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BIENNIAL SESSIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE. 219
teen out of the twenty members composing the First Branch, and nine out
of the ten composing the Second Branch. In the Congress of 1844, the
entire Maryland delegation was whig; and the House of Delegates stood
sixty-one whigs to nineteen democrats, and the Senate fifteen whigs to six
democrats. In the election for this year (1845) the democrats elected
Thomas Perry, Thomas Watkins Ligon, William Fell Giles and Albert Constable to Congress, and the whigs, John G. Chapman, and Edward Long.
In the House of Delegates, the whigs had a majority of four votes. There
was no election for Senators.
Upon the assembling of the Legislature, the committee appointed by the
"Keform Convention," held in the City of Baltimore, in August 1845, laid
before that body the memorial suggesting " alterations in the existing, or the
call of a convention for the adoption of a new Constitution." It was referred
to a " select committee," who reported in February " that the Legislature has
no constitutional power to grant this application, and that if the power
existed, it would be inexpedient at this time to exert it."
Although opposed to the call of a convention, the Legislature favorably
regarded the proposition for holding biennial sessions, recommended in the
address of the Keform Committee as " one great measure of relief," and
passed a law enacting " that at the next annual election for delegates to the
General Assembly of Maryland, the judges of election of the several cities
and counties of this State, shall enquire of each voter, as he casts his ballot,
whether he is for or against the provisions of this bill, and shall record his
vote accordingly," etc.
This measure constituted no inconsiderable motive in the desire for a
State Convention, and was presented to the Legislature as an inducement to
grant the call of such convention. Instead of postponing it for future action,
it was immediately passed, as it made a reduction in public expenses to. the
amount of at least $30,000 per annum. Certain other reforms were
demanded by the Reform Convention which desired to restore public faith
by public economy, such as a reduction of the number of the members of
the Legislature; a reduction of their pay; a diminution of the salaries of
the Governor and Secretary of State; and the abolition of the Chancery
Court.
The election on the biennial sessions' bill and for members of the
Legislature, took place on the 7th of October, 1846, and astonished both
parties, the whigs carrying both branches of the Legislature by handsome
majorities, to the great disappointment and mortification of their adversaries.
In the City of Baltimore, Mr. Charles M. Keyser, the whig candidate for
State Senator, beat Mr. Joshua Vansant, the democratic candidate, by a
majority of one vote out of fourteen thousand eight hundred and seventy-one
votes cast. In the State the whigs obtained a majority of five in the Senate
and twenty-two in the House of Delegates. Baltimore City gave a majority
of six hundred and ninety-four votes against the biennial sessions bill, but
| 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 | 00000250 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | BIENNIAL SESSIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE. 219 teen out of the twenty members composing the First Branch, and nine out of the ten composing the Second Branch. In the Congress of 1844, the entire Maryland delegation was whig; and the House of Delegates stood sixty-one whigs to nineteen democrats, and the Senate fifteen whigs to six democrats. In the election for this year (1845) the democrats elected Thomas Perry, Thomas Watkins Ligon, William Fell Giles and Albert Constable to Congress, and the whigs, John G. Chapman, and Edward Long. In the House of Delegates, the whigs had a majority of four votes. There was no election for Senators. Upon the assembling of the Legislature, the committee appointed by the "Keform Convention," held in the City of Baltimore, in August 1845, laid before that body the memorial suggesting " alterations in the existing, or the call of a convention for the adoption of a new Constitution." It was referred to a " select committee," who reported in February " that the Legislature has no constitutional power to grant this application, and that if the power existed, it would be inexpedient at this time to exert it." Although opposed to the call of a convention, the Legislature favorably regarded the proposition for holding biennial sessions, recommended in the address of the Keform Committee as " one great measure of relief," and passed a law enacting " that at the next annual election for delegates to the General Assembly of Maryland, the judges of election of the several cities and counties of this State, shall enquire of each voter, as he casts his ballot, whether he is for or against the provisions of this bill, and shall record his vote accordingly," etc. This measure constituted no inconsiderable motive in the desire for a State Convention, and was presented to the Legislature as an inducement to grant the call of such convention. Instead of postponing it for future action, it was immediately passed, as it made a reduction in public expenses to. the amount of at least $30,000 per annum. Certain other reforms were demanded by the Reform Convention which desired to restore public faith by public economy, such as a reduction of the number of the members of the Legislature; a reduction of their pay; a diminution of the salaries of the Governor and Secretary of State; and the abolition of the Chancery Court. The election on the biennial sessions' bill and for members of the Legislature, took place on the 7th of October, 1846, and astonished both parties, the whigs carrying both branches of the Legislature by handsome majorities, to the great disappointment and mortification of their adversaries. In the City of Baltimore, Mr. Charles M. Keyser, the whig candidate for State Senator, beat Mr. Joshua Vansant, the democratic candidate, by a majority of one vote out of fourteen thousand eight hundred and seventy-one votes cast. In the State the whigs obtained a majority of five in the Senate and twenty-two in the House of Delegates. Baltimore City gave a majority of six hundred and ninety-four votes against the biennial sessions bill, but |
