Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-04-23

eration-we feel that these circumstan-
ces alone would constitute sufficient rea-
son for regarding this as an extraordina-
ry occasion, precisely similar to that
which has led to an extra session at the
present time in the ncighboring State of
Virginia.
But there are other reasons of great
force and Importance. The large appro-
priations heretofore made to works of
internal Improvements, exclusively on
tic " estern SShors, have entailea Oh tie
citizens of the State heavy burden Of
direct taxation, which has prevented i'm
migration into those parts of the State
which were not provided with the facili-
ties afforded by the works of internal
improvement.l Under the influence of
this policy, great change has taken place,
in the relative population of the two
shores, and this has had powerful in
huence in producing new system Of
representation, by which the political
power Of the Eastern Shore has been
! gerre;ittiiyJ reduced.
| Whatever is calculated to delay or
obstruct still further the development Of
the weaker portion is unjust in itself,
and will naturally be regarded as an in
jury inflicted by the stronger for its own
benefit.
/ We feel that the delay in the pay
ment of our claim has been cause at the
recent session of the Legislature by the
power of the Western Shore. That the
power she has acquired by the means
which have been drawn from us by tax
alton has been used to prevent us from
obtaining the same facilities for business
that we have assisted her in procuring.
That because our public works might
enable us to seek better market else
where, their construction must be pre-
vented, that Baltimore may have the
monopoly Of our produce, and compel us
to sacrifice the fruits of our toll for the
benefit of those who fatten on the pro-
duets of our labor.
This conviction is creating deep and
embitterei feeling, where brotherly love
has heretofore prevailed, and every hour
the injustice is continued will only aug
ment its depth and intensity. But there
is third consideration which constitutes
condition of affairs withouta precedent
in the previous history of the State, and
which is therefore in its very nature eek
{ traordinary."
An act has been passed for changing
the constitution itself before another
Legislature can assemble at the regular
period. 1t has been boldly asserted that
by new constellation any obligation ola
State may be annulled, and therefore our
claim might be abolished.
We ask, in common honesty, that our
claim shall be settled before it is buried
under new constitution.
We ask, in the settlement Of this mat
ter, that we may have the benefit of our
present representation before that repre-
sentation itself be taken away.
That if our organic law is to be alter
ed, we may at least meet as brothers
when we assemble to form the compact
under which we are to live, and not with
our present feelings of estrangement and
hostility.
1t has been charged by some of the
newspapers upon the Eastern Shore that
this convention intended to recommend a
liquidation of the direct tax, but such a
charge is entirely unwarranted. 1t is
the opponents Of our claim who have Ia
ken the ground of reputation, by refus-
ing to pay us the million of dollars which
was appropriated to US in the same act of
1885, for which we have been paying
direct taxes since 1871 The opponents
of this appropriation are the regulators,
and not ourselves.
That provision Of the constitution which
directs that the Governor shall be taken
} alternately from the different sections of
the State, is necessary to the protection
of the different interests which must over
exist in those sections, and Of which the
incumbent of the executive chair is there
fore the peculiar guardian and reprcsen-
tative.
To your Excellency belongs the dis
tinguished honor of having endeavored
to engraft OH the present constitution a
provision securing to the Eastern Shore
the right to separate from the Western
Shore and unite herself with either Del
aware or Virginia, as the only efectual
protection to her interests, with even the
present number of representatives.
You have now been elevated to posi-
ton in which your duty requires you to
make every proper effort to preserve the
present boundaries of the State. We
hope and believe that it is your desire to
perform this duty faithfully; but VIC also
hope that you regard even this high duty
as secondary to another of still greater
Importance, viz: the protection Of the
rights of the people in every section Of
the State, and especially those Of your
native shore.
We ask you, then, to exercise the pow
or which you alone possess to secure to US
fair and impartial hearing, where nei-
Their the want of time nor the interference
OF other measures can prevent full and
free discussion and investigation, and
satisfactory adjustment Of the details Of
u law to secure 10 US our rights We
request you, as an act Of justice, to give
us an opportunity to ascertain whether
our rights can be protected in Maryland,
before we arc called On to unite with the
Western Shore in preparing a new bond
Of confederation.
We ask you to say that the discussion
OF question, involving the great princi-
pies OF State faith and public honor, and
a 4