The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-02-26
WHOLE No. 343
EeegisfTy Law, &c,

| lhe last two numbers OF The het Ners,
! contained able papers in regard to the
protection of the ballot box, signed
s1fristedes'' from which we make tn fol-
lowing extracts. They are addressed
''To the Members of the General Assem-
bly, of Maryland"
"You may rest assured, Gentlemen, Of
this, that ustSss you pass stringent REGIS
TRY Law, by which the colonization and
importation Of voters shall be successfully
| uprooted, no general election in Mary
land will ever express or reflect the po-
litical will OF the bona fde voters of the
State. Corruption in the last, did its work
effectually laughed to scorn-it
crushed, and bid defiance to the power
of the citizens of our State-and the same
corrupt means will be again resorted to
whatever the inducement may offer for
their use, to destroying the controlling
influence of the legitimate resident po-
tiers Of Maryland.-One hundred and ff-
| ty, to two hundred men, distributed in
squads throughout the city of Baltimore,
each squad in some ten fifteen or twenty
| places of boarding, as Is believed to have
been the case at the last election; can,
and will always silence the rightful ex-
preston OF the popular will of the people
of the counties of the State, and render
them powerless. The fact is familiarity
known in Baltimore. that at one of the
fall elections that board for fourteen men,
not residents Of the Ward, If Of the city,
were taken at a tavern IN the 9Th Ward,
on the night previous TO the election
that their suppers, lodgings, and break
fasts, were paid for by citizen in high
authority-that they were illegally voted
in that ward on the day of the election there
can be no question, as that was the obvious
object ofcoioni -ing them there, they not hav
ing been seen since as cirizens of that ward
Now, suppose men were used as uoting ma
chimes in each of the twenty Wards in the
city of Baltiinore,- in that event these four
teen men could thus be made to count $50
votes, thereby silencing that number OF the
suffrages ofthe actual citizens of Baltimore,
and, if in general election, operating the
same control over the votes Of the citizens
of the counties. Suppose that the "Empirc
Club" band were Illus distributed upon the
late Gubernatoral election and these i'm.
ported voters, if they were $50 strong could
as twenty times $50, make that aggregate
where's if they were geo strong they
would give an aggregate of 4,o0e. Let
their number have been what they might,
there can be no question that their roting
and the voting Of other bands equally dis
honest, were made to tell in that election"
In his second number he makes the fol-
lowing remarks;
sPermt me, in this connection TO call your
attention to one of the recommendations
contained in the Inaugural Address ofGov-
ernor Thomas. That officer with foresight
and wisdom has admonshed YOU, in as ma
ny words, ''ihat the Executive Patronage
under the operation of our State government,
is dangerous to the liberties of the people"
He is right--,he power Of appointment as
atpresent arranged, is highly dangerous,
and should be changed during your present
session. The concentration of SO much
power in the single hands ofthc Goranor,
offers loo many inducements to dishonorable
aspiranls for office, 10 perperate frauds in
all elections, and particularly in those OF the
Governor Would it not be wise then, for
your Honorable bodies, TO meet his Excel
lency halt-way-!o pass such laws as may
= nj an
burlhen of which he complains, thereby re-
leving the people also,-from those things
which he SO clearly points out as being dan.
gerous to their liberties.
There are a large description CT officers,
in which the State has deep pecunlaY i'r-
terest, in which he mode Of appointment
may be changed by single act Of The Legis-
laturc,---and it is within The spirit and mean
ing the Constitution, that all such appoint
mens should be exclusively given TO the
Legislature. To that body the custody ofhc
treasure ofMc State has been wisely and |
prudently given; Tor it is but RICH! that the
representatives of the people should have
the exclusive charge of the money Of the
people-and it is equally right, that they
should have the appointment Of those who
are ,he lisbursefs of the money, in order
that the controlling power may not be diver.
ted from lis legitimate source"
He urges these matters with much force
upon the attention OF tie Legislature, and we
are convinced that he is right, and that some
immediate action should be had.