The Cecil Whig., 1844-07-20

making in all 10, the number required by
the constitutions. The constitution also
required in order to constitute compe-
tent college that at least 81 members
should be in attendance. 1t will there
fore be al once perceived that in order to
lhe election OF a Senate, 1t was necessary
that portion of the Van Burcn Electors
should give hCir attendance, otherwise the
constitutional quorum could not he COM
pIcted. Their duty then was plain and
simple enough. They were selected for
an important and responsible office, and
one too, purely ministerial. No discrc-
| lionarv power wf.slreer was conferred on
them by tie constitution to consent or
refuse. according to circumstances, to
unite with the other members of the col
lege. They knew well what their duty
would be before they permitted their
names {" be used before the people as
electoral candidates. and there was there
| fore IA solemn obligation assumed by them
hy the very act Of suffering themselves 10
be chosen, an obligation which they could
not disregard without violating the trus,
| reposed in them by their constituents. and
Irampling on the constitution of their
state. But notwithstanding these grave
| considerations which must have occurred
to any mind, it is well known to all who
are familiar with the political history of
that period, that these men, the ''glorious
49, with holiness and daring worthy Of
a better cause, and at the risk of a civil
Revolution in Mary land, refused to unite
with the remaining u, and would have
deprived Mary land Of Senate, and thrown
| IA" government into wild confusion and
anarchy, had not the indignant voice
OF the people reproha,Cd their rulnous at
trmpts al the following election, and re-
called 10 & scmsc Of duty. few ot the re-
cuSants, sulicicn; to complete the constl-
tnIIonoI quorum of the college.
And what was the rcason assigned for
tins extraordinary course! 1t was that
the counties represented by these 10 Van
Burrn electors contained within them a
majority of til" people Of Maryland, and
because the 81 whig electors would not
for this reason, pledge themselves TO unite
IN cIcctng IA Van Buren, Senate. and such
an one as III respect OF their other tcscIs !
and opinions would be acceptable to these
~. What could have been haser than
for tIlrm to have consented to such
proposition? The ~ declined giving any
such pledge and Mr.. Pratt among them,
and that very party who are now reitcra-
| ting against the "a liant Clay the long for.
go,trm aid oft rcIulcd SANDER of Bargain
and Corruption, are at the same time loud
III their dcnunrlatonS Of Thomas q. Pratt.
because he with his companions would
not violate his duty to his constituents
and 6argaiA away his vote to crafty the
demand Of these men who were cintIe
with ne authority to make such demand,
aud whose only business consistent with
lhclr obligations TO their constituents was.
70 ocntcrlhc Electoral college aud pcaccabIy
discharge the duty with which they were
entrusted.
The assertion that Mr.. Pratt, or the
wing party generally were opposed to re-
form IN the constitution. and TO a more
equal representation from the different
parts OF the State is wholly uniounded.
We assert that they united with their OPP
ponens IN recommending it, and subse
Iuenlly united with them in ellectlng it
IN the constitutional method. Who can
dare charge Thomas G. Pratt with opposi-
tlun to that Reform by which the election
| uI governor was committed to the hands
OF the people, VIII N he Senatorial elcc-
tor, assisted IN the formation of the very
Senate by which this Reform was effected.
Mr.. Pratt and the wings of MARYLAND
generally in 1886 avourcd such Reform
as the lapse OF time. the increase of popu.
laiion, and wealth III Maryland, and other
circumstances, rendered necessary in the
existing constitution. But the constilu-
ton ltsel Iprovided in its own venerable and
sacred pages, the mcde in which amend
meats should be made
The whIg party and Thomas G. Pratt
among them, and we believe a majority
OF both parties, desired TO supper, and de-
leud that venerable instrument which
though rendered III some respects delec-
tive by age, had kept together the dcsi-
mes Of MaryIa land for nearly 60 years and
they advocated Reform tobC accomplished
by the means provided in that constitution.
We are proud TO let the people know pre-
cIsely what was his position then. We
are sure there are no true hearted Mary
landcrs who will withhold the tribute of
their appreciation from the man who firm
ly refused to offer any indignily to that
old constitution. and we believe they will
testify their confidence in his integrity
and patriotism by the triumphant MAORI
ly which will greet him in October as the
man of the peoples choice
NINDEX.
The defeat Of Mr.. Polk as a candidate
for the office Of Governor of Tennessee. in
August last, was the frs! reverse of the
| ncnlncn narlu aGlnr n lcn1r md - l. ~,