American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-02-16
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM IN MD.
IMPORTANT REPORT.

LR1EUH AN l hEFFDfLI.
The following is the Report OF portion CT
the Select COMMITTEE on the Constitution,
nade to the House of Delegates upon the SUBJ
iect of Constitutional Reform;
The undersigned, a portion of the Select
Committee on tho institution, TO which was
referred the memorial of the committee of the
Reform Convention, which assembled in Ba{-
more in August 1915, and the several orders
passed by the House, proposing, or suggesting
alterations i'll the existing, oc the call Of Il con-
venli0r FOR the adoption of new constitution,
have given to the subject, tina. full and dehbe-
rate consideration which lis magnitude de-
mands Whilst the underais ned are not pre-
pared to say, that the constitution under which
VIC live, is SO perfect in all ITS parts, and so
wisely adapted TO the proscn. condition Of She
people, that no alterations could be made with
advantages; they are yet far ffom being sat,si-
ed, that any urgent necessity exists for such
alteration; or that any positive practical COED
would result from changes in that sacred in
strument. They are far from being convince
that 'lfe, liberty, and the pursuit of happi-
ness, 'H.he obecls for which governments are
instituted among men, are not as eiieGtuaily
secured to the people of Maryland, by the pre-
sent constitution and form of government as
il q new one were framed, in accordance with
the views of those, who are SO clamorous for
change.
Tha. our people have enjoyed a reasonable
degree of prosperity, under the existing GO
vernment, none will deny, and therefore, un-
less itccan be made plain and pal pablo, either
that there are inherent vices in the instrument
which,:im has not yet developed, or that otk-
er forms of gopernment, will assnredly bring
with them more abundant share Of happi-
ness, there would seem to be but little wisdom,
in listening to the counsels OF those, who now
with Sc much vehcmence urge the necessity OF
change, but whc until recently, Judging from
silent ,acquiescerce, were perfectly satisfied
with things as they are. In the language of
an instrument, the mere mention OF which,
must cause every American heart to beat with
quicker throb-"prudenoe indeed will die
tate, that governments long established, should
not be changed for light and transient causes, y
and believing as the undersigned do, that the
causes assigned for the change are light, and
knowing that they are recent, and therefore
perhaps Of transient operation, they do not feel
disposed, TO weld to their force so far, as to
venture ,cpon the hazardous experiment, of
substituting for the existing constitution, un-
der which our rights have been so well secur-
9 ed, another, which may, or may not afford us
equal protection.
The undersigned cannot help adverting to
the fact, that from the passage of the act of
December session, y $3.50, and which, by the
ccnfrmatory act of the ensuing session, be-
came part of the constitution, and by which
SO many, and such vital changes in the pre-
existing form of government were made, down
to the latter end Oft tho year eighteen hu ndred
and forty-iour, little or nothing was heard of
the necessity of further alterations
The giving the election of Governor to the
people by general ticket, and the changes
made in the Legislative department of the GO
verngaent in both of its branches, appeared to
have satisfied the desire, which until then, pre-
vailed in sJme parts of tie State for change
10 the organic Law. 1t seemed to be consider
ed on all hands at least as far, as satisfaction
may be inferred, 4rom unEurmurIng acqules-
cence, as fair and equitable compromise, OF
previously conflicting views The populous,
and the thinly peePled communities, the large
and the small couRtcs, seemed equally con-
tent, and a reasonable hope was therefore en-
testaIncd, that this distracting subject would
not, at least for many years again agltate the
community.
According to the provisions OF the amended
constitution, an election for Governor was held
, under it in December, 1888, and at that cleo
ton, and ut the next ensuing election for the
same high office in the year 1871, member of
the Democratic party as is called, was chosen,
and during the six years, for which these two
governors were chosen, the undersigned suppose
themselves safe in saying, no dssati faction
with, or desire further to alter the constitution
was expressed. If in any quarter such desire
existed, it was unable 10 make itself heard, and
consequently could produce, aud did produce,