reforms in the judiciary, and in other depart-
ments of the government, and if the unholy hands
of party spirit would keep its unholy touch from
the new Constitution, he would support it. But
before supporting the new Constitution, he must
require the insertion of a clause in the Constitu-
tion securing specifically and providing that
the people should have an opportunity of vot-
ing periodically, and calling a Convention irres-
pective of legislative action. Then a remedy
would be obtained in another generation, against
any injustice we might inflict. In proportion as
you modify oppression now, in proportion as you
soften the system of injustice, you perpetuate the
mitigated rigors of tyranny. Why, he was ra-
ther for letting the rigors of tyranny remain, in
order that the moral sense of mankind, might be
roused until right should prevail.
He believed, let them adopt any unequal basis
they pleased, that in five years there would be a
call from Baltimore city and Western Maryland
for another Convention, and it would be then de-
nounced, as we denounce, the present basis.
Now, those were his, [Mr. B's.,] principles.
Having taken his position, he would not vote for
any compromise, other than that which had prin-
ciple in it, and if it had representation based
upon population, then he would support it even
for the House of Delegates alone. He was free
to say, that he was anxious to see another great
principle incorporated in the Constitution. He
would like to see the Governor invested with
the veto power—have the same check overboth
branches of the legislature, as in the federal
Constitution.
Those were the reasons why he was opposed
to this compromise, because he could not draw
unjust distinctions between Baltimore city and
the several counties. He knew that there were
gentlemen of more sagacity and experience than
himself, in the Convention, to whose arguments
and views he should listen with the deepest at-
tention; but still he deemed it his duty to be
governed by his conscience, and by all the light.
of experience and wisdom he could gather, and
he had brought his mind to the conclusion that
he had just indicated.
Mr. GWINN said, that as several gentlemen
had seen fit to express their opinions in reference
to the votes they had given, he thought it right
that he should add a few words as to the consid-
erations governing him on this question. He felt
some responsibility as to the result of the labors
of the Convention, because he, in common with
the larger portion of the last Legislature, had
been instrumental in bringing it about. And it
would be to him, a matter of sincere regret, if
they should fail in adopting any instrument here,
or if it should be rejected by the people of the
State. When he voted for the bill, on which
this Convention is organised, he was governed by
the previous conduct of the Reform Party of the
State, both Whig and Democratic; and by the
course pursued by the delegates from Baltimore
city in past Legislatures; and he knew that if that
basis was not assented to all hope of a Conven-
tion, on, any basis, was at an end. But he had
hoped that, when the experienced and venerable |
men of the State were assembled together in
Convention—men who were free from the do-
minion of local prejudice, and themselves the
most fitting exponents of public opinion—whose
chief responsibility was to God, and to posteri-
ty—the same justice would be mooted out to each
part of the State, which they would, under the
dictates of their individual consciences, have ac-
corded to each man in their social walks and in
all the private relations of society. He knew
that those, who possessed the control of political
power, would be unwilling to deprive their con-
stituents of those powers, which they had before
enjoyed; and he took it for granted that in the
conflict of interests, a compromise plan must ul-
timately be agreed to, by some portion of the
body. And, speaking for himself, he had thought
it most likely that he would be constrained to
vote for some proposition, other than what he
desired, lest the very labors of the Reform Party
should come altogether to an unhappy end.
to this he did not consider that he was compromising
the question, or abandoning a princi-
ple, It was but the acceptance of an instalment
of those political dues, which sooner or later,
must be wholly paid. The moment that he discovered
that he could not carry out those princi-
ples into practical effect, which he was instruc-
ted to advocate, and that, notwithstanding this,
a Constitution would be framed, his next solemn
duty was, whatever his own vote upon the Con-
stitution might be, to give his people an oppor-
tunity of voting for or against the most favorable
instrument, which the Convention here assem-
bled could frame. He differed from his colleague
with regard to the propriety of the course which
he should pursue, if he intended to vote for a
Constitution—under any circumstances—which
did not recognize, absolutely, the principle of
population, be deemed it his duty to make the
Constitution in this particular, as acceptable as
possible. And for his own part, he could see no
difference between supporting a limited repre-
sentation as a part of a whole system, and voting
for it in the first instance. And certainly he
would esteem it wiser to engraft the best
scheme of representation he could obtain upon
the system, than to reject all chance of advan-
tage on this point, and then vote for the whole
Constitution, if it proved agreeable upon other
points.
He had voted against the plan of the gentle-
man from Washington, when it was offered, how-
ever, because he did not conceive that it was a
sufficient compromise at all, on the part of those
counties most largely interested in the question
of reform, or that the opinion of the House had
been fairly tested. He did not mean to detract
from the sacrifices which the gentleman from
Washington had made in departing from the old
system, nor to say, that the western counties, in
conceding a part of their own political power,
had not manifested a disposition to produce some
good result. But the question now was, what
concession had they made?
He trusted in God—and he said this with deep
earnestness—that gentlemen from the uppercoun- |
