American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-03-16

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papers and by members of the legislature, thai
the movement in favor of reform of the State
Constitution by Convention, is party mea-
sure designed to secure office and power to
the democratic party. Against this assump-
ton we have over and over again argued; for
we could not and do not see how such reform
is to better one party more than another; and
hence we have insisted, that the question should
be determined upon its own merits alone, and
without reference to the peculiar interests (if
there be such) of any party. Conventional
reform is not new dea-it has been before
the people for many years, and has numbered a.
mong its strongest advocates, some ofthe most
distinguished and influential members of both
OF the great political parties. The public
meetings held III Baltimore, Frederick and
! elsewhere, some years since, cannot have es-
capped the recollection of the people, BY re-
fcrrng to the proceedings of those meetings it
will be seen, that all parties united in calling
for reform by convention; but the legislature
then as during the late session, refused to call
convention or to take the sense of the people
as to the propriety of the measure. 1t prefer
red the patchwork system, In consequence
of this refusal, a meeting was called in Fred
erick, at which the following resolutions were
passed:
"Mr. Raymond (whig) offered the following
resolution which was UNANIMOUSLY adopted -
Resolved, That it is the right of the people,
IN all free governments, TO abolish their Consti-
tuition and form another whenever they please;
that no law, Constitutional or Legislative can
modify this right IN form or substance; that
this inalienabe right of freemen, is not affected
by the clause in our own Constitution, which
provides for Its amendment, by two successive
| legislative enactments; that notwithstanding
this constitutional provision, the people retain
their natural paramount right of calling Con-
vention to abolish their existing form of gov
ernnent, and adopt another; and that the acts
of such convention when ratified by the peo-
| pie, become the Supreme law of the land
"The following preamble and resolutions Of
fered by VIM. Cost Johnson, were unanimous
ly adopted
Whereas, The House of Delegates has reliI-
sed to acknowledge the right Of the people of
| Maryland, to reform their Constitution, and has
/ CNCii ICIueGu u GlldCI law W dSCtTIulll, upon
this all important subject, the wishes Of the
people; therefore,
I Resolved, That the people of Maryland pos
sess the right to reform their Constitution,
whenever they shall think it oppressive, anti
republican, and unjust
Resolved, That the present Constitution OF
Maryland is oppressive, ant-repubcan and
unjust, and that it is not only the right, but
dntv of the nnnDle to reforIn IL
Resolved, That this right of the people, the
General Assembly have neither the power to
limit or control.
Mr.. F. Brengle offered the following resolu-
ton, which was unanimously adopted
Resolved, That the thanks Of this meeting
be rendered to those members Of the House of
Delegates, who so firmly supported Reform,
and have thus shown themselves friends Of the
people
On motion Of James NJ. Coale, the following
resolution was unanimously adopted
/ Resolved, That we will persevere with una
bated ardor in our efforts TO effect reform in
the Constitution of the State"
| Amongs. those in Frederick who were the
stern advocates of reform by convention, were,
Messrs. William Cost Johnson, Gideon Bantz,
Richard Potts, James Raymond, DR.. Will
| liam Waters, James Nj. CoaIe, VIM J. R oss
L. P. w. Balch, Francis Brengle, &c. All
the gentlemen named are wings and leaders in
the party. Now these gentlemen sanctioned
resolutions going farther than we have evel
gone, for they assert the right of the people to
hold a convention independent of legislative
authorty-to form and promulgate consti'
tuition, which, if sanctioned by the vote of the
people, should supersede the existing consti-
tuition. Now, with these facts before US, how
can it be Justly charged, that the effort to pro-
cure convention is made by democrats aided
by a few deluded wings, for party purposes. On
this subject VIC now stand on the same ground
which we occupied more than twenty year:
ago; and we think it likely that we shall main
tain our position until the object in view be
granted, should we live so long
The legislature which has Just closed its SEES
sion, committed great error in our opinion
in not passing bill to take the vote of the
people on the subject of a convention. II will
have to be granted sooner or later, and the
party which denies it will find that it has a
dopted a ruinous policy, We believe that re-
form tickets, formed without reference to par
ty distinctions, if brought forward next fall
will succeed to such an extent as to have d
majority in the House of Delegates, if not in
the Senate also-and we therefore hope that
the reformers throughout the State will adopt
the course recommended by members of the
legislature in an address recently published.
CHANGES IN THE CABINET. The Union oil
Saturday last contradcts the report that Mr.
Bancroft is to leave the Cabinet.
THE RIveR P.ArI The blockade which