signation to the will of the Convention, as any
other member of it.
COURTS OF BALTIMORE.
Remarks of Mr. CRISFIELD, Thursday, May 1st,
1851.
Mr. CRISFIELD observed, that it would be read-
ily perceived that in making this motion to re.
consider with a view to introduce the substitute
just read, that his purpose was to increase the
judicial labor of the courts in the city of Balti-
more. He was aware that it was his misfortune
to differ upon this subject with many gentlemen
on that floor, with whom he had been in the hab-
it of acting. But, he was conscientious in his
conviction that the amount of judicial labor provided
by the existing arrangement was insuffi-
cient to a fair and proper discharge of the business
of the city. Ashad been already intimated,
this Convention had determined to abolish the
High Court of Chancery. He took it for grant-
ed that that was their serious determination; and
if gentlemen here refused to vote for this propo-
sition upon the ground that they might force a
continuance of the High Court of Chancery, if
the amount of judicial labor required for Balti-
more was not allowed, it was in his judgment, a
a vain hope. The only question remaining was,
to impress upon this Convention, having charge
of the interests of the people, the knowledge that
they withheld from the people of Baltimore an
amount of judicial labor, which every man ac-
quainted with the subject, knew they required.
Any man who looked to the amount of the judi-
cial business in that city—to the amount to be
done there—and which was gradually increas-
ing—must come to the conclusion that she requi-
red additional judicial labor for the prompt and
efficient dispatch of business. He would not re-
new the debate on this subject, his object being
merely to give to Baltimore city the amount of
judicial aid to which she was entitled, and no
more.
DISTRICTING BALTIMORE CITY.
Remarks of Mr. SHERWOOD, Friday, May 2, 1851.
Mr. SHERWOOD of Baltimore city, said:
Mr. President, I cannot resist the opportunity
now afforded, to say a few words on the subject
before the Convention, for its consideration.
Always unwilling to trespass upon its time, or
the patience of honorable members, nothing
could induce me to depart from that unwilling-
ness, but the imperative duty I feel resting upon
me as a representative from the city of Balti-
more, to unite my voice to that of my colleagues,
in solemn protestation against the political out-
rage, that is sought to be perpetrated upon her,
by the districting proposition of the gentleman
from Kent, (Mr. Chambers.) I look upon the
entire scheme as one calculated to debase us in
our political and long established rights, and to
make the city of monuments—the great commer-
cial mart of the State—the mere political scape- |
goat for all the real and imaginary evils that
haunt the visions of gentlemen, resident in other
sections of Maryland. It is true, sir, we do boast
of a large, enterprising and steadily increasing
population—a population that will at no very re-
mote period, place us foremost in the front rank
of cities of this vast Republic, both as regards
opulence and public virtue.
For talent, industry, enterprise, and all the
concomitants of greatness, we have already
achieved an enviable and deserving renown. In
our continued growth and prosperity, every
Marylander should feel a native pride, and anx-
iously endeavor to foster his great city in the
upward and onward career of prosperity to
which her destiny is rapidly hastening her, if
left free and unfettered by the polluting touch of
partizan aggression. She deserves to be cher-
ished by the people of the whole State as the cen-
tre of trade, that the benefits of the wealth that
pours into her lap, from every section within and
without our own BORDER=0s, may be corresponding-
ly diffused, as it now is, for the public good with-
out regard to sectional or local interests. As
me city of Baltimore increases in wealth, so also
does the whole State. She is the great heart
that gives life, vigor and animation to trade,
traffic and all other pursuits of life, that carry
contentment and wealth to the doors of our citi-
zens from the summits of the Alleganies to the
ocean bound beach of Worcester. Her annual
contributions to the general treasury—are the
means of sustaining your coffers well filled, and
keeping in motion the very wheels of the govern-
ment under which we so unequally and oppres-
sively hold our political existence. She is part
and parcel of the old Maryland soil, and her de-
votion to the honor and dignity of the State has
been too often and successfully tested, to be
doubted by any but the most blinded zealot.
Her name and fame place her proudly forward
in the annals of the State, where her past his-
tory of patriotism and love of Republicanism,
may be read with pride and applause, by those
who know no sectional feelings among a common
brotherhood, living under the same State organi-
zation. She is not insensible to the legislative
aid, by which the rich products of the West have
been placed within her grasp, nor is she unmind-
ful of her dependance upon the magnanimity of
many distinguished citizens beyond her limits
for the untiring zeal with which they have advo-
cated her claims to legislative consideration, and
made her, with her own powerful resources, the
chief city of trade within our State. We know
these things, and justly appreciate the spirit of
our people in enabling us to compete success-
fully with our sister cities, for the immense trade
and travel that pour in upon us from nearly every
quarter of the compass. Sir, Baltimore is not un-
grateful—her monuments attest the loyalty of
the hearts of her citizens to every noble Ameri-
can impulse—to every generous feeling of State
devotion ! Yet, strange as it is, we are called
the enemies of the smaller counties, and are
looked upon as a people affected with some con-
tagion that causes the man of the county to make |
