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26 The Maryland Constitution of 1851. [404
counties. Resolutions were adopted with the view of ob-
taining constitutional reform, and delegates were selected
for the state reform convention.
In some of the county conventions there was a division
of opinion as to whether the reforms in the constitution
should be made by a convention; or by the legislature of
the State. Generally the southern counties and those of
the Eastern Shore were opposed to the convention. They
considered a convention would be dangerous to their rights
and privileges guaranteed in the constitution. The Demo-
cratic candidates for the legislature in Frederick county
issued a card pledging themselves not only to vote for,
but to use every honorable means to secure the passage of
a bill in the legislature, providing for the call of a con-
vention. They declared that '" we hold that the 59th ar-
ticle of the constitution is not, and was not intended to be
other than a restriction upon the legislature; and that the
people cannot be curtailed of their sovereignty by consti-
tutional provisions, nor by legislative enactments."25
The delegates from the several county conventions,
composing the state reform convention, assembled in Bal-
timore City, July 25, 1849. Represented were Washing-
ton, Frederick, Carroll, Baltimore, Harford, Caroline, Wor-
cester, Somerset, Montgomery, Baltimore City and How-
ard District.26 The convention was organized by selecting
Col. John Pickell of Baltimore City president, and Beale
H. Richardson, Esq., secretary. Two days were consumed
in discussing the proposed reforms, and the methods most
likely to bring the legislature to provide for a constitu-
tional convention. On the second day the following pre-
amble arid resolutions were unanimously adopted:
" Whereas, The people of Maryland, through their repre-
sentatives from many of the counties, districts, and city of
Baltimore, have called this convention together to declare
25 Baltimore Sun, September 8, 1849.
26 Baltimore American, July 26, 1849.
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