Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1845-09-04


Locofocos have made this discovery that his
salary was too high, or that the power of
appointment should be taken from him?-I
Would they not have denounced any at
tempt to legislate Governors Grason orr
Thomas from the office to which they we're
elected by the people (by taking from them
the salary 10 which under the Constitution
andthe law they were entitled for the en-
tire period for which they were elected,) an
infringement of the Constitution and viola
ton of the compact between the people and
the officer elected by them? No; if Mr.
Carroll had been elected the Governor OF
the State, the recent discoveries of defects
in the organic law would never have been
made; an attempt to reduce his salary would
have been violation of the CONSTITUTIONS
and the exercise of the ''Kingly poocer" of
appointment would have been entirely de-
Imocratic.
The response which must be given BY
every honest mind TO each of the interroga-
tories above propounded, clearly demon
strates that the political ascendency Of their
party in the State is the reform which they
really aim at. That the present Constitu-
ton and Form of Government is democratic
enough for them, provided it is administer
ed by Grason, Thomas, Carroll, or by
any other of their own party; and that IT.
only becomes aristocratic and requires re-
form when their party is deprived of its adj
mlnlstratlon. During the entire period since
the formation of the present Constitution
the modern Democracy, having the assem-
dency in the State government, adopted, in
reference TO reform, the maxim of Lord Ell
don, "sdt cito. 81 sat 6ene;" and no PROPOSE
ton whatever was made, either before the
people or in the Legislature, 10 alter the
present Constitution but now fortunately
for the honor and credit of Maryland,) the
Wings having gained for the first time the
ascendency, they (the modern Democrats
have reversed their maxim, and now "Sat
bene 81 sat cito'' is their doctrine. Now,
! (although the necessity Of further reform
was not mentioned before the people in the
canvass of 1914, and certainly would not
have been now agitated if MIR. Carroll had
been elected,) the Loco(ocos from Allegany
to Worcester have again mounted this poll
tcaI hobby, and hope by depriving the pre-
sent Governor of the salary to which by his
election he is entitled, to legslate him from
office, and again possess themselves of the
Executive branch Of the government.
We have dIgressed from the object of this
editorial. We propose to show that the
Legislature have no right to lessen the sala-
ry of the Governor during the period for
achich he has been elected, and that the Wing
Senate of Maryland were consequently COM
PEELED by their oaths TO reject the bill OF the
last session which had for its object the re-
ductlon of his salary.
By the amended Constitution it is declar-
ed, sslhat an election shall be held for
Governor of this State, aUhose term Of office
shall commence on the first Monday OF
January next ensuing the day of such cleo
ton, and continue for three gears, and until
the election and qualification of a. success
soro
The salary of the Governor is fixed by
the act 1887, chapter l3l. This act is en-
titled, IA supplement to the act to fr and
make permanent the salaries of certain OIL
GERS of the civil government" and is sup
pIement to the act of 1905, chap. S6, which
is ''an act to establish permanent salaries
for the Judges Of the six judicial districts
in this State.'
The act of 1904, chap. SIS, which estab-
lished the present judicial system, is like
the Constitution of the State in reference TO
the salary of Governor,) silent in reference
to the amount of compensation OF the Judges,
I but it provides ''that the salaries of the said
Judges shall not be diminished during the
period of their continuance in Office" Do
not the Legislature, by the very title of the
act of 1897, chap. l31, making it supple
ment to the act Of 1905, chap. Sc, clearly
manifest their intention to place the salary
of the Governor upon the same footing with
the salary of the Judges? But this intention
is made clear beyond all controversy by the
language of the act of 1897, chap. l3l.-
This act declares Gin reference 10 the sala-
ry of the Governor,) ",hat the Governor
thereafter to be elected shall be entitled to
receive at the rate of the following annual
salary in current money, achilst he continues
in ofce,' and the Constitution says "that
the Governor shall be elected by the peo-
pie, and that his term of office shall COM
mence on the lst Monday in January next
after his election and continue IN office TOR
three gears, &C."
:, The law gives the Governor certain
salary aUhilst he continues IN office, and the
: Constitution fixes the period OF has cont'a"-
ance in office to three gears. Under the t0a0
and the Constitution, therefore, he becomes
entitled to receive the prescribed salary tor
t tho oor;od he is 10 continue an office. BY