in, the task of guarding every point becomes
a very difficult one; bat by a proper distri-
bution of our forces, we can but think that
the rebels could be prevented from crossing
the Potomac, unless they did it at great risk.
That the BORDER=0should be guarded better in
the future than it has been in the past, admits
of but little doubt. " A word to the wise is
sufficient." S.
Mr. LANSDALE, I have no doubt that this
refers to me, not a shadow of doubt about it,
although my name is not used; and I too
have to pronounce it utterly false from be-
ginning to end and unworthy of an honorable
man. The men this article speaks of came
upon me as unexpectedly as upon any mem-
ber of this convention. I knew nothing of
their passing in that direction until they ap-
peared. The insinuation that I was aware of
this thing is utterly false. I knew nothing
of it. They came upon me unexpectedly,
and they took my property, used up my corn
and hay and injured my property to the
amount of $700, $800, or $900, and went
away without one word of compensation and
scarcely thanks. That is the truth of the
case.
In regard to my not voting at the election,
1 am unfortunately in the game position with
perhaps 50,000 men in Maryland. I did not
vote,becausel was not willing to be subjected to
impertinent questions at the election. There
are thousands of others in Montgomery in
the same position, besides a vast number in
the whole State. Perhaps if they had had
an opportunity of voting we might not have
been assembled here.
1 close with saying that the whole thing is
utterly false, without foundation in truth, and
that the author is a base calumniator and
scoundrel, let him be who he may.
ORDER OF BUSINESS
Mr. MILLER. I find on page 253 of the
journal [July 21] an order "that the report
of the committee on the basis of representa-
tion be made the order of the day immediately
after the conclusion of the second reading of
the article on the legislative department."
We have not yet completed the second reading
of that article, and as it is not therefore yet in
order to take up the report of the committee
on the basis of representation, I move to take
up the report on amendments to the consti-
tution.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. The purpose of that or-
der was that this should be the next thing
considered by the convention. I therefore
hope the motion of the gentleman will be
voted down.
The motion was not agreed to.
BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
On motion of Mr. CUSHING,
The convention then proceeded to the con-
sideration of the article submitted by the |
committee on the basis of representation in
the two houses of the general assembly,
which was read as follows:
Section 1. Immediately after the adoption
of this constitution, and before there shall
have been held any general election under it,
the mayor and city council of the city of Bal-
timore shall proceed to lay off and divide the
said city into three several districts, of equal
population and contiguous territory, as near
as may be.
Sec. 2. Every county in the State, and each
district of the city of Baltimore, as hereinbe-
fore provided for, shall be entitled to one
senator, who shall be elected by the qualified
voters of the counties and city of Baltimore
years from the date. of their election.
Sec. 3. The white population of the State
shall constitute the basis of representation in
the house of delegates, and the apportionment
of the delegates among the several counties
and districts of the city of Baltimore shall be
as follows: For every five thousand persons,
or a fractional part thereof above one-half,
one delegate shall be chosen until the number
of delegates in each county and district of
the city of Baltimore shall reach five. Above
that number, one delegate shall be chosen for
every fifteen thousand persons, or a fractional
portion over one-half thereof, until the whole
number of delegates from each county and
district of the city of Baltimore shall reach
ten. Above that number, each county and
district of the said city shall elect one dele-
gate for every forty-live thousand persons, or
fractional portion thereof above one-half.
Upon this principle, and until the next fede-
ral census, or State enumeration of inhabit-
ants, the house of delegates shall consist of
eight-two members, distributed as follows :
Allegany, five men bers; Anne Arundel,
two , wch of the three districts in Baltimore
city, seven; Baltimore county, six; Calvert,
one; Caroline, two; Carroll, five; Cecil, four;
Charles, one; Dorchester, two; Frederick six;
Harford, four; Howard, two; Kent, one;
Montgomery, two; Prince George's, two;
Queen Ann's, two; St. Mary's, one; Somer-
set, three; Talbot, two; Washington, five ;
Worcester, three.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's, submitted
the following amendment:
Strike out the entire section submitted by
the majority of the committee, and insert in
lieu thereof the report submitted by the mi-
nority of the committee, as follows :
Section 1. Every county of the State and
the city of Baltimore, shall be entitled to elect
one senator, who shall be elected by the
qualified voters of the counties and the city
of Baltimore respectively, and who shall serve
for four years from the day of their election.
Sec. 2. The legislature at its first session
after the returns of each national census are
published under the authority of Congress, |
