|
20 The Maryland Constitution of 1851. [398
(excluding the salaries of the clerks, etc., etc.), while Massa-
chusetts, with a population more than twice as great, and
almost three times the extent of territory, was paying but
$25,750. The committee recommended the reduction of
the number of judges; but not of their salaries.
In addition to the lack of authority claimed by the legis-
lature, the fear of agitating the question of slavery in the
State greatly increased the difficulties of securing legislative
sanction for the call of a constitutional convention. That
portion of the State which was deeply interested in slavery,
jealously guarded that institution from both internal and
external interference. It was feared that, if a convention
assembled, with full power of framing a new constitution,
the relation between master and slave might be changed.
By an amendment of 1836, a provision was engrafted upon
the constitution, declaring that the relation of master and
slave in the State should not be abolished unless a bill for
that purpose should pass by a unanimous vote of both
branches of the General Assembly, be published three
months before a new election, and be unanimously con-
firmed by both branches of the succeeding General As-
sembly after a new election. In event of slavery being
abolished within the State, the constitution required full
compensation to be made to the master for the value of his
slaves.16
The dissension between the North and South arising over
the settlement of the slavery question in the new territories
acquired by the Mexican War, and the position of Mary-
land as a border State, rendered the southern counties
more determined than ever to place around the institution
of slavery those safeguards which should render it more
secure from both internal and external violence. They
considered that security could best be assured when they
had a controlling voice in the government of the State.
This predominant influence in the General Assembly they
16 Act 1836, ch. 197, sec. 26.
|
 |
