Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-01


OF making the Ohio river the western, and the city oil Ba
the eastern terminus of this gigantic work. was OF course
given up after the abandonment of the enterprise by the Uni
ted States and Virginia and Maryland, in her efforts to COM
pete the work TO Cumberland has expended upwards OF ten
millions Of dollars, without the Of single dollar and
without obtaining market for the immense mineral resources
which it intended to develop
"The gloom which has for long period overshadowed
this noble enterprise snow dspeed and this canal we have
every to believe will be completed to Cumberland be-
fore the next meeting Of the Legislature have, gentlemen,
unrgned pleasure in communicating 10 this satisfactory
intelligence for am fully persuaded thai this work, destined
ultimately relieve your constituents from The greater portion
Of the paid by them will in less than two years
from its completion, commence TO return anne equivalent ior
the immense treasure expended in its cstruton Trans
nit for your information the annual repSt Of this company
bearing date the 9TH june lS47 and prior 10 me cohsumma
ton Of the arrangement for the completion oil The canal On
less deceived in the prospect before us shai De disap
pointed il my successor before the expiration OF his tenn OF
service does have the privilege recommend the decrease
of the direct tax the repeal of one or more OF the
other taxes the imposition of which mpeTavey required
by the extreme necessities OF the State II has been my I'M
pleasant duty seize upon every expedent by which money
could be placed in the treasury OF the Slae II Will trust
be his agreeable duty TO recommend the repeal OF those
taxes which, in his Judgment have proved most oppressive 70
the people
81 must be permitted gentlemen, before proceed to the
consideration Of other matters which shall ask your atten
ton 10 take retrospective view OF the condition OF the State
in ls44 and Of her relative condition at the present ume
few sentences will suffice for this purpose Governor Thomas
in the able message which he transmitted to the Legislature
which convened in December lS44 announced the fac that
the of interest the public debt amounted at the close
Of the fiscal year., on the first OF December, 1874, 70
81 96l so that the laws then in force were not
observed and if fully enforced, that they wholly made
quae the progressive increase of charges against the
treasury Many of those who stood high the confidence OF
the openly avowed even in her Legislative halls the opinion
that the State was unable pay her debts and that
therefore and unnecessarily oppressive to the people
egate upon the subject OF her debts except upon the as
sumed hypothesis Of her inability to pay Hence the intro
~ 1aaUn
the creditors Of the State take her claims upon the
works Of internal constructed by her in discharge
OF her liabilities &c. by design to impute mpo
per motives those gentlemen who advocated such
my sole object show the desperate condition Of the
ta affairs of the State, in the opinion omahy Of her best and
ablest citizens.
"Havng consented TO in the position occupy
with the hope of restoring the credit OF the State and with the
determination of devong my whole and energies that
object became my duty to suggest the means by which
end desirable in the opinion OF all could be attained Sa-
ed that the resort to m increase OF the direct tax would be
not only unjust but unavaS to meet the enormous deficit IN
the Of the State constrained either to abandon
the only object which induced the acceptance Of the Office to
which had been elected resort 10 other expedents
81 fully OF the odum which would attach all
those expedients with different portions Of the community and
relied for my justification upon the adequacy of the means
suggested TO the great end for which they were design
ed and relied upon the patriotism and honesty of the people
for their appreciation of measures which would restore the honor
and credit of their State. The result gentemcn is before
you The State, after paving each year much interest
accrued for the period has the three years reduced
the of interest from 96l to less than 5000, 00O
She has declared her veny by esumng the payment her
debts and with the which have boughtto your
seration and the well known energy and talent OF my
in Office she and cW maintain her present proud
position.
. cannot omit bringing your notice the conduct Of
citizen of Maryland who has been for past and
resident of London which my has been d.
reced within few days past illustrative of the deep ner
est felt by citizens abroad in the determination to which
Id he q thpir
provisions Of the act Of 1885, commissioners appointed
TO negotiate the loan authorized by that act Of whom
ceve1 the compensation to which they entitled under
lis provisions but Mr. George Peabody, the gentleman TO
whom have reference has claimed received one
dollar of compensation Of those commissioners am
informed that, whilst the State struggling with her pecu
mary difficulties he unwilling OF her citizens add
to her burdens and officially informed that he
nquishes his claim compensation, feeling himself sufficient
remuneracd m his services by the restored credit Of The
State"
81 sure, gentlemen may claim your indulgence for re-
fcrring 70 other subject Of deep interest the whole
country. alude the with Mexico which has been
conducted 10 the present moment with undated activity The
Intimate relations mutual dependence of the Federal and
State Governments win all times the expression
BY the latter OF the opinions entertained by hem fayoabyor
adverse the policy and of the former particularly
upon subject involving the mighty quenccs which now
manilestly belong this The brilliant victories achieved by
the American armies unsurpassed the annals of history
have resulted in the conquest Of large portion Of the territory
Mexico and the policy of the Federal Executive now fully
developed to that territory portion thereof the
United States, will present question difficult of de,
cson and pregnant with important results 10 the coun-
try than any which has occurred the organization of the
Government It will, gentlemen, be your province 10 ex-
anime this subject and you with any degree of
unanimity to conclusion to The policy which will most
certainly advance the public prosperity without endangeng
the pcrpeuity Of the Union, ii will be your duty declare
that conclusion, the opinion of Maryland upon this difficult
and important subject In looking this war; apart from the
national glory by the armies OF the Republic the talent
which il has developed will universal attention The
Of General Scott had been inscribed in the written his
tory Of his country and his victories will occupy dis
tnguhed place in its future annals The Of General
Taylor but for this war would have Men unknown 10 many
OF his countrymen commands the respect and admins
ton OF other nations and fills the hearts of the American
people adevoon since the days Of Wishing
ton His intimate acquaintance with the existing relations of
this country with Mexico and the purity ofpupose and sterling
good sense manifested by all that he has said DONE will
am persuaded, fully Justify the wisdom Of the determination
plainly e'nced by his felowczens 10 confer on him the
highest Office in the gift Of the Republic
= do not indulge hope that the peace Of the country will
be restored unit, these indications Of the times have been
azed and the executive functions of the Federal Govern
ment have passed into other hands.
Ia looking 10 the three great interests Of the State
gratifying 70 observe that Of them has been more
rapidly developed the past few years than her great agr
cultural interest Agriculture has become n science 10
which that great class Of your constituents engaged in its ru
suit are dcvotng themselves with zeal and
worthy Of its preeminent importance.
he central position OF State and the completion Of
nE -. n