of Baltimore? if the history of that city is to
be looked to, we. shall find that sometimes not
law prevails there, and that freedom of de-
bate in deliberative bodies has been inter-
fered with. I do not know that any such
thing will happen if this Convention goes
there; but it may happen; and we should
avoid as far as possible every chance of such
an interference. We are to frame a new Con-
stitution. Great and important changes are
to be. adopted by this body We ought to
deliberate upon them calmly. We ought to
have the privilege of debating them fairly.
We ought to have a calm, full, fair, and
open discussion of all those subjects. In my
judgment this above all others is the fitting
place in which to hold this assembly; and I
am opposed to the order for removing to the
city of Baltimore.
Mr. SANDS. If it be proper to do so, I will
premise what I have to say by tendering my
grateful thanks to the gentlemen of Balti-
more for their kind invitation; and I, for
one, feel inclined to accept it, not because,
as the gentleman from Anne Arundel (Mr.
Miller) suggests, I want to pocket any
part of my per diem as a member of this
body. Being named after our good old
George Washington, I am willing to follow
his example, keep strict account of nay
expenses and pay the balance to whomsoever
may choose to accept it, Baltimore city,
Annapolis, or anybody else. That is not
one of nay considerations at all. Neither am
I influenced by any particular love for Balti-
more city, or any particular disregard of the
good old city of Annapolis. I like Balti-
more city for some things, and dislike it for
others. I have had individually greater cause
to dislike Baltimore city than Annapolis. I
am very much, too, in favor of giving all
due deference to old things, old laws, old
customs, old habits, anything that time has
tried and proved good. Still, if I believe that
the public good requires a move, no matter
in What direction that move is to be made,
I for one feel disposed to accept the responsi-
bility of making it.
I thought the gentleman from Anne Arun-
del (Mr. Miller) in the course of his remarks
tacitly admitted that he was setting up objec-
tions to the acceptance of this invitation
simply that they might be knocked down. For
instance, "could we have the same accom-
modations there?" "Yes," says the gentle-
man from Baltimore, "and better." "Can
we have free debate there?" Now I pre-
sume that every individual member of this
Convention, no matter what be the shade of
his political opinions, stands bound as a gen-
tleman to guaranty the rights of every other
individual member of this Convention. He
stands so pledged and will never fail. Free
and full debate can be bad just as well in the
city of Baltimore as here; for I take it for
granted that no gentleman sent here by the |
people to represent them would stand by
and see an act of wrong, or injustice) or mal-
treatment, committed upon any fellow mem-
ber.
I think then upon those two points, the
question of convenience, and the question of
free debate, I am authorized to say that the
convenience will be greater, and the order
just as great, and debate just as full; and fair
and free. I turn then to the other points.
I agree with the gentleman from Anne
Arundel (Mr. Miller) that no private interest
ought to be allowed to stand in the way of
the public good; but I allege from the ex-
perience of a single week, that it is my con-
viction that the business of this Convention
will be expedited, instead of delayed, by
going to Baltimore. I take it that the objec-
tion founded upon the difficulty of the duties
of the Sergeant-at-Arms in Baltimore city
rather proceeded upon the ground that this
Convention, school-boy like, is going to saun-
ter out at any and every opportunity, and that
it will be the constant duty of the Sergeant-
at-Arms to go out and hunt up its members
and drive them in. I have a very different
idea of members of this body. I think they
came hereto discharge a high responsibility—
a great trust. Until I find any one of
my fellow members delinquent, I am perfectly
willing to assume? that he will faithfully dis-
charge his duty.
What, then, is that duty? To frame the
organic law of the State—to frame a new
Constitution for the State of Maryland. If
that Constitution pleases the people in its
provisions, if it embodies the reforms that
the people demand, does it make any differ-
ence to A, B, and C, of Anne Arundel or
Howard county, where that Constitution is
framed? I am one of the people who under
this act voted that this Convention should
meet and frame a new Constitution. I had
not the remotest idea, in voting for a Conven-
tion and a new Constitution, that I was tying
the Convention down to any given point or
place. Neither had the people. The people
care nothing at all about that. On the con-
trary, so far as I had the opportunity of mil-
ing with the people at home, since this matter
of removal has been talked about, it has met
with universal favor there, from the convic-
tion on their part that the business of the
Convention will be expedited.
I claim to be as patriotic as most gentle-
men, and as willing to make all reasonable
sacrifices as most gentlemen. But I say that
no gentleman has a right to ask of me an
unnecessary sacrifice. All needful ones I will
make freely; all I ask is that I shall not be
required to make a useless sacrifice. How
then am I situated, and how are the members
from Western Maryland generally situated
with regard to the place of meeting? I say
that holding our sessions in Annapolis will
keep these members out of this body at least |
