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192 HISTORY OF MARYLAND.
body we are nineteen in number, while you are twenty-one. But, although you are a
majority (the smallest possible) of the college, it is to be recollected that we represent
nearly three-fourths of the free white population, and two-thirds of the federal numbers
of the State, and very much the largest portion of its territorial extent and wealth; we
shall, therefore, expect that you will concede to us the nomination of eight members
of the Senate to be chosen, and that you will vote for the persons whom we may nominate to the college, although they may be favorable to a convention to revise and amend
the Constitution of the State, if, in all other respects, in your opinion, well qualified. * *
" The friends of reform, in Maryland, have sought repeatedly to obtain from the Legislature, by an exertion of the powers confided to that body by the fifty-ninth section of
the Constitution, such amendments of that instrument as are indispensable, and it is with
regret we say that all of their applications were in vain, and, indeed, it may be said, that
they were not even treated with that respectful deference to which the remonstrances of
a large majority of the people are justly entitled. It would be needless for us here to
spread out in detail the several applications for reform which have been made.
" You know the history of many petitions which have been presented to the Legislature; and we have felt the manner of their rejection. Each instance is fresh in the
recollection of our constituents, and they believe as we do, that no redress of grievances
can be had through the ordinary form which the framers of our Constitution provided.
Under this solemn consideration, we have determined not to be willingly instrumental in
perpetuating institutions that work such bitter injustice, and if, Gentlemen, you will give
us your pledge of honor to accede to our proposal, and give to the majority of the people
a majority of one branch of the Legislature, to protect from future violations their rights
and privileges, it will afford us great pleasure to meet you in the electoral college to-day.
Should, however, your views, as to our relative rights and duties, not accord withours,
we shall most deeply regret it, and be compelled, by a high and holy sense of duty to our
constituents and to the whole State, not to meet you in college, and thereby we shall avoid
the odious responsibility of assisting to form a Senate obnoxious to the people we
represent.1
Contrary to the hopes and expectations of the Van Buren electors, the
whig electors declined to receive or reply to the propositions snbmitted to
them. Finding that the whig electors refused to hold any communication
with them until they had qualified, according to the requirements of the constitution, the nineteen Van Buren electors, on the 21st of September, abandoned Annapolis and retired to their homes. Before doing so, however, they
issued an address " to the people of Maryland," in which they announced
their determination not to take part in the election of the Senate, setting forth
the reasons for their course, and recommending to the people—
"To proceed forthwith to elect on the first Monday of November next six delegates
from each county and city to meet in convention at Annapolis on the third Monday of
the same month, clothed with full powers to extend the authority of all civil and military
officers now in commission, until a convention hereafter to be chosen can be convened to
amend the old or form an entire new government for the people of Maryland."
The whig electors immediately published a reply.
This sudden and hostile demonstration excited serious alarm throughout
the State. Men of both parties pronounced it an attempt to break up the
foundations of our government—
1 Brief Outline of the Nineteen Van Buren Electors.
| Title | History of Maryland - 3 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000223 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | 192 HISTORY OF MARYLAND. body we are nineteen in number, while you are twenty-one. But, although you are a majority (the smallest possible) of the college, it is to be recollected that we represent nearly three-fourths of the free white population, and two-thirds of the federal numbers of the State, and very much the largest portion of its territorial extent and wealth; we shall, therefore, expect that you will concede to us the nomination of eight members of the Senate to be chosen, and that you will vote for the persons whom we may nominate to the college, although they may be favorable to a convention to revise and amend the Constitution of the State, if, in all other respects, in your opinion, well qualified. * * " The friends of reform, in Maryland, have sought repeatedly to obtain from the Legislature, by an exertion of the powers confided to that body by the fifty-ninth section of the Constitution, such amendments of that instrument as are indispensable, and it is with regret we say that all of their applications were in vain, and, indeed, it may be said, that they were not even treated with that respectful deference to which the remonstrances of a large majority of the people are justly entitled. It would be needless for us here to spread out in detail the several applications for reform which have been made. " You know the history of many petitions which have been presented to the Legislature; and we have felt the manner of their rejection. Each instance is fresh in the recollection of our constituents, and they believe as we do, that no redress of grievances can be had through the ordinary form which the framers of our Constitution provided. Under this solemn consideration, we have determined not to be willingly instrumental in perpetuating institutions that work such bitter injustice, and if, Gentlemen, you will give us your pledge of honor to accede to our proposal, and give to the majority of the people a majority of one branch of the Legislature, to protect from future violations their rights and privileges, it will afford us great pleasure to meet you in the electoral college to-day. Should, however, your views, as to our relative rights and duties, not accord withours, we shall most deeply regret it, and be compelled, by a high and holy sense of duty to our constituents and to the whole State, not to meet you in college, and thereby we shall avoid the odious responsibility of assisting to form a Senate obnoxious to the people we represent.1 Contrary to the hopes and expectations of the Van Buren electors, the whig electors declined to receive or reply to the propositions snbmitted to them. Finding that the whig electors refused to hold any communication with them until they had qualified, according to the requirements of the constitution, the nineteen Van Buren electors, on the 21st of September, abandoned Annapolis and retired to their homes. Before doing so, however, they issued an address " to the people of Maryland," in which they announced their determination not to take part in the election of the Senate, setting forth the reasons for their course, and recommending to the people— "To proceed forthwith to elect on the first Monday of November next six delegates from each county and city to meet in convention at Annapolis on the third Monday of the same month, clothed with full powers to extend the authority of all civil and military officers now in commission, until a convention hereafter to be chosen can be convened to amend the old or form an entire new government for the people of Maryland." The whig electors immediately published a reply. This sudden and hostile demonstration excited serious alarm throughout the State. Men of both parties pronounced it an attempt to break up the foundations of our government— 1 Brief Outline of the Nineteen Van Buren Electors. |
