The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-08-31
EsrnrasentatiGna and Taxation.

The members of the late "Democratic'
Constitutional Convention, who have recent
~ comul,trd their scheme for revoutlonZ
INC the State by changing its Constitution
aud form Of Government, have, rs we'll as
.hrir constituents, been exceedingly proliX
harctolnre IN denouncing rs Il browning IN
ipuity, ''laXation without representation =
one of THEW main arguments against 1he
dislrancisement Of the disloyal element i'll
This state. prr5uming them to have been
,iacurr in their devotion to this principle,
we might reasonably have expected to find
the "nrw Constitution which these gentle
men have lust submitted to the people for
thrir adoption, model Of perfection in the
matter Of representation. But, Ill tins, the
citizens OF the State will, we apprehend, be
grioyousIy disappointed. Not only ia the
old anti republican basis of representation,
which has hitherto so retarle the progress
of this State, been continued, but its worst
features are 10 be greatly aggravated, and
rendered still more unjust. The control OF
the Legislative Department OF the State
Government is 10 be given, Enthusiastically,
TO Il minority Of the population, constituting
mos more lhan one. lhird oil the entire mas
u white citil ms! That this is so, every
person Of only ordinary intelligence can see
by an examination of Article ILL.,, entitled
''L""islaiive Department. by taking the
representation here assigned to the several
counties aud Baltimore city, and comparing
the same with the white population of such
portions Of the State, it will at once be seen
that the southern counties of the Western
Shore and the southern counties ofthe East
crn Shore. having altogether at the last
cenene a white population Of only l3o,33l,
viii have in the Legislature, under the pro
posed new Constitution, MiHVjoW Dele
-,,i,, n,.l EtJgou S.natpre whilst tho roci
Of the State, including Baltimore city and
all the most wealthy and populous counties,
with 3S5, 100 white inhabitants, will have but
Ejlytm0 Delegates and ten Senators. Thus,
nnr.third Of the State will have n majority
Of fire in the Senate, and nearly two-lilths
of the lower House. Leaving out of view
every mere party question and issue, and
regarding the matter of suffrage simply as it
is mt present regulated, we would ask every
intelligent white voter Of Ia limore city and
Of the western and northern counties Of the
State to carefully consider and ponder the
scheme OF legislative representation present
Cd by this proposed new Constitution.
Coming down TO the simple question Of tax
alton and representation, weask every white
citizen Of the large and more populous and
prosperous counties ofAlegany, Baltimore
Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Hartford and
Washington, to put to their own sense of
right, justice and selfrespect, the question,
whether they are going to vote to tie their
hands more thoroughly than ever and sub
nit themselves more and more completely
30 the control of minority to be taxed
and ladened with heavy burthcns by the
magnates of the lower counties who now
propose to place such a humiliating yoI c
upon our patient necks. Hitherto, as at
present, the undue weight and influence
given to the small counties has been silicient.
~ glaring and manifest without having the
wrong increased. Yet this new Conslitu,
ton, about to be submitted to the people,
provides rot only to perpetuate, but to vast.
iy multiply this manifest injustice.
american