The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1844-09-21
From the annapolis Republican Extra
REFORM.

We hesitate to head our article with this
bugbear. SO much has been said and
written about ii; we have, ourselves, so
often referred to it and, as we think, so
triumphanly refuted all the charges brought
in its name against the wing party, and its
present distinguished leader in Maryland,
that we fear the intelligent reader may be
inclined to turn away from what we pro-
pose to say now because of The capt. on.
But we enlreat him not to do so. We
shall be brief, and we shall speak by au-
thorty Of the record itself.
We have, we say, repealed every charge
made by our opponents. We have shown
that Col. Pratrs votes upon the PROPOSE
tons to change the Constitution, made in
the Legislature some years ago, were cast
in conformity with the known will of his
immediate constituents, and OF the State
generally. We have shown that even
Francis Thomas, Washington DuraH,
John Stephen Sellman, and others, who
concocted the febellious scheme of 1896,
had been themselves the opponents Of the
Reform Bill, reported in The House of
Delegates, previously to 1886. We have
published the correspondence of.Hr. Pratt
and his colleagues committee of the t,ren-
ty-one, with John S. Seliman; one of the
llmld. half repen,ant few, who deserted
their brethren of the nineteen, when dan
gers thickencd around them, in which
correspondence Col. Pratt unequivocaly
pledged himself, his associates and the
Senate to Constitutional ReGorm-the only
reform good citizen could desire. And
finally we have published the yeas and
nays on the passage of the Reform Bill OF
1886, which demonstrate that it was car
ried in the Senate, all the members of
which were WINGS, by unanimous vote
and that in the House of Delegates il was
carried by the WINGS in the teeth of the
Locolocos, who attempted by their record
ed votes to Strangle 1t. We have present.
ed all these FACTS; and no man who
has any regard for truth, will undertake
to dispute them.
But our opponents say we did not do
them justice, because although we publish
ed the yeas and nays on the passage of
the Reform Bill in the House, which ex-
hibiled every locofoco member, except
one, or two at most, as voting against it,
we did no. publish the yeas and nays upon
The assent Of the House to the amendments
proposed by the Wing Senate. If we have
done our opponents injustice in this re-
gard, we submit that we amply repair the
wrong, if such it was, to-day.
Below will be found a synopsis Of the
sections of the Reform Bill, as it passed
the House of Delegates, in opposition 10
the votes of the Locos-the yeas and nays
on the amendments proposed by the Senate
all authenticated with the certificate OF
George G. Brewer, Esq, then, and now
the Clerk Of the House of Delegates. The
Jourals of 1886 furnish us with the fol.
lowing history of the progress Of the Re-
form bill through the two branches of the
Assembly. On the meeting of the Legis-
| lature at December Session 1886, stimuli
taneously in the Senate and House, COM
millees on the Constitution were appoint
ed-M William Schley then of Freder-
lex, being Chairman of the Senate commit
Tee, and Mr.. Ford, Of Saint Mary's Chair
man of the House committee. The Senate
committee prepared two bills-one in
relation to the Executive department-and
one in relation to the Legislative depart.
ment. They were reported to the Senate
discussed, passed unanimously, every
Senator being present except one, (see S
J. 1886, p. 1873. and sent to the House o
Delegates. Meanwhile the House COM
lmittee had prepared its bill. and reported