Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1849-12-12
PUELIsHED BY REQUEST.
S p II E. G. Fl
THOMAS F. BOWIE, Esq,
Delivered in the House of Delegates of Maryland,
February eth, 1916,
REF Or NJ B LII.

Mr.. BOWIE said 1t was matter OF sur
prise to him. that the friends Of The bill now
under consideration, if they be wha, they
profess to be, friends Of conventional reform
had no, before this brought forward some
measure more calculated TO produce practi-
cal results. When he advocated measure
he desired 10 do it in a way, that, when a.
dop,ed would lead to something effective
and permanent. The bill now before us
runs to be sure in the shape Of an act of the
,erlsic of law, BE it enacted by the Cen
eral Assembly of Mary land" Sc, but it has
none of the terms or nature of law. In
the shape of law we profess to ask the
people their riU. Gentlemen admit that if
the proposed measure is adoped it will not
be binding on The people. We are called
on to pass mere advisory or recommends
tory act. We are TO recommend TO the
people the expression Of their opinion
whether a convention will or will not be ex-
pedien,. This is the sole provision Of the
bill. Such a recommendation can be Of no
binding force. The people have the RICH
to decline any such expression OF their o.
pinons. Mr.. B. would like to be informed
in VIVA, manner gentlemen are prepared To
NEE, such contingency Will they re-
gard il as an act Of conlumacy, deserving Of
punishment, by the summary process of this
House or will il be considered little
less Than high treason? We call upon the
PEOPLE 10 give US their advice.
Now, Mr.. B. would ask, whether such a
proceeding could, IN any just sense. be class
ed among The duties or functions of the le-
gislative department Of the government
The legislature, under the constitution, Can
exercise no other power than the law max
ing power. The exercise Of all other pow
ers is expressly prohibited. T" render an
act of the legislature constitutional. it must.
in Mr.. BIS Judgment, have the power and
binding force of law. it is the peculiar
privilege Of the people TO petition the legis-
lature, and to ask Of them The passage OF
laws for their benefit. II is the province OF
the legislature TO enact laws on their petit
lions. But, the legislature are now called
on 10 reverse the order of things. INSTEAD
of passing an act TO have the force of law
we are called on To recommend to the people
the consideration Of measure, which. when
done, can only be done by the legislature
The right Of petition and the right of express
slug their opinions is a privilege which The
people enjoy. not by any act of assembly
1t springs from an infinitely higher source
il can neither be given to them or taken a
way by an act of The legislature. They re-
quire no legislative stimulanls 10 excite them
to an expression of their opinions. On all
and every question, affecting their political
or individual happiness, they have The right
to give ut,erance to their sentiments. And
they will do so, with or without the leave
OF the legislature.
Mr.. B. said he regarded the present bill
as an invasion of the peoples rights. 1t was
soby implication al least, whether its friends
designed it or not. II assumes that the peo-
pie have no right, independently Of the pro-
visions Of the bill, to express themselves for
or against convention. Now. Mr.. B.
thought, that the people had at all times the
right TO express their sentiments upon ques-
tions affecting the public interest. And
when occasion required it, they would make
themselves heard and felt, too, by their pub
lie agents. In the exercise Of the elective
franchise, and through The ballot box, that
most potent Of all political engines, they
had the right. the constitutional right. to be
heard. Then why pass bill to authorize
them to express their opinions? twas idle
TO profess by mere act Of the Legislature
to give them this right. il was an insnl,
to them, and but a mockery of their consli-
,utional privileges. If he could assign no
other reason, this alone would be sufficient
to induce him To, vote against the bill.
Mr.. B said that To those who are in favo,
Of reform-who sincerely believe that some
change in the forms and principles of the
government ought TO be had--,o such, he
supposed. the bill now under consideration
would be altogether unacceptable. How
ever gentlemen might differ as to the alb
sract right Of the people to change or ALTA