patient under suffering and privation, but why,
without good reason, subject their patience to
such a trial ? Why should the sovereign people
of Maryland be delayed ten years before you will
allow them the privilege of freeing themselves
from any practical inconveniences, they may
suffer from the Constitution you are now framing?
Why deny to them the privilege of relieving
themselves promptly ? Is our work to tie so per-
fect, or to have any such high sanctions about it,
that it is to be like the laws of the Medes and
Persians, unalterable, inexorable, for at least ten
years? And are the people unnecessarily to be
required to bear with its defects and imperfec-
tions for at least that period, because they are
known to be a patient and forbearing people?
There is not, there cannot be any danger in
leaving the power to the Legislature, to make
necessary amendments, in the made proposed.
If it were possible for the Legislature to be cor-
rupt enough to abuse such a power, their respon-
sibility to the people, direct and immediate, be-
fore the act can be completed, must always stare
the members in the face too fully, for any such
abuse to be attempted, before there can be any
danger in lodging this power of amendment with
the Legislature, the people must themselves have
become corrupt and recreant to their own best
interests; and when that shall be the case, if it
ever is, which may God in his mercy forbid—
there will be no longer any safety for freedom,
nor ill any form of free government.
But, if as contended by the honorable gentle-
man, the mere consciousness in the breasts of the
people, that after the lapse often years, they can
be relieved from present evils and inconveni-
ences, will quiet there complaints and determine
them to bear the evils of this Constitution pa-
tiently. Would not the consciousness that they
could relieve themselves more promptly, and at
any time, give them much more quiet and satis-
faction? It is the consciousness that they may
hereafter acquire the power to relieve themselves,
that will enable them to endure patient-
ly. I say give them the power now to relieve
themselves, and there will be no need of this
patient endurance, which at best is an evil in it-
self. But I am not so sure as the honorable
gentleman seems to be, that the people will be
entirely patient under this privation; especially
if the practical workings of some parts of this
Constitution, [as I very much fear some parts
of it will,] should operate prejudicially to the
interests and convenience of large numbers.
When men feel an evil or an injustice, feel
an infraction of their rights and privileges they
are most generally little disposed to wait ten
years for redress; and especially, is this the
case with the American people, who are neither
by habit nor disposition, accustomed to submit
to unnecessary restraint? Persons as far advan-
ced in life, as the gentleman or myself, can look
back upon ten years, and count it as a short
period, but even to us to look forward to ten
years of inconvenience and privation, would be
a pretty severe trial; how much more fearful
must such a prospect be to the young and the ar- |
dent, to all those just entering upon the busy
scenes of life ? I trust then, Mr President, the
Convention will adopt the section as reported
and recommended by my honorable friend from
Calvert, [Mr. Sollers,] and leave the Legisla-
ture power to make all those small changes in
the Constitution, which practical experience un-
der it may, from time to time, show to be ne-
cessary, and whenever the altered condition of
the State, or any other circumstances shall
cause the people of the State, deliberately to
desire the convocation of another Convention,
for the purpose of remodeling their organic law,
let it be the duty of the Legislature, who can nev-
er be ignorant of such a desire on the part of the
body of the people, when it exists, to make due
provision for the election and meeting of such a
body. But let it not. be inferred from the rejec-
tion of this proposition, and the adoption of the
ten years patience plan, that this Convention has
manifested a distrust, both of future Legislatures
and of the people themselves. I assure you, sirs,
I solemnly believe the course I now recommend
to you, is the only wise, safe and prudent course
to be pursued for the attainment of the ends I
know you have in view, and desire no less anx-
iously than myself, namely, the quieting of all
agitation upon this subject, and the advancement
of the peace and happiness of our fellow-citizens
generally.
FRIDAY, May 2nd, 1851.
The Convention met at 9 o'clock.
Prayer was made by the Rev. Mr. GRIFFITH.
The roll of the members was called,
And a quorum was ascertained to be pre-
sent.
The journal of yesterday was read.
Mr. MITCHELL submitted the following or-
der,
Which was read and adopted:
"Ordered by the Convention, that the commit-
tee on Accounts allow James Bransell, one dol-
lar and fifty cents per day, commencing from
first of the session, lor lighting lamps and attend-
ing to cleaning the Hall of the State House."
CORPORATIONS.
Mr. WELLS chairman of the committee on
corporations, rose and said, that he had been in-
structed by a majority of that committee to
make a verbal report. The report was made
verbally, because, under the order adopted by
the Convention, at an early stage of the session,
the committee were precluded from submitting
their reasons in writing.
The committee have instructed me, (contin-
ued Mr. W.,) to report, that after several meet-
ings, and after having given to the various sub-
ject-matters which have been referred to them
respectful and mature consideration, they are
not now, and will not be, able to agree upon a |
