American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-03-28

was appointed to proceed to Annapolis, a
steamboat was chartered, and literally almost
filled with citizens, acting in this capacity, who
visited the capital, presentee the city resolu-
tions to the Senate, waited upon the Governor,
and after making other demonstrations of pub
lie sentiment in Baltimore, returned home
At the session of 1856 the IS ,000, 900 loan
bill was proposed, in which the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Co and the Canal Co. were the
most prominent claimants for legislative favor
The princp lUire puller in that drama with
a number of lesser though important lights,
were from this city, speaking and acting its
sentiments-and in constant communication
with our authorities and citizens, throughout
the arduous struggle which this bill encounter
ed, not only at the regular but at the extra
session when it passed. Every influence that
could be devised and administered from this
city, to urge the measure through was prompt
ly brought to bear, and after the act became a
law, at the instance of its most prominent adj
vocatcs, preliminary meeting was held, en-
bracing quite number of citizens, for the pur-
pose Of recommending a general illumination
of the city in honor of the event.
The measure was strong urged, upon the
ground that it was i'll accordance with the
almost universal sentiment of the inhabitants,
but was finally overruled and abandoned. The
|
from innocent and unsuspecting parties, who
believed that the professions Of the day meant
something beyond the merest cajolery, and that
when the period of trial came, if come it must,
there would be some exhibition of principle,
where there had been such a general demon
stration of assurance and feeling.
Those were the acts, and such the action Of
the city of Baltimore i'll regard to them, which
we are now called on to renounce and repudi-
ate, upon the alleged ground that they have
been visited upon us, with many other enormi-
ties in legislation, without adequate representa-
ton IN the public councils.
We say repudiate, from a positive knowledge
that many of the leaders Of the present agita-
ton are the open-mouthed and unbushing ad-
vocates of that measure in all its forms, and
with al! its attendant horrors.
State integrity and laws must fall first, SIM
ply because they are the most vulnerable af-
ter which, and when the elements are fairly
at work, the overthrow of city obligations will
become comparatively easy and natural.
The feeling at present at work, is precisely
Of kindred character with that existing
amongst us in 1886, when All attempt was
| made by few (who were subsequently most
signally rebuked) to overturn law and order,
by refusal to perpetuato branch of the Le-
gislature, as required by the constitution of the
State, then existing.
Many of the aiders and abetters of that
scheme are the agitators now, and their rancor-
Gus and revolutionary communications, as they
pass through the public press, are identified
and pointed out by the most unerring indi-
cations of authorship; and no scruple is made
| to desecrate to their own unworthy PURPOSES
names and periods in the history of the past,
rendered venerable and sacred in the estimate
of all just men, by age and honors, and the
most cherished associations.
| We had hoped that the recent history and
example of the States of Mississippi, Arkansas,
| Indiana and Illinois, with the results of over
turned public law palpably before us, would
have deferred even the boidest and most I'M
scrupulous amongst us from any similar adven-
ture in the State of Maryland.
There is not State in the catalogue, in
which, had its inhabitants been taxed, and had
paid the interest on their public obligations,
twice told, instead Of paying nothing, they
would not have been infinitely better off than
they are at present. Obligations between man
and man are scarcely collectable, and of ne
cessity they are in great degree valueless; pro-
perty is hardly represented at all by any money
or standard test: the best portions of the inha- |
btants are leaving the soil, and in nearly all
instances, the posts of influence and power are
occupied by the avowed enemies TO the vad-
ty and force Of contracts, both public and pr- !
Vate.
What contrast to all this is presented in
the condition Of Ohio, a State which at times
has submitted TO enormous sacrifices to MAIN
tam her credit, yet acting upon the only true
principle, has always done it.
Her taxes throughout the State at large, are
one and quartz, per cent. upon fairly valued
property-and in the city Of Cincinnati more
than this; yet her advances in wealth and DO
pulaton almost transcend belief, and her chief
city, mere village few years since, now
numbers population of between 80, 900 and
10000 souls. Every species of property is not
only valuable, but active-and we are told as
an undoubted fact, that such is the test and eff
feet of experience, that there is scarcely man
in the community, however humble, who does |
not peremptorily demand, both for himself and
Others, an amount of taxation which shall pro-
serve the public credit beyond all doubt and
suspicion.
The alternatives are before US, and the
amount required to do justice to our bond
holders, whose rights and reasonable expecta-
tons have been so cruelty trampled upon, to
renstate our credit, and to call into exercise
the multiplied elements of prosperity that eve
ry where surround us, is in comparison with
the issues at stake, the merest bagateile.
"Let ii be met as becomes good citizens, through
eristing os; and let us set ourselves anfl,.ly al
,oork, ,oithom regard to party preferences and dis
linctions, to adjust our burthens equitably and
tarly, through coming legislation" "A true friend
70 the best interests of Maryland, thus writes
from London. After speaking of the satisfac-
ton with which the restoration of Pennsylva-
mia State credit was hailed by all parties, he
adds: at will be one of the proudest DAYS of
my life, when can meet the holders of your
State bonds, and remind them of the lancuape
have always held to them, (that Maryland
would not long remain under disgrace,'5 and
say their future dividends would be punctually
paid. Up to this time, the honor of Maryland
has not suffered in Europe, but let the present