an ac-
knowledged condition of outcasts, driven from
our altars and our homes, we are taunted with
being voluntary applicants for admission to some
place of refuge. The speech of the gentleman,
if left alone to produce its impression out of this
Convention, would lead to the conclusion that
our votes on these plans, avowedly taken by us
from necessity alone, were the objects of our
deliberate choice, and not, as in truth they
were, acknowledged evils, but still less evil
than others to which we feared we should be
forced to submit, and to which we have ultimately
been forced to submit; and forced, too
by the agency of that gentleman and others,
amongst them, members here representing coun-
ties on the Eastern Shore. Sir, said Mr. C., I
have a right to complain of this : the little band
with whom I have acted, who have faithfully,
zealously, perseveringly stood by our oppressed
countrymen, have a right to complain of being
presented in an attitude utterly unlike that they
have occupied. Would the gentleman himself,
in a moment of calm reflection, designate such
a course by the term he had been pleased to pass
across the chamber—would he call this "gen-
erosity?" Was there any "generosity "in as-
cribing to us opinions which were not our opin-
ions? Mr. C. would submit that question to the
decision of those who are to pass upon our con-
duct here. " Federal numbers," too, had been
a subject of remark—yes ! "the gentleman from
Kent took even Federal numbers." Why, sir,
said Mr. C., has it escaped the recollection of
any man here, however oblivious, what has
passed in regard to this matter? The facts
were known to us all here, and they ought to be
known elsewhere. The question of slavery was
first brought to our notice from a quarter the
least expected. A gentleman from the city of
Baltimore (Mr. Presstman) had taken the lead
out of the hands of the representatives of the
counties more particularly interested in this
question, and had submitted a very strong propo-
sition. It was at the moment considered a de-
cided advance in the way of conciliation, and
none were even suspicious enough to suppose
that some reciprocal concession would be ex- |
pected. In due time reports were introduced
on the representative question, and amongst
others, one by the minority, consisting of the
member from Somerset (Mr. Dennis), one from
Anne Arundel (Mr. Kent), and myself. Was
there any recognition of " federal numbers " in
that report? nothing like it, sir. So far from
it, that as. soon as it was presented, and before
it was printed, before it was before the House
for its action, it was stoutly assailed, by the
same gentleman from the city of Baltimore, as
an odious measure, because, forsooth, it did not
adopt the basis of " federal numbers." Was
he (Mr. C.) then recreant to the interests of his
people? Was he recreant to the interests of
the portion of the State most vitally concerned
in this question? Did he not, on the contrary,
to the best of his poor ability, denounce this hot
haste against that interest, as one of the strongest
motives to unite it in a fixed purpose of. de-
fence against the obvious prejudice which ex-
isted in other quarters? Yes, sir, (said Mr. C.)
I call every gentleman to testify to the fact, that
this first exhibition of hostility to the interests
of slave-holders, was rebuked to the utmost ex-
tent of my capacity, and a warning solemnly
given to all its friends, not to furnish aliment or
strength to those who would, assail that interest.
But, sir, I heard no cheering voice from the gen-
tleman from Queen Anne's on that occasion.
He often instructs us by giving us the intelligent
thoughts, the fruits of his age and experience,
with the observation of a sound, strong mind,
and always in a manner creditable to himself
as a debater. But on that occasion he was si-
lent. Nay, sir, since that day the gentleman
from Queen Anne's and the gentleman from Bal-
timore city have been acting side by side, on
various plans of representation, and the gentle-
man from Queen Anne's has ultimately pro-
posed a scheme acceptable to the gentlemen
from Baltimore city, at least accepted by him.
This is an epitome of the relations of the gen-
tleman and myself to this question, and now, sir,
that gentleman says, "the gentleman from Kent
took even federal numbers." Is this another
instance of "generosity?" Is this another in-
stance of presenting to my constituents a candid
view of my course in relation to "federal num-
bers?" Sir, (said Mr. C.) I denounced the
whole idea of federal numbers in a Slave State,
as utterly exceptionable in all its shapes, in
every mood and tense, I have battled against it
on every occasion and will do so, regarding it as
the incipient step to that fanatical and mis-
chievous feeling, which, when indulged and
encouraged, ends in nothing short of the ruinous
and destructive doctrines of the abolitionist. But,
sir, a patient may not always reject a pill because
it is bitter. When prostrate upon his back, with
but one means open to him to elude the iron
grasp of that relentless visitor, whose approach
all dread, and dread generally most of all things
when instructed by his own feelings, and by the
counsels of all around him, that death is inevita-
ble unless he submit to medical treatment, the
patient must not reject the healing potion because
a bitter element composes the draught. And, sir, |
