Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1846-01-22

no'1 ol tue contrary, lie ndu DIS mucn con-
idence in the people as any man. But
should question like this, to which po-
ltlcal and sectional considerations have al
ready so strongly adhered, be submitted to
the people, he feared that the smaller coun-
ties would be entirely swallowed up-that
their voice would be drowned, and their
influence gone. This he was not disposed
to submit to, and the anathemas Of the gen.
tleman from Cecil would not deter him
from opposing. Should he sink or swim,
he would sink or swim with his duty.
The gentleman had said that by refer
ring this subject to the committee of FL we
should be treating the minority with dis
courtesy. Mr.. G.. saw no such disposition
on the part of the majority, and SO far as
he was concerned, there would not be, I'M
less goaded thereto by the gentlemen of the
minority. But he could not submit to have
opinions forced upon him nozens vozens.
He was not disposed to allow the mere sag
SO of the minority to influence him-to be
frightened at the denunciatons of gentle
men of the minority-or to admit, because
they so said, that we were treating them
dlscourteously. He would consult the views
of his constituents alone, in the course he
should take. He had no fear for the re-
suit. He did not fear to act in accordance
with the dictates of his own sense of duty,
and it was matter between himself and
his constituents, with which the gentleman
from Cecil (Mr. H. had nothing to do. He
feared not the issue.
Mr.. MURRAY was at a loss to conceive
how the smaller counties were to be- crush
ed by Conventional Reform. He was I'M
able to conjecture whence came that idea
for so far as he had observed, it had never
been proposed that the convention should
be constituted upon basis different from
that upon which this House is elected. If,
Jas has been proposed by some, one addi-
tlonal member should be chosen for each
Senator, from the several counties, the
smaller counties would have greater weight
than they have in the Legislature.
Mr.. EGE was determined to test both
Wing and Democrat on this subject, and
denied the assumption that Democrats were
the only reform party in the House. He
would be satisfied with reform, obtained in
what way it could be. If he could obtain
through the Legislature such reform as he
thought desirable, he was prepared to be
satisfied with it, but at the same time he
preferred Conventional Reform. He did
not believe it could be obtained, and should
therefore vote for all cases of proposed le-
|glslative reform that he thought were right
and proper.
Mr.. STEPHEN felt it his duty, now the
question of Reform Convention had been
opened to debate, to take the earliest op-
Iportunity to express his views of the sub
ject. He was sure he was fulfilling the will
of his constituency in opposing conven-
tonal reform. This question had, during
the last campaign, formed topic of dis
cushions between the two political parties
in his county. They were divided, not on
the subject of reform itself, but on the mode
OF attaining it, whether by legislation or
convention. The Wings were, as we'll as
the other party, in favor Of reform; but
were opposed to a convention. They de-
sired the matter should be taken in hand
by the Legislature, which they deemed full
Iy competent to make such reform as
would be acceptable to the people of the
State. Such was the ground taken by the
Wings of Prince George's-such was the
ground taken by Mr.. S. before the people.
and on such ground he had been returned a
member Of the Legislature.
There was another consideration under
which Mr.. S. felt bound to oppose conven-
tional reform. He had taken an oath to
support the Constitution of the State as it
now stood, and that Constitution provided
the mode and manner by which any alte-
ration Of its provisions was to be effected
He was bound to regard his oath, and so
long as he did so, he must confne himself
to the mode of change here pointed out
The trainers Of the Constitution knew that
the instrument was not perfect, else they
would not have prescribed method of
changing it. But the method has been pre-
scribed, and he had sworn to confne him
self to that method. We therefore, he
thought, had no right to resort to any other
mode of reform. We were bound, so long
as that article of the Constitution remained
unaltered, to follow the old beaten track of
legislative reform; and until it was altered,
he would sanction no other plan. If the
people of the State desired reform they
could effect it through the Legislature. If
the present instrument becomes oppressive,
and they cannot effect change through
the Legislature, then let them resort to con-
vention. But this Mr.. S. affirmed was re-