435]                          The Convention.                             57

serfs, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the city of
Baltimore?" If they could be allowed to secede from the
Western Shore they would gladly do it. But no, they had
built canals and railroads for the city of Baltimore, and
their services were still required. Ten votes in the legis-
lature had been voted to Baltimore City, and she seemed
now to be hardly as well—certainly not more satisfied—
with ten than she had been with five. In a short time
Baltimore City would require a still greater representa-
tion. At each new change the agricultural and slave in-
terests were less protected. He believed it to be right and
essential for the protection of the interest of the Eastern
Shore, that the Eastern Shore should have a representa-
tive in the Senate of the United States.⁵⁶

Mr. Bowie subsequently substituted two senatorial dis-
tricts for six as his original amendment provided. The
Eastern Shore comprised the first district, and the Western
Shore the second.⁵⁷ The convention, after a protracted de-
bate, refused to place in the constitution a provision for
districting the State for the election of United States sena-
tors.

The convention had considerable difficulty in determin-
ing the manner in which future amendments to the consti-
tution should take place. The report of Mr. Sollers, of
Calvert county, chairman of the committee on future
amendments and revision, gave the amending power to the
General Assembly. The report also provided for a consti-
tutional convention. The convention was to be called by
the General Assembly, subject to the ratification by the
succeeding legislature, after a new election. The report of
Mr. Sollers did not receive the assent of the majority of
the committee.⁵⁸

On the next day (April 4) Mr. Fitzpatrick, of Allegany
county, from the same committee submitted a report in

⁵⁶ Debates, vol. ii, p. 282-283.

⁵⁷ Debates, vol. ii, p. 270.                      ⁵⁸ Debates, vol. ii, p. 223.