children, when they grow up, if they are
males, vote. The ladies—God bless them—
govern in a very different way from the
voting way; but they belong to the ruling
class.
Now, I wish to throw out of this question
and remove from the consideration of this
body, every idea connected with the color of
these people. It does not matter that they are
black or yellow. That is not in the question.
The negro is not in the question as I view it.
It is not because they are a black race, but
because they have been slaves, that even after
they are free I acquiesce in this course. It is
because they are a proscribed class. They
might be a prescribed class and not be black.
There have been proscribed classes in other
nations of the world, who were not black,
and the reason would apply to them just as
it does here. Suppose we bad a pariah class
in this country. Would gentlemen have the
pariah class represented in the halls of legis-
lation among the ruling class their detri-
ment? It is the principle of a true system of
representation that the ruling class alone shall
be represented.
What is the effect of any other system than
that? If you give to these pariah people,
black or white, this proscribed class, this de-
graded class, a representation in this hall, it
is a representation by their enemies. What
justice is therein that? Gentlemen say that
the lower class claim to be represented. Rep-
resented how? It does not mean that if I
am down trodden and oppressed I shall be
counted as one to swell the number of my
oppressors. Yet that is precisely their de-
mand; that this proscribed class shall be
represented here by a different class, by a
race interested in persecuting and oppressing
them.
The result of any such theory as that is
precisely the result that has always followed
this kind of representation so far as it has
been admitted, It has resulted in this country
in their absolute slavery. It has resulted in
other countries in their further oppression. I
am not going into the details of this argu-
ment. I could occupy half an hour or more
in showing how it has been in all ages of the
world. Wherever a proscribed class in a na-
tion, or country, or community even, have
had this kind of voice, a voice as against them-
selves, the result has always been their fur-
ther degradation, and their further oppression,
and the security of their proscription. Here
is the great injustice; that they are made
the unwilling instruments of their own op-
pression.
I can readily understand how it might be
in the State of Maryland, if this race goes on
increasing, that being thus represented in
this hall, the time might in the future come
that the glorious representatives of that class
in this hall might hereafter re-enslave them.
That might very well happen, and the |
greatest hardship would be that these pariah
people would have been made the instruments
of their own enslavement.
Do the gentlemen understand why it is
that we claim that the white people of this
State shall be made the true basis of represen-
tation? It is because the while people of this
State are the ruling people of this State; and
as long as that remains the fact, the white
men should be represented in the government,
in the executive department, in the legisla-
tive department, in the judiciary department,
in all the ramifications of the government.
So long as the white race is the ruling class,
upon what kind of theory can gentlemen de-
mand that any other than that race shall be
represented ?
1 do not think I have occupied ten minutes ;
yet I think I have made my view as clear as
I can upon this particular point. I want
gentlemen to answer it. I claim that the
while basis is the true basis of representation
in the State of Maryland as long as the white
people of the State ?????? ruling class in the
State. As long as the executive power of the
State is exercised by the white people of the
State, just so long shall the lawmakers of the
State be the white people of the State; and
so long as the makers of the laws shall be
the white people of the State, so long shall
those who send them to make the laws be the
white people. Let not the negro race be
represented in the legislature by another race,
and thus made the instruments of their own
degradation.
Mr, BARRON. By general consent I ask to
submit an order that the final vote on the
basis of representation shall be taken on Sat-
urday next at I o'clock.
Mr. CUSHING. We expect to get a vote to-
night.
Mr. ABBOTT. I object to the introduction
of that order. We may be ready to vote
upon it before that time
Mr. BARRON. I will not press it.
On motion of Mr. PURNELL,
The convention took a recess until 8
o'clock.
EVENING SESSION.
The Convention reassembled at 8 o'clock,
P. M.
The roll was called, and the following mem-
bers answered to their names:
Messrs. Goldsborough, President; Abbott
Annan, Audoun, Baker, Barren, Belt, Berry,
of Prince George's, Blackiston, Bond, Briscoe,
Brown, Chambers, Clarke, Cunningham
Gushing, Dail, Daniel, Davis, of Charles, Da-
vis, of Washington, Dellinger, Duvall, Earle
Ecker, Edelen, Farrow, Galloway, Greene
Harwood, Hebb, Henkle, Hollyday, Hopkins,
Hopper, Horsey, Jones, of Somerset, Keefer
Kennard, King, Lansdale, Lee, Marbury, Mc-
Comas, Miller, Mullikin, Murray, Negley
Nyman, Parker, Parran, Peter, Parnell |
