vote he had ever given in the Legislature, on the
subject of the basis of representation. Now, if
all the population of the State were represented
here a very different state of things would exist.
The gentleman from Kent did not approve of
what was done in 1836 by the Legislature. He
had stepped backward, as Mr Webster had once
remarked. It was a fact that we were represent-
ed here worse than in, any other State in the
Union. There was no State represented upon so
unequal a basis.
Mr. CHAMBERS appealed to the gentleman, as
a matter of political history, whether the ques-
tion of federal numbers was not decided without
proper consideration and examination. The
question never was properly settled.
Mr. BROWN. The question was settled on the
basis of of representation 1836. It was a compromise
all round, and he thought it was a very
hard one. And the chairman of the committee—
a distinguished member of the Baltimore bar—
said that he, (Mr B.,) was the most troublesome
man on the committee.
Now, he was talking of great questions—the
right of self-government. We came here, not to
ask for half of our rights—for we had not one
half given us, which nature and nature's God
intended, but we came here to demand all that
was due to us. Our opponents had got our rights;
those that belonged to us; and they intended to
keep them. We did not want their power, only
our own, and when we asked for it we were met
with all sorts of propositions, and they were not
disposed to give us a fair basis of representation
But, he could not sit silent in his seat and hear
these attacks, without making some remarks in
reply.
Mr. STEWART, of Caroline, said :
That he would not now occupy the attention
of the Convention, had not the motives of himself
and colleagues, and those who had voted with
them. been indirectly impugned. The gentleman
from Baltimore city, [Mr. Brent,] had stated
that he did not consider this proposition as half
a loaf, but as a mere crumb. What the coun-
ties had agreed to yield up in a spirit of compro-
mise, had been thrown back to them, it having
been considered by the gentlemen from Balti-
more city a mere crumb. He would say, not-
withstanding, it had been asserted that there
was nothing to compromise, that in his humble
opinion there was much to compromise. Were
they here to originate a government? Had they
just sprung into existence? In the declaration of
rights, it was declared, that man was born equal
and that he was possessed of certain inalienable
rights. He would enquire of those gentlemen
who were opposed to the compromise suggested,
if the counties had not a right to the representa-
tion which they had hitherto enjoyed ? Had they
obtained that representation wrongfully, by force
or extortion ? No. It was the birth-right of
the people of the counties; they had obtained it
by right, and that which they had obtained by
right, it was useless to say they had no claim to
enjoy.
When this government was first started, the |
counties of the whole State were represented as
by compact, they determined it was proper they
should be. Their representation was guarantied
to them by the Constitution, in the adoption of
which, the people of Baltimore, had participa-
ted; but the great difficulty which had arisen
now, was, that the government had been in ex-
istence for more than half a century, there had
sprung up in their midst a populous and prosper-
ous city, which was fast gathering within its lim-
its a population almost equal to half the rest
of the Slate. This city now asked to be repre-
sented according to its population. The counties,
as he had said, had not their power by wrong, but
they possessed it by right, guarantied to them by
the existing Constitution.
The question now presented was, how much of
their lights they should yield up for the benefit of
the State at large, and for the benefit of Balti-
more city in particular? The representatives
of the smaller counties had uttered what they
considered a liberal and generous proposition,
and it had been thrown back to them, with the
reply, that it was a mere crumb—that it was no
compromise—that the city had a right to repre-
sentation according to population, and could ask
nothing else, when it is known too, that nothing
better will be offered Now, he thought, their
were two sides to the question. It could not be
denied that they had a right to their present representation,
and having this right, why should
they yield it up? The argument had been ad-
vanced that representation according to popula-
tion. was the true theory of government No
doubt of it, in the abstract. But it must be modi-
fied to suit the circumstances and condition of
the people. Now, he would ask, if the smaller
counties should yield up their right, what advan-
tage would be gained by it either by Baltimore
or the counties ? Had Baltimore city ever been
injured ? Had the counties ever trampled upon
it? Had the Legislature ever passed laws inju-
rious to it? Had not that city grown to its pre-
vent extent and did it not owe its present power, influence,
population and wealth, to their present
form of government? Could it have thus grown
under wrong and oppression? The wealth of the
counties was fast pouring into that city, and not
only the wealth of the State, but the wealth of
other States and other lands was fast accumula-
ting there. In the view of her proud progress, he
for one entertained no jealous feelings towards
Baltimore. On the contrary he hoped they might
yet see the time when that city would stand the
first city in the Union. But while he took pride
in the increase of Baltimore, and in its influence,
he did not see why they should yield up their
whole power to it, for he believed in a few years
it would contain a majority of the inhabitants of
the State of Maryland.
If the counties had always had it in their pow-
er to govern the city, and yet possessed the con-
sciousness that they had exercised it, only to
develop and strengthen her great resources, did
not the city feel and know, that her interest,
rights and prosperity, would forever be safe in
their hands—that no injury would ever be imposed
upon it? |
