American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-04-19
For the American Republican.
20 Rererdy Johnson and
=. 2. L. NfcWabon. ESQ,

lfoT the american RepubhCaN.
20 Rererdy Johnson and
J. 2. L. Mcyuahon, ESqr's:
The undersigned, in the exercise Of theil
privileges as citizens of this community, beg
leave to present thus publicly to your consider
alton, certain facts in connection with the move
ments and propositions OF the day, in which
their interests as merchants, and their charac.
tors as men are deeply involved, for the purpose
Of obtaining, through the same medium or 9th.
erwlse, the best legal opinions upon the proba
bic ultimate issues Of course Of action, in the
event of the occurrence ola contemplated con.
tlngency, which we, in common with many
others, are determined, at whatever risk or haz.
ard, TO adopt
We premise, that we are what our signature
imports us to be, merchants; long residents OF
this city, and ever actively engaged in the du-
ties of our calEng-that we are, and ever have
been, the unwaverng advocates of the supre-
macy of the law, upon the belief that our du-
ties as citizens, and our interests as traders
were iRdissolubly connected with their health
and vigorous administration-and that the in
Legrity and force of contracts between man and
man-the soul and essence Of all successful en-
terprise, must be rendered valuable and sacred,
OF weakened and broken down, In proportion
as the great source Of their vitality and power
YVES Ietelellceu OF CODlennGQ.
Our own interests-and we may with pro.
priety add, our very existence here, as resident
traders, in the departments of business we have
chosen as our vocation, depend upon the sue
cess or defeat of certain proposed facilities
through which it must be carried on-promlnent
amongst which is the completion of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad to the Ohio river.
Many of US, in years gone by, migrated hth-
or from surrounding States, selecting this city
as a residence for its well-known natural ad-
vantages, and entertaining the obvious belief
that its inhabitants and authorities would carry
forward upon sure and just principles, such
measures as were best calculated to develope
as advantages, and in every way to maintain
and exalt its character and consequence.
Our trade, in competition with adj acent
cities, has ever been carried on against most
formidable odds in many respects and at times
10 Judge from appearances, its humiliation has
been well nigh consummated.
The range Of our operations on the North
and Northwest, as well as upon our entire
Southern border, has been much circumscrbed
within the past few years, by the triumphs of
art over the obstacles of nature on the part of
our eastern neighbors in the way of interior
communication; and their march is onward and
drect-each new achievement carrying along
x
gantic efforts
Our Railroad thus far-all things considered
has worked wonders for US, and for years
past we have been induced to hold on and per-
severe, cheered with the hope that the day
would ere long arrive, when in Is or 60 hours,
time, we could lay down goods at any point
from Maysville to Louisville, and at a price
which would fairly distance all competitions; in
stead of submitting to the modification of see
ing this work performed, as is done to great
extent by New York and Boston, through pack
cts and steamboats, via. New Orleans, at less
rate per ton than we can now accomplish it,
through present facilities.
Bat for the trade we have been enabled to
retain from the direct Vest, through the facili-
ties afforded by the Railroad, and the prospects
held out by its probable completion-a large
proportion of those now engaged directly il,
this branch of business, would have followed
the current of the throng, and long ere this
day have planted themselves in Philadelphia OF
New York, as their places of abode.
We have watched untringly for the last
twenty-five years, the course and current OF
events, in all the aspects referred to, and can
well assure the ignorant and reckless both in
and out of Council, that they are matters to be
fostered and cared for, and not trihed with or
handled with impunty.
We have stated the foregoing facts somewhat
in detail, for the better understanding Of the
position we occupy-the interests we advocate,
and in part represent; and which, if we are
permitted to reason from analogy, or to draw
deductions from premises, must be overthrown
and utterly Frustrated, if the measures in ag j.
tation amongst us ale permitted to be carried
Out.
Thanks to the conservative character of the
past we have still few of the shreds and
patches of law existing, to which we will en-
deavor for a time to adhere; and the points to
which we would mainly direct your notice. and
upon which we ask your opinions, are those in
volved in the assumption of authority by our
local Council, and the Legislature of the
State
We have always supposed that our city char
ter was a grant from tie State, an affair of de-
legated and restricted powers, and that all the
acts and doings of our agents under it, must be
in conformity to the laws and enactments OF
the granting authority, and subject from time
to time to its super vision and control-that in
short the powers of our city corporation were
qualified and in great degree dependent, not
absolute.
If this be so, we ask the direct question whe-
ther or not our city authorities can at pleasure
annul the laws of the State-and at the same
time enforce their own1 Our tribunals of JUS
tce, if we understand the subject, are, all OF
them, the creations of the powers of the State,
and it would be most extraordinary to our an.
prehenson, if while the said authorities tram
Pile upon their jurisdiction, and defy their au-
thorty in the one case, they can be permitted
10 turn round and in the next breath enforce