385]           The Maryland Constitution of 1864.              39

for the most modern and advanced measures, and aroused
little opposition or jealousy on the part of the county mem-
bers.

The thirty-five Democrats who formed the minority,
bravely, tenaciously and ably upheld their principles in a
manner worthy of admiration, but always professed their
loyalty to the Union as embodied in the Constitution of
the United States. Their position was based on state's
rights, a policy of conciliation toward the South, and, as far
as possible, a continuation of political and industrial con-
ditions as existent in the state and nation before the out-
break of the war, which they condemned as unnecessary
and an oppression of the South. They asked if it was
"any more treason for the South to subvert the Constitu-
tion by force of arms, than ... for President Lincoln,
with his army, to subvert the Constitution by force of
arms."⁸

These members came entirely from the ten southern and
Eastern Shore counties of Kent, Queen Anne's, Dorchester,
Somerset, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince George's,
Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's. These were the counties
which were usually designated by the Union men as
"Rebel" and "Pro-Slavery."⁹

One of the majority members has since said in private
conversation that the minority contained "a larger num-
ber of brilliant men for its size than any other body which
has ever come together in a legislative capacity in Mary-
land." Though no one man stands out as their leader in
the same dominating capacity as did Mr. Stirling in con-
nection with the majority, perhaps David Clarke, of Prince
George's comes nearer to this position than any other. His
speeches in the Convention, when read at the present day,
are of the greatest interest, as showing the attempt of a bril-
liant man of modern times to justify and perpetuate the
institutions of a bygone age. In fact, this may be said of

⁸ Deb., ii, 1357.                                ⁹ "American" May 4, 1864.