Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-05-21
For the Montgomery Co. Sentinel.
g A Stitch in Time saves Nine.v

Since the question Of a Convention to
form a new constitution was sprung upon
the people by the late session of the i'm.
beetle know-nothing Legislature, their
organs, as in duty bound, have been
hunting up reasons for this outrage on
the people of Maryland. The wisoacrcs
at Annapolis may have had reasons as
plenty Us blackberries, but they did not
deign to give them to the people. So
that it is all guess work with the small
fry, who are bound, right or wrong, to
follow. their leaders. Some say thew
want constitution to give women their
rights; others say it is to pass natural
ization law, to keep foreigners out Of the
State; others again wish to do away with
The election Of Justices Of the Peace and
Constables: while the Rockville Journal
Of last week makes terrible onslaught
on the Circuit aud Orphans Courts.
l propose to notice this article of the
journal, and | am sure that better rea-
sons can be given against than for the
call OF convention, ON which question
we must vote on Wednesday next. In
the first place, the people have not com
planned of the operation of the present
constitution; the question was not at all
debated at the election Of the Lecisla-
ture; the cost of convention would be
at least two hundred thousand dollars,
which would come principally out OF the
pockets Of the farmers, at time when
their produce is at low price; and last
ly, | believe tho project was Matched in
that sinkhole Of corruption, the Know
nothingism of Baltimore. Well NAV
they wish TO do away with elections by
the people, and throw the appointments
into the hands of the Governor. since
by fraudulent votes the Plug Uglies Of
Baltimore can impose a Governor on the
state at every election, and of course
they would expect pay for SO doing. -
=" Power is always stealing from the
many to the few" but here is a bold at
tempt to rob the people Of the counties
of their political rights and throw all the
power of the State into the hands Of the
mobs of Baltimore, the vjlast and most
corrupt organized band Of villains ON the
face of the earth The Journal talks
very smoothly of virtue, wisdom, honesty,
economy, &c., &c. 1t warns us of the
''loose morality of the times" Of the
danger of basing the provisions of
constitution upon the popular preiudices
of the hour" and in the same breath
CO most lame and impotcnt conclusion .
il would persuade us to submit the franz
ing Of new constitution, not only to
the most bigottcl and bitter party dema-
gogues but to the influence of the most
unmitlgated set Of rowdy rascals that
ever disgrlccd an American city.
The Journal seems to look With an
evil eye to the election Of Judges by the
people, aud thinks there were always
ADLER aud purer men under the old sys-
TEN. Does it not know that the Gov
ornor and councils formerly, In their
secret sessions, without consulting the
wishes or feelings Of the people, appoint
ed judges, clerks, &c, very often for
merely partizan services. venture 10
ray that more weak, incompetent men
were appointed for life for merely party
services, than are now elected for seven
years by the people And it is well
known that the lists Of magistrates, under
the old system, were made out by party
leaders in their respective counties, aud
adopted as a matter Of course by the APP
pointing power The Journal complains
Of great delay and cost under the pre-
sent system, and praises the economy
AMI despatch Of the old system. l can
recollect when the three judges used to
sit three or four weeks in this county,
and keep the jury, witnesses and parties
here at great expense, and then adjourn