Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1846-03-12

" thoiH ptoNlueu Tue convention SIdii Uc
constituted in such manner as to secure
to all the counties of the State precisely theI
same privileges and rights of representation
as are now enjoyed by them in the General
Assembly. And the undersigned will now
proceed TO state some of the reasons which
have induced them to recommend such an
alteration in the constitution at the present.
lime.
Questions connected with a change inI
the organic law are at all times apt to be-
come of so exciting character as to en-
gender the severest contentious among those
who come within the range of their inhu-
ences. But more particularly is this apt to
be the case when the spirit of party be-
comes mingled with them, and assumes al
prominent control over the feelings and
passions. 1t would be infinitely better for
the public interest if such questions were
but seldom agitated. But it seems to the
undersigned to be Of equal, if not Of para
mount importance, that, when such ques-
tions are raised, and the public mind has
become inhamed with reference to them,
some effort should be made to produce a
condition of repose and quiet more COM
patible with the happiness and prosperity
of the people. The undersigned would be
happy if they believed they had it in their
power to say, that no such distracting and
disturbing elements were at work among
the people of their own beloved State.
They have watched with more than ordl-
nary anxiety the movements within the last
two years, which nave been made by the
people in various portions Of the State, upon
the subject of Conventional Reform, and in
the opinion of the undersigned these move
ments furnish the strongest indication Of an
increasing public sentiment in favor of thai
mode of amending the constitution. The
undersigned deem it wholly unnecessary &c
enquire how far these manifestations OF
popular sentiment have had their origin in
any well settled convictions, that reform Is
necessary for the public good, Or that the
present constitution has failed to secure to
the people the just rights to which they are
entitled They refer to them simply. as
matters Of fact, calculated in themselves to
awaken reflections of the graVeSt import,
and to teach the importance Of an attentive
and early consideration Of the results to
which they may lead. 1t cannot fail to at
tract the notice of those who are at all
careful to observe, that great and power
ful party in the State are united almost to a
man in advocating the principle of reform
10y convention Of the people, whatever
differences may exist among them in cer-
tain sections of the State, as to the details
of its organization. And while another
great party are equally united in their pa
triotic efforts to arrest the progress of prin-
cipIes which they deem to be subversive of
the public good, it has occurred to the IN
dersigned, as not being entirely without the
range Of human probability, that sooner or
later we may be called on TO witness the
triumph of those who are the advocates OF
convention without limitation or restrc-
ton, and who, regardless of the local and
sectional interests guaranteed and secured
| by the present constitution, under the broad
banner of popular rights and popular privi-
leges. may break down all that is valuable
and dear to the other and less populous
portions Of the State. If in the needless
career of party or sectional jealouses such
results shall take place, we may have occa-
cion TO take blame to ourselves and to re-
gret, when it will be too late for remedy.
that we did not apply the necessary and
timely preventives.
The undersigned believe that the present
time is quite as favorable as any that will
occur, for the adoption of some safe and
salutary plan by means of which, should a
majority of the representatives of the peo-
pie in the General Assembly deem it neces-
sary or proper to call a convention, such
reform may be had as will comport with
the interests Of all sections of the State.
and secure to the people all the benefits TO
be expected from such just and reasonable
amendments of the constitution as time or
circumstances may seem to render necessa-
! ry or proper.
The undersigned have already attempted
to show that under the existing constitution
no convention of the people to amend or
alter any of its provisions, can be righlful-
ly called, either by the Legislature or by
the people themselves-the power OF a
mendment being exclusively con6ded to the
General Assembly. To render such con-
vention constitutional, is however within
the power of the General Assembly, by an
amendment of the ffty-ninth article of the
existing constitution.
The General Assembly have also the pow
er in such amendment to prescribe the mode