Mr. PHELPS, (in his seat.) I was not one, sir,
either at home or elsewhere.
Mr. STEWART said that many gentlemen from
the Eastern Shore bad voted for internal im-
provements; and for the reason, that the en-
chanting view was held out to them, that at
some day an enormous income would accrue
from them into the coffers of the State. They
had been disappointed, and now that the scheme
had failed, with the frailty of human nature, they
tured round and abused those that originated it.
He believed that those who participated in that
movement, really believed they were about to
build up the grandeur and glory of the State.—
The gentleman from Dorchester had said that he
did not favor these internal improvements. If
his recollection would serve him, he would say
that when a boy of thirteen or fourteen, he had
ridden four miles to attend a political meeting at
Church Creek. The gentleman from Dorches-
ter, then got up and portrayed in the most
glowing terms, the great benefit that would re-
sult to the State of Maryland from these internal
improvements, not knowing that there was any
body there to reply to him, and supposing that
he had the whole field to himself. He had no
sooner taken his seat, however, than George A.
Z. Smith arose and said that it would bring tax-
ation upon the whole people of the State, and
would not benefit the Eastern Shore. The gen-
tleman from Dorchester arose and said that Mr.
Smith was mistaken, and that he would almost
venture himself to guarantee to pay every cent of
taxation that was ever brought upon the State.
He was sorry to say that the gentleman from
Dorchester had been mistaken in this. He wish-
ed that the works had brought those advantages
to the State treasury.
Mr. SPRIGG begged leave to remind the gentleman,
that one of those institutions, at least,
was just now in the commencement of a success-
ful experiment.
Mr. STEWART said that he was about to add
that as the darkest portion of the night is just
before the dawn; perhaps these works would yet
realize all that was anticipated, and he was hap-
py to be confirmed by the President of one of
these works. He trusted that the tables would
yet be turned, and that their early advocates
would in the end be rewarded with their success.
He was sorry To perceive the jealousy which
existed between different sections of the State.
The. Eastern Shore, the Western Shore, and the
city of Baltimore, each conceived itself to be
wronged by the others. He trusted that this
feeling of jealousy and disunion, would be taken
from every heart, and that members would come
around our common altar, and legislate for the
good of the whole State.
He had no fears for the Eastern Shore. He
looked forward to the time when his county
would contain a population of twenty thousand
There was there a spirit of improvement abroad,
and it would be felt. Caroline county had been
taxed as much as any other portion of the Slate,
and not one cent of that whole taxation had ever |
returned to her. There had been a constant tide
flowing from the county with no countercurrent;
but says the proverb, " 'Tis a long tide that never
turns," and he believed that that tide was now
beginning to flow back gradually. The dele-
gates of Baltimore city had spoken of the enor-
mous amount they paid in taxation. But it all
returned to that city. if the account were to be
kept of the amount which Baltimore paid, and if
from this there should be substracted whatever
Baltimore city received again from the internal
improvements, and other sources, it would be
found that Baltimore city was not in reality taxed
more than Caroline county. He would be wil-
ling that Baltimore city should be represented
according to population. He did not fear such
a representation. But if either section should be
allowed a representation much diverse from that
now given, the other would rise up en masse and
vote down the Constitution, it was this which
induced him to vote as he did. But the opinion
was fast gaining ground in Maryland, in favor of
representation according to population. That
principle was in accordance with his own senti-
ments. Yet while in the Convention, representing
a constituency, he should reflect the will of
that constituency, who he was so proud to repre-
sent. In his course here, he had looked to their
views and interests, which he thought not antago-
nistic to the interest of the whole State. They
were a people that only desired to be left alone
and freed from taxation. Caroline would then
blossom like the rose.
Mr. PHELPS observed, he could but regard the
course of the gentleman from Caroline, toward
himself, as very extraordinary, and especially
so, as gentlemen all around must recollect, that
not one word has been said in the whole range
of this debate, upon the subject of internal improvements.
This charge, Mr. President has been urged,
(Mr. Phelps said,) against him, by his political
opponents, in his own county, in every canvass
since 1839, and he had from that time, to the
present, always successfully repelled it. He
could but again express his astonishment at the
course of the gentleman from Caroline, in forc-
ing into this debate, this charge which he him-
self had heard him, over and again explain, to
the satisfaction at least, of his own political
friends, of his own county, and to whom he
was alone responsible for his opinions upon this
and all other subjects of State policy.
He felt thankful, however, that this subject
had been obtruded upon the notice of the Con-
vention, as it would afford him an opportunity of
placing upon record and of transmilting to pos-
terity it may be, what he did say upon that oc-
casion, and what he now intended to repeat.
The gentleman has said he was present when
this speech was delivered, and that he spoke
from his own personal recollections, and yet be
tells this Convention, that at that time, he was
a little boy of thirteen years of age. This little
boy, Mr. President, could not in the nature of
things at that juvenile age have been much accustomed
to witness discussions upon grave |
