Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1849-12-12

forth spirits from the Vastly deep, and what
ever else gentlemen may choose. Aye, sir,
even the sword to assist them but in the
name of God, spare US from joining their.
We live, sir, under government, with which
we are we'll pleased. Under laws, whole
some, mild and salulary, and we are going
to pursue our way under that government
and under those laws. If they are pleased
TO 60 back to state Of nature, and 10 ln-
woke ''iuherent rights'' to their aid, why let
them do so. But let them not ask us to
assist them. We are not the people-we
are not the people with inherent rights
we are but agents of the people, with in
struc,ions 10 do their will and TO promote
their happiness in the mode prescribed and
under the forms of the constitution. We
are sitting here now, sir, in obedience to
their will-ther will, written down here ON
this parchment, in letters large and unmis-
taxable. And tell gentlemen beware
how they raze ou. those lette - oblse-
rate those instructions! Gentlemen have
been pleased to speak Of the Legislature as
being hostile to the people. Sir, il is not
so, and never can be SO. Our powers are
limited and restricted, but our interests are
one and the same with the peoples. We
are legislators to-dey-to-morrow we are
part and parcel of the people-bound in
common with them, by the same laws that
are made here-sharing alike in all the good
and all the evil that may spring from whole
some or improviden. legislation. In COM
mon with the people, we love and venerate
those great and glorious principles OF hui
man liberty which brought this government
into being. And we mean, by the blessing
Of God, to stand by the people and along
with Them in every effort that may be neces-
sary to maintain and to perpe,uate those
principles. If gentlemen suppose that by
u.lering Trades of abuse and denunciation
against the general assembly, they can bring
this body into odium with the people; if
their object is 10 engender feelings Of dis
trust, or to encourage spirit of oppos;., ,on
and hostility between tie people and the
Legislature, can tell them, sir, they will
have nothing to boast of when they shall
have succeeded in accomplishing their de-
signs. They may destroy the usefulness
OF he legislature bu! it will be victory
over the constitutional liberties of the peo-
plea victory subversive IN its results of
all The principles of free, representative 60
vernment-and one that will bring along
with j! no laure!s which. republican slaes-
man should desire to wear. Ii is here, sir,
in this branch of the government, and in this
branch of the government only, that the
people are represented They are here to-
day, sir. They are here in your person and
in my person, and in The person of each and
every one of as, with unrestricted freedom Of
speech and ofthough,, and with no other lin
llallon onther legislative power, save only
that which they themselves have imposed by
the written constitution Of the State. Let gen.
tlemen, then, take care how they wage war
against SHE peoples" representatives. But
above all, lie. them take care that they do
no, exceed the limits of their power, or
violate the injunc,ions which have been
imposed on them by "lhe peoples" CON-
stllution.
Sir, said Mr.. B., much has been said in
the course of this debate about the will of
the people, The majority on this floor has
been told that they should be cautious how
they thwarled the wishes Of majority Of
the people. But, Mr.. B. would ask, on
what authority do gentlemen act, when they
thus assume that the people are in favor Of
conventional reform? Have any petitions
or memorials from the people been sent
here, praying for this mode of reform No.
sir, none. True, we have had sent 10 US a
memorial signed by three or four persons
But these persons only profess to be the
representatives Of a convention held in the
CITY of Baltimore; which convention itself,
on the lace OF It's proceedings, prolesseses
only to represent the opinions Of the friends
OF reform OF The State. Here. then, we have
} the representatives, of representatives only,
coming to this body. And could i, be said
that the opinions of such persons, thus ap-
preaching The legislature, were entitled 10 as
much respect as if the people themselves had
sent up their petitions? Mr.. B. thought
, not. The memorialists were but politicians
} representing politicians; and Mr.. B. had
long since learnt to know that politicians
not only did not control the people; but
very seldom faithfully represented their true
interest And now, sir, what does this me-
mortal ask for? Does it ask that we shall
call convention fine people, which conven-
ton shall have full power to make amend
ments and alterations in the constitutional
No, sir. II simply prsys tina, an act may be
passed by this general assembly, calling
convention Of the people, with power to
propose notifications and amendments to
the constitution. and to be submitted to
succeeding legislature for their ratification
and adoption. The convention con,empla-
ted by this memorial, is to have in ITSELF
and of itself no power of amendment what
ever. Its sole business, and its sole du,v
will be, to advise the legislature as to the
substance, and as to the extent of the pro-
posed alterations in the constitution. What
ever reform may be adopted, is to be adopt-
ed by the legislature at last. 1t will come