Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-05-14
The Constitutional convention.

The Constitutional Convention.
We are glad to see some one giving
reasons for the call of reform convcn-
ton. A writer is out at great length
on the subject in the columns of the
Marlborough Gazefe The main argu-
ment of this learned Know-nothing is,
that the new constitution may clothe wo-
men with the same right to vote that
men have, and deny to all who cannot
read and ,crite English this privilege. -
These are the great principles upon
which the call for a convention is justi-
fed, and these are the measures desired
to be accomplished by the proposed as
semblage. We are glad that some of the
advocates of this uncalled for convention
are enlightening the people as to the OBJ
jects which are intended to be accom-
plished by the aid of the convention -
This is the first open intimation of the
wishes Of the movers in this matter, be-
You'd the declaration Of the Know-noth-
ing organ here, that it was intended for
tie benefit Of tie party. 1t seems from
the learned exposition of the Prince
Georges advocate, that the convention
is to be q Moments Rights Congeation--
that it is to place the female sex upon a
political equality with the male, giving
them equal right to fill all Offices and
vote upon all occasions.
This is certainly a great reform, and
one for which the people of the State
should not object to be taxed few hun
bred thousand dollars. The next object
proposed by the advocate of the conven-
ton is to engraft into the constitution a
proyiso that no one shall be permitted to
vote unless he or she can read and write
English, except says this conventional
reiormer, they shall have become blind,
after having learned to read, or shall
have lost their right hand, thus disabling
them from writing. These are the meas
ures of reform desired by the only writer
we have seen from that section of the
State in favor of the convention. We
place them before our readers, so that il
they deem such reform worthy the trou-
bic and expense of a convention they
may vote for its call.
While upon the subject it will be well
/ to remember, that there is every reason to
believe the State taxes will have to be
increased to meet the present demands
of the treasury, without mourning debt
of some t,co hundred thousand dollar,
more, to crafty few ambitious OF
crack-brained politicians. Let the PEG.
| pie when they 90 to vote upon this ques
ton remember that if they vote for the
convention they are voting to tax them
selves FOR all the expenses attending the
election and sitting of that body. The
last convention was in session over 81,
months at cost Of over onc hundred
thousand dollars, independent we believ'
of the cost of the election, printing, Sc.
which constituted pretty large item
The revenue of the State for the mex
year will be reduced by the sum of near
ly one Hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars, in consequence of the failure Of th
railroad to pay the interest upon tn
State bonds, and the expiration on tn
first of April Of the lottery grants If
then, we deduct $3.50 600 from the rev
enue of the State, and add as much NOR
to the cost Of the convention, there vii
be at the lowest figure some three hun
bred thousand dollars to be raised by
taxation upon the people at large Thi
may be but a small matter to the Legis
lature that instituted this call, but it vii
be pretty heavy item to the people il
these times of general distress and de
preston If then, the people of tn
State are DESTROYS ofincreasing their tax
es, let them vote for the convention, ant
they will be gratifed in that particular
Whether they will reap any benefit frop
the convention or not, is another ques
ton entirely .-Baittmore Republican,.