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427] The Maryland Constitution of 1864. 81
and Ohio Canal, the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, and
the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal Companies. In ad-
dition, the Legislature was to provide, before the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal could be sold, such laws as should
be necessary to authorize the counties of Allegany, Wash-
ington, Frederick and Montgomery or any one of them
"to create a debt by the issue of bonds or otherwise, so
as to enable them, or any of them, to become the pur-
chasers of said interest." All party lines were entirely ob-
literated during the consideration of the above, and the
members voted as individuals.
Another section which was incorporated in this same
Legislative Article180 gave the General Assembly "power
to accept the cession of any territory contiguous to this
state from the states of Virginia and West Virginia, or
from the United States, with the consent of Congress, and
of the inhabitants of such ceded territory," and further
empowered the Legislature to enact the necessary laws to
divide such ceded land into counties, and otherwise make
it an integral part of the state. It seems that after West
Virginia had seceded from Virginia, there was a widespread
belief in Maryland that perhaps portions of this new state
or even the whole of it might be induced to consolidate
with Maryland. Covetous eyes had also been cast on
Loudoun County, Virginia, and also on the Eastern Shore
of that state. The provision was in fond anticipation of
events which never occurred, but was sufficient to call forth
vigorous, and, as usual, vain opposition on the part of the
minority, who "protested against the enormity which had
been committed in the attempted and pretended erection of
this State of West Virginia out of the limits of the State of
Virginia." The debate was not of much importance how-
ever, and the usual party vote soon carried the provision
through.181
In concluding the discussion of the various provisions
180 Section 48. 181 Proc., 133, 194, 209; Deb., ii, 866-8, 873-6.
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