The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-25
MARYLAND.
REPORT

Offbe committee Of tbe boge Of delegates of this
fate, 10 qUbom qvere referred the rejolution5 Of
THE EegiQaflre Of hfaGaebl,e4t5, brotofns an
amendment to ibs contribution Of the United
StIztss.
Mr.. Montgomery, from the committee, deliver
ed TO the fpeaker the following report
THE committee TO whom were referred the
communications of the governor of Matiachu-
fstts, enclofing refolutions perporting to be the
"Doihgs of the Legislature of that common
wealth." and propoiing an amendment to the
contribution of the United States, report, That
they have given the fame that ferrous and deli
!:erstte mraiure S iuch
magnitude, contemplating fuch an inf brtant
innovation upon the principles of the conftitu-
ton, is entitled to, and are of opinion that it
would be unwife, dangerous and impolitic, in
the fate of Maryland, to concur in the adopti-
on of the fame. The fate of Maryland, from
the principle that representation is apportoned
among the ieveral ftates according to numbers,
~ the manner in the faid contribution provided
mas it, full weight of representation in the coun-
ellis of the union; andA would be uuwife to
diniini!h, or to reiinquilh it; neither ought il
to be matter of Glamour or complaint with any
of the fiates not enjoying the compound ratio
of approximation, becaufc the ftates which par
ticipate in the advantages refuIting from this
as taxation is apportioned among the fevera
iftates according TO representation and there is
leis caufe for this uneafinefs, xhen it cannot be
contefted, that the ffates who do not partake of
this benefit, have others to counterbalance it :;
belides, the principle of representation is fixed
in the contributions, being avoweHy the refult of
a fpirit of cdpPromifc and mutual coucefTion
among the feveral tates at the time of its for
mai on and adoption, and there being other
greA important and prominent features of the
Pnffitutson ingratted into it, and dependant
upon ihe fame concilating fpirit of compronfe
and mutual conceiiion, it would be dangerous
by adopting the amendment propofcd, to G,ake
thoie great and fundamental articles of the fe-
deral compaS, and by fanctioping a meaflre
that ihovld be fraught with this dcitructive and
Safeguarding tendeTicy, loofen the ties by which
he hates are now happily confederated, dihe-
inmate ting feeds OF diiunion, and finally eventu-
rte VA anarchy; Rate of things to which every
aellecting mind mutt look forward with terror
and adherence. Emphatoally has it been Of
tered to the folemen contemplation of the peo-
pie OF America, 10y the exalted patriot and aJle
ltatefiDan, our beloved Wilmington, that "to-
wards the preieryation OF their government, and
the permanently of their preient Happy fate, it
is necehary that they not only ddcountenance
irregular oppohtion to ITS acknowledged autho-
.Tlty, OUT ano thdt they Teht with care, the ipi-
rt ot innovation upon its principles, however
lPecious the pretes1 S." One method Of aGsult,
he proceeds" " may be TO efe6t in the form of
the contribution, alterations which vii! impair
the energy Of the fyfem, and thus undermine
what cannot be directly overthrown." Thus
warned from fuch exalted authority, it behoves
the people of the United States TO touch, with
awful caution, the principles of the great char
ter upon which ref 70 emineutly the general
welfare At this crids, when fair, full and fuc-
cefsf,d experiment of the wife, energetic and "a
lntary principles aud provi6ors of our conAit1-
ton has been made, and its wiidom incidentally
ei5abiihed, when toe adrninhtration OF this con
'titution IS 70 ably conducted u its feveral de-
paT;menfs, and tranquility, iafeiy add happirefs,
thefeby 6i,.s.ed throughout the union, eqaal