22              The Maryland Constitution of 1851.            [400

ment, increased the agitation for " retrenchment and re-
form." This agitation arose paramount to all other issues.
After the Stamp Tax law of 1844 was put in execution,
which was the most objectionable among the many laws
passed for the purpose of raising a revenue, and which was
referred to as the " British Stamp Act,"¹⁷ the demands for
a convention became general over the State.

On the 27th of August, 1845, a state reform convention,
composed of delegates from several counties, was held in
Baltimore City. The convention organized by the selec-
tion of Colonel Anthony Kimmel, of Frederick county,
president; and George W. Wilson, secretary. A committee
of five was appointed for the purpose of drafting a me-
morial to the legislature in behalf of the convention in
favor of " conventional reform." It was decided to estab-
lish a permanent central reform committee, consisting of
ten members from the city of Baltimore, and five from
each county, for the purpose of " securing the great object
of retrenchment and reform." The convention adopted a
set of resolutions without a dissenting voice. Among
which were:

"Resolved, That it be recommended to all the election
districts in the State to organize reform associations, and
to appoint corresponding committees, whose duty it shall
be to report to the central committee all information that
they may collect with regard to the progress of reform
principles, and suggest such measures as may be deemed
advisable to advance the cause in their several districts."

"Resolved, That it be recommended to the people
throughout the State to give their votes to no candidate
for either branch of the legislature who will not pledge
himself to vote for the call of a convention; the abolition
of all useless offices, and the retrenchment of all unneces-
sary expenses."

"Resolved, That we consider any apprehension that, in

¹⁷ Scharf s History of Maryland, vol. iii, p. 212.