"And be it further enacted, That the population
as aforsaid shall be ascertained and fixed by the
last census taken under the provision of the
Constitution of the United States, and such cen-
suses hereafter to be taken agreeably to the pro-
vision aforesaid, shall be the standard by which
the representatives of the several counties of
this State shall be fixed and regulated; except
as relates to the city of Baltimore, which shall in no
case be entitled to a greater number of Representa-
tives than. is provided by this act."
He had therefore voted, when a delegate from
the city of Baltimore, for this amendment, and
agreed to give six Delegates to the city of Balti-
more, on Condition that the delegation from
Baltimore should never thereafter be increased.
He had been willing when, as stated by the gen-
tleman from Baltimore, the population of Bal-
timore city Was but 26,514, and when the popu-
lation of the State was upwards of 380,000, to
give Baltimore a full representation according
to population, but it was when its population
was but about one 14th or 15th part of the entire
population of the State,
At that period, sir, the term 'abolitionism' was
unknown in Maryland. The relative populations
of the city of Baltimore and the rest of the State
Was such that nothing injurious was to be appre-
hended by the counties of the State, in giving to
Baltimore representation according to her popu-
lation; and in doing so, as the case then stood, it
was deemed a matter, at that time, by no means
important whether, in fixing the representation, it
was adjusted upon the aggregate or federal basis.
But in the present condition of things, when Bal-
timore has nearly one-third of the whole popula-
tion of the State, and when it is obvious that at
or about the time of the taking the next census
of the United States, Baltimore will contain more
than one-half the entire population of the State,
new and entirely different principles of representation
must be resorted to, in providing for such
a case. What was wholly innoxious and just in
1807 would be utterly unreasonable, unjust and
inconsistent with every principle of sound policy
in 1851; and, therefore. In prescribing different
remedies for evils wholly dissimilar, a charge of
inconsistency cannot be sustained. But, sir, there
was a part of the amendment, in voting for which
the charge of inconsistency has been preferred,
which was not read, it is believed, by the gentle-
man from Baltimore, (Mr Gwinn,) and that is,
that the representation of Baltimore in the House
of Delegates should never thereafter be increased,
no matter what its population might become,
When truly interpreted, this vote of his [Mr.
D's] in 1807 was entirely consistent with his votes
in this Convention, and proves that he felt it his
duty to deny to his immediate constituents their
asserted abstract right of representation according
to population, when its gratification became dan-
gerous to the lights and privileges, security and
protection, necessary to the other portions of the
State. That such an independent, patriotic course
of proceeding in a representation, will never be
imputed to the gentleman from Baltimore, it may
with perfect safety be predicted.
He [Mr. D.] had served as a Delegate from the |
city of Baltimore, and several times from Anne
Arundel county, but in the General Assembly
and in this Convention he had always regarded
himself as the Delegate of the State of Maryland,
not of the mere city or county, by whose votes
he had been elected; and had ever acted and
voted accordingly. Fidelity to the State at large
and protection of its general interests he had
ever regarded as his first and highest duty. And
if for their security and the promotion of the pub-
lic weal, it were necessary, the interests of the
public being in conflict with local interests, the
latter must be postponed or controlled for the ben-
efit of the former. Upon this principle he had
always acted, though the local interests of his
immediate constituents were involved in the sacri-
fice. But he regretted to say that he thought ha
had observed a different line of conduct, but too
often, pursued by others, who appeared to act as
if it were their duty by every imaginable device
to obtain advantages to their own constituency,
in opposition to the plainest dictates of justice
and the best interests of the public. And ha
sometimes felt apprehensions lest the same selfish
unpatriotic course of conduct, might venture to
rear its head even in this august assembly.
In accordance with his promise, and not his
opinions of propriety, he would now move the
previous question.
Mr. CHAMBERS, of Kent, demanded the yeas
and nays, which were ordered, and being taken,
resulted—yeas 35, nays 31, as follows;
Affirmative—Messrs. Sellman, Howard, Buch-
anan, Bell, Welch, Chandler, Dickinson, Mc-
Cullough, Tuck, Grason, Wright, Gaither, Biser,
Sappington, Stephenson, McHenry, Nelson, Carter,
Thawley, Stewart, of Caroline, Gwinn,
Stewart, of Balt. city, Brent, of Balt. city, Sher-
wood, of Balt. city, Ware, Fiery, Michael New-
comer, Brewer, Anderson, Hollyday, Slicer,
Fitzpatrick, Parke, Shower and Brown—35.
Negative—Messrs. Chapman, Pres't, Morgan,
Blakistone, Hopewell, Ricaud, Chambers, of
Kent, Donaldson, Dorsey, Wells, Randall, Bond,
Lloyd, John Dennis, Dashiell, Williams, Hod-
son, Miller, Bowie, Sprigg, McCubbin, Bow-
ling, Dirickson, McMaster, Jacobs, Thomas,
Shriver, Davis, Kilgour, Waters and Smith—31.
So the Convention sustained the previous
question,
The question was then stated upon the substitute
offered by Mr, Thomas, for the 5th sec-
tion of the report, as amended on the motion of
Mr. Bowie.
Mr. MCMASTER demanded the yeas and nays,
which were ordered, and being taken, resulted
—yeas 20, nays 46, as follows:
Affirmative—Messrs. Sellman, Howard, Chand-
ler, Lloyd. Dickinson, McCullough, Bowie,
Bowling, Thomas, Shriver, Gaither, Biser, Sap-
pington, Stephenson, Nelson, Brent, of Balt.
city, Michael Newcomer, Brewer, Slicer and
Brown—20.
Negative—Messrs. Chapman, President, Mor-
gan, Blakiston, Hopewell, Ricaud, Chambers,
of Kent, Donaldson, Dorsey, Wells, Randall,
Bond, Jenifer, Buchanan, Bell, Welch, John
Dennis, Dashiell, Williams, Hodson, Miller, |
