Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-02-19
none have ever, until now, advocated it as

none have ever, until now, advocated it as a
right.
| A few years since the whole of Maryland felt
as Baltimore, experienced the want of saiutary
laws, proper execution of them, to protect
the rights and property of her citizens. For three
days was that noble, gallant city under the con-
troll of lawless. though ''immortal power. =" nor
was it restrained until the venerable patriot OF the
Revolution, Gen. Samuel Smith, was called from
his quiet abode to take command, and rescue his
native city from anarchy and bloodshed. The
Legislature of Maryland at its next session passed
the indemnity law, by which the sufferers were
compensated for the loss of property Do gentle
tlemen desire that such should recur again?
If not, encourage not this morbid appetite for un-
restrained license which must result in anarchy.
The gentleman from Frederick, (Mr. Johnson,)
asks, would you deny to the people of Maryland,
what has been done in the Monarchical govern
ments of Europe, the right to overthrow their gov
ernment?
Mr.. J. said the gentleman should recollect that
our institutions were established by ourselves, and
are very different from the monarchical or abso-
lutte governments of Europe. Here the people
formed their own Constitution, in their own way;
enacted laws by their accredited agents prescrib-
ed the manner in which those Constitutions should
be framed and altered. 1t required no revolution
to accomplish this-it was the free action of the
people-their Constitutution-the laws He
surprised that comparison should be attempted be-
tween the State of Maryland and any of the op
pressed subjects of Europe His friend had re-
ferred to ''France whose people had hurled from
power those tyrannical rulers, and taken the gov
ernment into their own keeping" There was no
analogy between the government of France, and
the government of Maryland, and, however much
he desired to see republican principles prevail, he
should not look to the present state of France,
an example worthy of imitation. 1t is true she
had dethroned her monarch-it was equally true
that her present condition evnced but little of re-
hIInan mt a,tfho oil fhoy
army of four hundred thousand soldiers are held
in arms to preserve the peace of her own citizens,
and it is generally admitted that at no period dur
ing Louis Phillipe's reign, the press under so
rigid serveiance at the present moment. The
government is unstable-her citizens in constant
dread of revolution. This, Mr.. J. believed to be
attributed to the organization of her government,
in having but one Assembly, uncontrolled, except
by popular WILL So long as this state of things
existed Mr.. j. had but little hopes of pure re-
publican administration of the French government
Engraft similar principles upon Maryland and an
archy will subvert the Republic.
| The proposition Of the gentleman, as explained
by himself, will be productive of revolution and
here, Mr.. j. said, he would do justice to his col
league from the city of Baltimore, (NIr Brent,)
who, in his argument yesterday, had taken sound,
statesman-like view of the subject regards the
manner of altering or abolshing the Constitution.
1t must be done by the provisions Of the Constitu-
tion and laws, or by revolution. On the two i'm
portant questions those gentlemen differ, though
representing the same constituency. The one,
Mr.. Brent,O an advocate for representation eX-
cusively the basis of numbers. Whilst his col
league, Mr.. Freshman. does not think there is
sensible man in the city of Baltimore in favor OF,
or who expects the apportionment to be based eX-
clusively on population.
Mr.. FRESHMAN said such was the feelings of
his constituents, although since he came here he
had expressed Willingness to agree to compro-
mise.
Mr.. J. resumed. So far his friend was right,
and held sound doctrine, and Mr. J. regretted that
he did not go with his colleague, Mr. Brent.) in
favor of ''changing abolishing the Constitution
according to the laws of the land.''
/ Mr.. STEWART, of Caroline, here asked if the
new Constitution would be in accordance with the
frame Of the old Constitution?
| Mr.. J. replied that the gentleman from Caroline
was competent to answer that question as he
was. As for himself, Mr.. J. said, he was for such
changes in the Constitution as might contribute to
the interest and benefit Of the whole State, giving
a ma ority proper influence to the minority a
safe and efficient protection osuch landmarks,
he would not be fastidious as to minor questions.
Mr.. J. concluded by saying it was far from his
volved in the Bill of Rights. He believed that as
reported by the Committee, it embraced and breath
ed throughout, sound, republican, democratic doc
trnes He would not, as others had done here,
) make professions of his love for the people he
distrusted and doubted the sincerity of some of
those who were constantly proclaiming their devo-
ton to the rights and will of the people. He pre-
ferred to guard the people against the professions
of those who were loud in denouncing as enemies
those who did not unite with them in administering
to popular Glamour.