American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-01-08

be sufficient to meet the interest on the funded
debt 10 The crtent of the taxes due from the de-
linquent counties, and secured by SuCh notes II
you will further provide that the debt so fund
"a should be puya5ie at the pleasure of the State
it could be paid as the notes taken foI the taxes
are collected, and no public or private nconve-
nience would result from the proposed ndnl-
gence.
The people of Maryland are we'll aware that
taxation is the only present resource Tor the
payment of the liabilities of the State; but
whilst they desire and expect at your hands
the imposition Of such taxes as will be ade-
qnatc to .hc maintenance of the public credit,
they will expect of you such iudicious lcgisla-
ton as will gradually lessen the amount of
taxes to be paid, and finally render ia Ration al
together unnecessary.
/ The public debt has been incurred in the
prosecution Of gigantic works of internal I'M
pro"emcnt designed to developc the resources
of the State.
! BY the sinking fund already established, the
plnctual payment Of the interest iusurcs the u-
innate liquidation of the principal of the debt,
OF the public debt herring interest, S7,l94,-
CSC, has been expended in the partial construc-
ton Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, aud
the annual interest upon thiss sum Is about $780,
coo.
The canal has for some years been completed
to its present terminus al Dam No. 6, and no
revenue las hitherto been derived from IT,
! A sufficient time has in my Judgment trans
pircd to ouablo us to say, thlt this investment
will, ,cHtOW further legislation, remain con-
tnued burthen upon the State, until it is paid
oil by the operation of the sinking fund, estab-
lishcd 10y the existing laws. The great ques-
ton then for your consideration, and decision
will be, whether any, and if any, what !egsla-
ton can be adopted by you to make the Cnasa-
peake and Ohio Canal yield a revenue equal to
the interest on the States investment.
| If you should concur with Inc in opinion,
that the true interest of the State would require
the completion of the canal to more western
! terminus than Dam No 6, it is manIestly OK
| pcdent that you should without further delay
adopt such measures as will ensure the imme-
date accomplishment Of that object. If, on
the other hand, you shond deem it more expe-
dent, to stop the work for the present, at its
prcsen: terminus, it is clearly important that
| you should embrace the earliest opportunity of
making such an arrangement with the Bait-
more and Ohio Rail Road Company. as will Sc
cure to the Canal the transportation from Dam
No. of so much coal or other freight as will
be adequate TO pay the interest on the State s
advances to the Canal Company.
In making this suggestion Of the probable ex-
pedicncy of an arrangement with the Rail Road
Company, | am prompted by the difficulties
which might at this time be encountered In
raising the requisite sums to complete the Ca
nal. II it be possible for You, by the credit of
| the Canal Company, TO raise the amount neces-
sary to finish the Canal, lwolld not hesitate to
advise its completion without further delay; but
if you should find it impossible to raise the re-
quired amount at this time, and you should
think that the true interest of the State would
be promoted by such an arrangement with the
Rail Road Company, it should continue only
until the restored credit of the State will make
it practicable TO complete the Canal.
1t is understood that large sums received by
the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad Com
pany, and the Susquehanna and Tide Water
Canal Company, which rightfuy belonged to
the State, have been applied by those compa-
MES to meet other than their engagements with
the State. These difficulties can only be cor
rected by more efficient organization of the
supervisory power on the part of the State over
those corporations.
The present States agents are deservedly es-
teemed for their general worth and intelligence,
but as they receive no remuneration for the
time devoted to the public service, they are ex-
pected to exercise 4 general superintendent
only, which is wholly inadequate to the protec-
ton OF the vast interests which are in their
charge. The State could not fail, in my iudp-
ment, to derive important advantages by the
appointment of board of public works, to con-
sst of not more than three persons, who should
receive liberal compensation for their services
out of the monies to be derived from those
works, and who should be clothed with full
power to supervise and protect the interest of
the State therein.
The establishment of such board would in
duce the practice of greater economy in the ex-
Penditures of those companies, and would for
the future secure to the State the application of
the revenues of those companies, in accordance
with the provisions of the law.
The Legislature might also rely upon a
board thus constructed, for full and accurate
information in reference TO the condition of
those corporations, to guide their future ac-
ton.
In view OF the magnitude of the investments
which the State has made i'll her works of in
ternal Improvement, and which are now prac.
tically unprotected, any expense which might
be consequent upon the establishment of such
a board IS utterly unworthy of consideration.
In representative government the purity
of the elective franchise is OF vital Importance.
Where the permahency of the government de-
ponds upon the will Of the people, it is all inn
portant that they should be thoroughly satisfied
that the ballot box has fairly expressed their
wishes, and that those who are to luie over
them are in truth the choice of majority of
the citizens of the State. In view of the ex-
cited feeling which pervades the public mind
upon this subject, cannot too strongly urge
upon your attention the consideration of this
important question. would recommend such
alterations in the existing laws as will satisfy
the public mind that for the future no fraud
can be committed upon the elective franchise.
would suggest for your CONSIDER alton the pro-
priety Of passing general registry law, appi-
cable to the whole State, confirming the right
to vote to those who should furnish the evi-