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

their constitution, all would agree, he sup
posed, that the general assembly had the
undoub,ed power to make such alterations
as nigh, be required by the public will
He had NOT heard solitary being question
the power Of the legislature TO reform or
change the constitution in any of It's par
,icuars, in hich change might he deemed
necessary or proper. In the place of an
appeal to doubtful powers-instead Of re-
sorting to means and modes Of change.
which would be almost sure TO meet with
opposition, he submitted whether it would
not have been the part OF wisdom, and
of prudence, of forecast, and Of sagacl,y, in
the true friends of reform, to have gone a,
once To lha, tribunal whose power 10 act
was not called in question? Here, they
would have found road broad enough for
all 10 travel; and although some slight DIFF
Ierenccs might have taken place on the
way-sile. they would have found themselves
a, their Journeys end united together in one
common brotherhood of action and of feel
ing. From these gentlemen Mr.. B. had ex
pected something better than the unmean-
ing bill now under consideration. He had
look ed to them to bring forward some
wholesome and practicable plan Of reform,
which would have reflected their opinions,
and satisfied The just wants and wishes OF
the people. But lie had looked in vain
Instead Of setting themselves heartily to
work in moulding and bringing Ia perfection
some great measure OF reform, for which
they had cIauorously cried out, they were
found mooling mere abstract questions Of
political rights. and raising issues. which, if
they ever were determined, would have TO
be determined beyond the walls Of that
House. Sir, said Mr.. B, the power Of The
LEG i>Ialure to reform or alter your constitu-
ton is one question. The power of the
people TO do II, in opposition 10 the forms
and limitations Of tha, constitution is an
other: Whilst all would be willing to adj
NIT tae former, Mr.. B. could we'll excuse
those who had their doubts as to the latter.
One 1hing was perfectly obvious, and. Mr..
B. was surprised tina, it had not occurred TO
gentlemen. If the people, in the e1er-
else of what they NAV choose to term their
inheren, aud unaIienable rights, have any
such power. then i, is a power independent
Of The legislature and moi derived from IT,
II Dir. B. though. as snme of his opponents
profess to think, that The people had the
power to change their constitution at will.
nv virtue Of their inherent and reserved
righls-rights which they were NOT capable
Of delegailng-he would be the las, man
in the world 10 ask of the legislature the
passage Of any bill whatsoever in reference
10 the subject. He would leave The people
To act their own part, in virlne of their own
reserved rights, and would not deign or
condescend 10 ask any action from the le-
glslature. who had and could have no con-
troll or jurisdiction over such eserved pow
ers. Sir, if such we're nv views would
no: come 10 the general assembly, The very
body whose power ] was eudeavoring TO
overturn and destroy, 10 seek for immunity,
or 10 ask for power. ! could moi rfasona-
bly, expect any assistance from them in nv
they formed a component part. should ex-
Pecl 10 be told that the general assembly,
unlike The people, had no inberen, or una
lenahle rights. That their power as we'll
as their very existence was derived from the
constitution itself; andirs destruction would
be theirs. Gentlemen should reflect, when
they were invoking the aid of the members
of the general assembly in carrying out the
exercise of the peoples reserred rights, that
they were making a large draft on their love
of selt-immolalion, a principle not very
likely to be found, sir, in the members of
this house Mr. B. said that the legislature
were then sitting under state Of govern
ment. All their powers and duties were de-
rived from The bill of rights and the consti-
tuition. They could exercise no power
which was denied by the organic law. N OF
only were express powers granted, but 9TH
err powers were denied. However gentle
men nigh, differ as to the competency O.
the general assembly TO exercise all legisla-
tive powers, whether expressly granted or
moi, he presumed none would maintain that
they had the rig ht to exercise such as were
expressly prohibited. Now if there was
any subJec. on which the constitution had
spoken more plainly than on any other, j,
was The power Of changing and altering its
own provisions. 1t had not only express
ly confded that power to the general as
of it in any other mode Gentlemen nigh,
talk as they pleased of the inherent and un-
alienable rights Of the people. Mr.. b. be-
Ionged to party that had always been fore
most, both in tunes past, and IN times pre-
sent, in defending those rights; bu, that
same party were also equally vigiIan, in pro-
,ec,ing the constitutional rights Of the peo-
pie. The constitutional rights Of the peo-
pie were as sacred and as worthy of defence
as their nheren. rights. And in times like
The present, when The political horizon was
unclouded, aud no storms Of civil commo-
ton threatened TO burst over them, those
constitutional rights were subjects of espe-
cal commentator to every patriot in the
land. il was time enough TO discuss the
subject Of the inherent rights Of the people