American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-05-03

it is said by some learned in the law, that every
entry made upon the day book is an evidence
of debt, and is illegal without stamp Every
entry made upon your bank book by the bank
is an evidence Of debt, and is void without a
stamp. Thus are the vital interests of our CITY
seized upon, and our very existence as a COM
mercal community, threatened with destruc-
ton by ignorant or reckless legislation, against
which we have no adequate protection or de-
| fence.
And how has Baltimore acted under all
these accumulated wrongs? Noby and he
rolcalIy; bearing up under all her disadvan-
tages, sustaining triumphantly her own corpo-
rate credit, under every Encouragement, and
far in advance of all the State in her payments
to the general treasury; she stands proudly pre-
eminent, like her own monuments, beacon
| light to the delinquent counties, to show them
the path OF duty. We glory in our city; we
glory in her lofty position of honor;-but we
mourn over the exactons and expressions which
are sapping her energies, and driving from her
citizens, the trade by which they live Where
shall be found the cause Of these evils'-and
how shall they be lessened or prevented? This
is the important enquiry to which the commit
tee find themselves directed; and in their view
the great cause of all this unequal and unjust
legislation, is the inequality and injustice of
our representation. Baltimore city, with one
fourth of the population of the State, paving
more than one-half of all the taxes of the State,
has Il representation of about ono-twenteth
part. 1t will at once be seen that her rights
and interests cannot be properly preserved and
defended under such circumstances. The
counties will shield themselves from the bur
dens of taxation, by throwing them upon the
city. And thus it has happened, that for years
past, the ingenuity of the Legislature has been
eXerted to devise new modes of taxation by
which the citizens Of Baltimore might be reach
ed, and the citizens of the counties exempted
And we find the present Governor commence
ing his official existence with the distinctly pro-
claimed sentiment, that the taxes must be in
creased but, that no further tax must be levied
upon the landed interest. Thus we see on all
sides, the palpable evidence, that Baltimore is
to be made to bear the burden, and that unless
she rises up in her whole united strength, she
will be crushed by that mountain of imposition
which is constantly accumuatng around her.
Baltimore, in point of fact, is subject to taxa
ton without representation. If she had been
fairly represented in the legislature of the State,
the obnoxious laws complained Of never could
have been passed! How was it with the canal
bill, and the stamp act of the last session! Both
reIected,-then reconsidered, and passed by
one rote-and that one vote given under such
circumstances as to fix upon it the suspicion of
foul corruption. Can there be any hope of diff
ferent action, or a removal of the grievances
under which we now labor, until Baltimore de-
mands and receives her rghts-the committee
think not. And they therefore believe the
time has come, when Baltimoreans should for
get for while their party difference, and unite
as one man in the great struggle for equal
rights and equal privileges. Let the flag be un-
lurled; let the watchword Of Repeal and Re
form be given, and let every mau rally around
the standard, and our voice must be heard our
rights must be restored; and peace and prospe-
rty will once more dawn upon our city.
The committee cannot refrain from noticing
the fact, that while the whole community is
convulsively struggling in the desperate effort
to bear up the State credit, there are office ho-
ders in our midst, realizing fortunes wrung
from the sutferngs and hard earnings Of the peo-
pie. The offices ought to be salaried; the a.
mount fixed at fair compensation for the du-
ties performed, and the balance 90 into the
State treasury. 1t is unj ust to a tax ridden
people thus to pamper few individuals at their
expense-and the committee deem this por-
ton of that salutary reform called for by every
principle of justice.
In conclusion, the committee offer the fol-
lowing resolutions.
B. H. RICHARDSON,
Fl. r.. LAUDERMAN,
FRANCIS FOREMAN,
Committee Of the Second Branch.
JOHN S. BROWN,
ROBERT PURVIANCE,
WIN. r. LEONARD,
Committee of the First Branch,
ResolUed by both Branches Of The City Council
Of Baltimore, That many of the present laws