Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-01-17
THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

L
The SENATE Of MARYLAND was organized on
Monday last by the election Of Hon. EDWARD
LLOYD, (Dem.) of Talbot county, as its President,
he having received ten votes to nine votes cast for
the Hon. VIM. LINGAN GATHER, (Whig,) who
was the President of the former Senate. JONATHAN
PINKNEY was chosen Chief Clerk by majority Of
one vote over JOSEPH II NICHOLSON, late Clerk
and the Democrats in the same manner appointed
all the other officers of that body
| The Message of Governor Lowe was laid before
the Legislature on the same day. 1t is very long
document, which we have not found time to read
Of its leading points we gather the following par
ticuars from the Baltimore Sun:
THE GOVERNOR directs the attention of the Legislature
to the various subjects requiring their action He in
stances general revision of the election laws to facilitate
the operation Of the Constitution repeal of certain
laws relating to pardons and reprieyes and in view OF
some inconsistencies in the law of larceny by which pun
ishment is often unequay apporoned revision of the
entire criminal code is advised Stringent rules are ad
vised to induce prompt from collectors of the
direct taxes and other officers and suitable legislation to
enforce prompude without indulgence the part Of
clerks registers and other receivers of the indirect
nue. Some modification of the laws respecting commits
is advised and also Of that authorizing the attach
ment OF debtors wages The regulation by law of the
hours OF labor is approved with certain notifications
portan and provision for codyng the laws and relieving
their administration from needless yerbiage and techn
caes referred to- essential to popular
" On the internal improvements of the State the
sage contains highly satisfactory statements and indicates
grounds of future prosperity which appear to be
able and consistent with general experience The
upon the relative interests and spheres of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad and the Chesapeake and Ohio canal are
admirably in point and Show large and comprehensive
grasp of the real policy associated with these works
An elaborate and intelligent review Of the financial
affairs Of the State is made from the time of its heavy
to the present time and is stated
that the funded arrears have all been paid and that
surplus of between three and four hundred thousand dol
lars is annually accruing towards the liquidation of the
principal In view of in the and
above the amount requisite to meet the interest and
turing debt the propriety of reducing the direct tax
twenty-five per cent, and of repeating the stamp tax
altogether is presented for legislative consideration The
subject is stated with great disnctness, and in
suited engage the deliberate and prudential action of
the Legislature
1.-THE Governor adverts the Christana affair with
tone Of indignant remark fully warranted by the facts Of
the Case and proceeds to make some sharp structures
upon the trial of Hanway and the general judicial charac
ter Of the proceedings"
The Baltimore American, in commenting on one
part only of this Message, takes occasion to do JUS
tice to the wise policy of former Governor of the
State, as follows:
The history Of the public Indebtedness of Maryland
recapituated in the Message history full well of
instruction as of warming and whet contains much that
not pleasant to the recollection it also exhibits for
tude courageous perseverance, adherence to the
principles of justice and honor and finally recuperative
energy that may well claim be remembered with pride
and pleasure The gloomy period of 1S43 IA witnessed
the Commonwealth depression at the lowest point The
public began to grow almost familiar with PROPOSE
tons of financial delinquency Distrus dependency,
and despair found utterance in official language and there
were not wanting prominent in political world
ready to place themselves the head of repudiatng
policy under the palliatng confession of virtual in
solvency.
The election of Gov PRATT, in 1874, happily in
time, and just in time, the downward of
things and retrieve the sinking credit of the State We
do not overesmae the Importance of that event in desg
mating it the turning point in financial history the
date of redemption The firm stand then assumed by the
Executive, and announced in language explicit and deter
Mined gave encouragement and hope to the Respondent
and furnished cheering example, by which every good
nit;~n- aroused to condolences and made resolve
once more not to despair Of the Commonwealth. From
the outset of Gov Pras administration the present
time the financial condition Of the State has advanced
from one degree of prosperity another and higher The
arrearages of interest which had accumulated to fright
full amount and threatened overwhem and submerge
all of liquidation having been funded brought
into manageable form, all paid of. SO Gov
Lowe tells US, and gratifying piece Of information it is
Along with these successive payments Of the funded
the regular payments of interest the whole debt
of the State have gene promptly and without inter-
ruption