as much entitled to representation as they
would be if living in Prince George's or Cal-
vert county. They cast as many votes; and
they are entitled to the same representation
upon the republican principle, but the peo-
ple of this State have not reached that prin-
ciple of justice yet; and therefore I am not
prepared to make a fool of myself by trying
to get it. The principle established by this re-
port is the best principle, and comes the nearest
to the absolutely just principle that every white
man is entitled to be represented, the only
proper system of representation that can be
adopted now. So far as the principle is correct,
it is perfectly satisfactory. It proceeds upon
the principle of giving to every county a rep-
resentation to a certain extent according to
numbers; but when it comes up to the large
counties and the city of Baltimore, one dele-
gate is to represent more people than in the
small counties. That is the theory upon which
it goes; .and the report is perfectly equal so
far as the theory is correct. I would be
willing to accept the principle that gives the
voter everywhere the same representation,
whether he resides among great houses or lives
out in the fields. The only reason why I fa-
vor this particular amendment is that I do not
regard it as violating the principle of the re-
port in fact. I do not care much about it.—
I shall not press it; and as to any other amend-
ment to the report, if it shall be offered, I shall
vote against it.
Mr. RIDGELY. I shall vote for this propo-
sition of the gentleman from Kent; and I
shall be very frank in stating the reasons why
I shall vote for it. I shall vote for it because
I believe it will help the constitution in Kent
county; and I will vote for any proposition
founded upon justice which has such a feature
incident to the administration of such jus-
tice.
But I shall vote for the proposition to open
this article for another reason; that while I be-
lieve the rule adopted works in general very
equitably, I have never yet known of any rule
which was free from exceptions; and I be-
lieve exceptional cases will justly arise under
any rule that we can devise. If any county
can show a case of equity and justice, even
though it may contradict the strict letter of
the rule, I will vote to enlarge the representa-
tion of such county, upon the theory just sta-
ted, that it is a case properly of exception to
the general rule.
Now I will say with regard to my county,
and my whole delegation concur with me,
that it will be difficult to sustain ourselves at
all with our people. We have been flooded
with letters from every quarter of out county,
and every county paper has been assailing us
and assailing the convention ever since we
adopted it. I believe if we had one more in
'our county it would help our constitution
very much; and therefore, while I will vote for
one more representative for Kent county, I |
shall ask my friends to vote for one more for
Baltimore county upon the same principle.
Mr. SCHLEY. After very mature delibera-
tion and considerable debate, this report, No.
4, passed through its second reading. All
that I have beard since the motion of the gen-
tleman from Kent (Mr. Hollyday) was made,
only induces me to believe that it will lead to
a repetition of that debate, and a prolonga-
tion and delay, if this question is opened
again. I believe the rule of this apportion-
ment is equitable; and I am prepared to de-
fend it. I confess, however, that in the case
of Kent county, I feel a strong disposition to
depart from the strict letter of the provision
of the section, for reasons which it is unneces-
sary for me lo recapitulate, but which are
very well known to every inember of the con-
vention. The opinion prevailed to a great
extent I am sure, among those who voted for
this section, that Kent county might without
any real departure from the rule be awarded
two delegates.
I think it probable that since the census was
taken, one hundred and fifty-three whiteper-
sonshave settled in Kent; and I think it very
probable that if the census were to be taken
to-day, she would be entitled to another rep-
resentative. I believe that that considera-
tion will have great weight with the counties
generally; and that they will order at an
early day an enumeration of the inhabitants
of the State to be made; so that although
Kent may complain that in strict justice it is
this day entitled to two members, her priva-
tion will not be of long duration if we adhere
to the rule, I shall not only vote against
giving to Kent county an additional member
tor this reason; but because I believe it would
induce a very unnecessary prolongation of
the session and a renewal of the old debate we
have already gone through.
Mr. BRISCOE. One word; and I beg pardon
of my friend from Kent for undertaking to say
a single word in favor of his proposition when
the result may very likely be to kill that
proposition; as it seems that members of the
minority do sometimes kill a proposition by
talking it down.
1 recollect that when this matter was before
the convention, I was about to offer a prop-
osition that no county should have a less rep-
resentation in the house of delegates than two
members; but the previous question was
sprung upon me, and I bad no opportunity to
offer that proposition. Of course that includes
the amendment of my friend from Kent, to
give his county two representatives.
Gentlemen have talked in this convention
about arbitrary rule and about principle. 1
defy any member of this convention to show
me in the representation of any State of this
Union, any State which has ever been able to
bring down its representation to a mathematical
principle. They almost always have a
fraction either diminishing or increasing that |
