Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-04-09
The Eastern shore convention.


The following call for an eastern
Shore Convention appears in the Eas-
ton Star Of Tuesday:
70 the People Of the Eastern Shore:
FgLLow-CIrlzrNs Believing that the
rights of the Eastern Shore are more Sc
riously endangered than at any previous
period since the Revolution, the under
signed, citizens of the Eastern Shore of
Maryland, earnestly invoke your attend
ancc at Mass Convention, to be held at
Easton, on Wednesday and Thursday,
the l4th and 10Th Of April.
For nearly twenty years, our very life
blood has been drawn from us in the
shape of direct taxes. In opposition to
our wishes and efforts, an enormous pub
Ac debt was incurred for the construction
of magnificent system of public works
on the Western Shore, which had the
effect to build up great Emporium of
wealth and power upon the Western
@o--. ~nouS any fRmhrnsns s9n|fat Rshe &
the diversity of interests which the geo
graphical position of the two Shores must
ever occasion, our consent to the last of
these appropriations was only yielded in
consideration of a compact between the
two divisions Of the State, whereby the
sum Of one million of dollars was TO he
appropriated and held sacred by the State
for internal Improvements upon the East
orn Shore, and the faith of the State
was solemnly pledged that sum should be
SO expended upon this Shore.
Whilst the Western Shore exacted tbcl
prompt payment of her portion Of this
appropriation, VIC forbore to demand from
the state the fulfillment of her plighted
taltl, until she had recovered from her
own difficulties. Relying upon her good
faith, and desiring to sustain her honor
we stood by her in that dark hour. when
the cry of opposition to taxation was
raised on the Western Shore; and when
the State was so doubtful of her own
right to impose this tax, that she proJ
hlblted the courts from inqurng into i'll
eonstitutionality The history of III
world can furnish no other examplef
equal endurance, for the benefit of othd
by free people, from mere sentiI
of honor.
For two successive Legislatures, phe
unanimous voice of our Eastern fore
representatives, We have now ctmed
from the State the redemptiouf herr
obligation and we have been burned
like mendicants from the dooj of the
Legislative Halls by the ipfueyte Of the
very power to whose growth Fe have SO |
largely contributed Bat etcn this IS
pot sufficient to crafty .be spirit Of IN
justice ard oppression. Since our claim |
Is provided for by the present constltu'
ton, and our present power in the Legs
latare has proved nearly sufficient so.se-
cure its payment, the c7ast,,uuonS "fself3
must be changed
1t has been boldly asserted that the
State has right to repudiate an obliga-
ton to her own citizens, heeanse lhey !.
have no legal power to enforce it; and
that where an obligation is repudiatcd by |
a change in the constitution, the Legis-
lature has no power to fulfill it,
The fiat has gone forth Before an
other regular session of the Legislature,
the constitution is to be changed. Our
representation, which is yet large enough
to be troublesome to the Western Shore,
is to be reduced still lower, whilst that
Of the Western Shore is to be still fur
thcr increased; and then our bondage
will be complete.
In view of these impending dangers,
we invoke all the citizens of the Shore,
who concur in the views herein set forth,
TO lay aside their party differences, and
to assemble in convention for the sdop-
ton OF such measures as will secure an
Immediate settlement of our claim.
Let us present united opposition to
the evils with which we are now so seri-
ously threatened, and which can only be
averted BY prompt and determined re-
slstanco.