Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1846-02-19
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.

The following is the Report of portion
of the Select Committee on the Constitution,
submitted by Mr.. JOHNSON, on the 18th inst,
to the House of Delegates, upon the subject
of Constitutional Reform: q. ...s r.,
The undersigned, portion of the select
committee on the Constitution, to which
was referred the memorial of the commit
tee of the Reform Convention, which assem-
bled in Baltimore in August, 1915, and the
several orders passed by the House, pro-
posing or suggesting alterations in the ex-
listing, or the call of Convention for the
adoption of a new Constitution, have given
to the subject that full and deliberate con-
sideration which its magnitude Demands
Whilst the undersigned are not prepared to
say, that the Constitution under which we
live is SO perfect in all itsparts, and so wise
ly adapted to the present condition of the
people, that no alterations could be made
with advantage, they are yet far from being
satisfied that any urgent necessity exists for
such alterations, or that any positive practl-
cal good would result from changes in that
sacred instrument. They are far from being
convinced that "life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness" the objects for which ''goV-
ernments are Instituted among men, are not
as e1ectually secured to the people of Mary
land by the present Constitution and Form
of Government, as if new one were framed
in accordance with the views of those who
are so clamorous for change. -.:
That our people have enjoy ed reason
able degree of prosperity, under the exist
ing government, none will deny, and there
fore, unless it can be made plain and pal
pable, either that there are inherent vices i'll
the instrument which time has not yet de-
veloped, or that other forms of government
will assuredly bring with them more a.
bundant share of happiness, there would
seem to be but little wisdom in listening to
the counsels of those who now with SO
much vehemence urge the necessity oil
change, but who until recently, judging
FROM silent acquiescence, were perfectly sa-
tisGed with things as they are. In the
language of an instrument, the mere men
ton of which must cause every American
heart to beat with quicker throb-"pru-
dence indeed will dictate that governments
long established should not be changed fol
light and transient causes" and believing as
the undersigned do, that the causes assigned
| for the change are light, and knowing thai
they are recent, and therefore perhaps o.
transient operation, they do not feel dispos.
ed to Weld to their force so far as to ven.
ture upon the hazardous experiment of sub
shutting for the existing Constitution, un
der which our rights have been so well Sc,
cured, another which may or may not al
ford us equal protection.
The undersigned cannot help adverting
to the fact, that from the passage of the &C
of December session, 1886, and which, by
the confrmatory act Of the ensuing session
became part of the Constitution, and by
which so many and such vital changes II
the pre-existing form of government were
made, down to the latter end of the yeal
eighteen hundred and forty-four, little Of
nothing was heard of the necessity Of fur
Their alterations.
The giving the election of Governor tc
the people by general ticket, and the chang
es made in the Legislative department o
the Government in both of its branches, ap
peared to have satisfied the desire, which
until then, prevailed in some parts of TIT
State for change in the organic law. !
seemed to be considered on all hands, a
least as far as satisfaction may be inferred
from unmurmuring acquiescence, as fai
and equitable compromise of previously
conflicting views. The populous and thu
thinly peopled communicable large ant
small counties-seemede equally content, ant
a reasonable hope was therefore entertained
that this distracting subject would not, a
least for many years, again agltate the com
munity.
According 10 the provisions of the amend
ed Constitution, an election for Governor
was held under it in December, 1888, ant
at that election, and at the next ensuing
election for the same high office in the year
1871. a member of the Democratic party
as is called, was chosen, and during the siA
years for which these two Governors were
chosen, the undersigned suppose themselves
safe in saying no dissatisfaction with, or de-
sire further to alter the Constitution, was
expressed. If in any quarter such desire
existed, it was unable to make itself heard
and consequently could produce, and die
produce no effect upon the public mind
Certain it is that during the six years
Democratic Governor welded the Executive
power of the State, and dispensed its patron
age. no convention to give tone to public