American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-03-12
ADnR ESS

TO THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND.
On question of vital importance to the
lterest of our State as members of the Leg
Nature and Reformers, with much diflidence
% now address our fellow citizens in Mary
Ind 1t is admitted that there exists an i'm
larative necessity for retrenchment in the er,
nditIres of our State and for reform in her
Constitution and form Of gou eminent. That
bis necessity exists, few, if any, will deny.
Dur sole object in the agitation of the Reform
question, at the present session of the Stale
legislature, has been TO attain these ends, so
esirable. We have been actuated in this
halter alone, by an earnest desire to promote
he welfare of our State and the happiness of
er citizens. Taught by the experience of
be past, and the present Legislature, we are
convinced that the desired reTenchment and
eform cannot be effeCtually accomplished by
{ny other means than by Convention fresh
! rom the people, elected solely in reference 10
! these objects. With US, party considerations
.haVe had no influence, as we entertain too
high an esteem for the intelligence of the peo-
Z pie, with whom all sovereignty resides, and
90 much respect for ourselves TO allow such
minor considerations in the least degree TO
Influence our actions When the great inter-
Ests of the people are at stake, we know no
barty, and in reforming the organic law of
bur land, party bias can, with us, have no
8Feight.
With this brief explanation, allow US, as
members of the Legislature, which is now
about to adjourn, and who advocated RE.
|TRENCHMENT and REFORM, to say, that we be-
ieVe these desirable ends can be accomplish
FED only through the medium of Convention.
lo obtain the passage of an Act for taking
the sense Of the people on this question, we
made vigorous effort in the House of Del
Iegates, and in this we have been foiled. We
|only asked to submit to the judgment of the
people the simple question of Convention"
| Or "Bo Conventions This, and this alone,
we asked; and this request, which seemed to
US SO reasonable, has been denied. Our iunc-
| lions as Legislators are now about ceaslng-
our efforts, as we firmly believed, were in this
matter directed towards the advancement of
the best Interests Of our Stale. Those efforts
have failed, and we now resign to the hands
/ of the people this great question of CoNvEN
T1oNAL REFORM. To the people belong the
power; they can exercise it; with them abides
the discretion of saying how that exercise Of
power would be most wise and PRUDENTIAL
If left to as to suggest, we would not hesitate
lin saying that it should be through the me-
|dium of the Ballot Box. A new election is
fast approaching. An entire House of Dele
gates are to be elected, and the place of one
third of the present Senate is to be supplied.
We, therefore, respectfully recommend TO our
fellow citizens Of Maryland, that all those
who really desire Retrenchment and Reform,
unite, without distinction of party, in forming,
lat an early period as practicable, REFORM
ASSOCIATIONS; and that they vote only for
those who are soLEMNLV PLEDGED TO CON-
VENTIONAL REFORM. By such means,
we believe Retrenchment and Reform will at
last be happily attained in Old Maryland.-
Let the rally hereafter be CONVENTIONAL Re-
FORM, Independent Of party, and, though it is
|sfor the present postponed, its final success is
certain. All that is now required is that those
who really advocate Retrenchment and Re-
form, remain s'eadfast and true to the cause
they advocate.
With entire confidence in the justice of our
cause, the unalterable judgment as to the I'M
alienable right of the people to hold a Con-
vention to reform their Constitution and form
of Government, of its expediency and of its
urgent necessity, we now submit that question
to them, and will abide their decision.
A. G. EGE, JOHN GUsHWA,
]. H PATTERSON, sPEDDEN OREM, JR.
JAMES MORRIS, ELI CHAMPION,
T. M BAUGHMAN, GEO. ZOLLINGER,
q. STANSBURY, ]. M. SCHLEY,
WIN. R. MAFFIT, VIM. B. STEPHENSON
e. LOUIS LOWE, HENRY II. JOHNS,
l.. X. BOWEN, B. Fl. HANSON,
J. CARROLL, JR. Al. STREET,
N. II. WARE, ANDREW ORR,
LLOYD DORSEY, GEORGE w. SMITH,
R. G. HOLLYDAY, B. M. BOWDLE,