The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-07

An obvious typographical blunder in the letter
of our Annapolis correspondent yesterday morn
ing represented the vote in the Senate of Mary
land upon the final passage of the Bill to increase
the Stakeholder representation in the Ba1rruopr
and OHIo Railroad Company, to have been 10 to
Gan aggregate of four more votes than the whole
number of Senators. The actual vote. however
by which the Bill passed, and which was correct
ly stated in another columns IA to T. is scarcely
less surprlsing-unless we accept the disclosures
of Senator LYNCH a sufficient intimation of the
character Of the influences which have been
brought to bear in favor of the Bill. A measure
traught with consequences of greater injury to the
interests of this city and State probably never
passed the Senate of Maryland-nor one more en-.
tirely uncalled for. 1t would, indeed, be peril
nent inquiry TO ask at whose instance the Bill was
introduced-and who ii is that has been urging
its passage. Certainly there has been no petition
on the part Of the Company for an amendment of
its charter, for a change in the existing ratio of
reAentation. Neither the Board of Directors
n t private Stockholders have approached the
Legislature upon the subject. The city of Balt-
more, whose inter- SIS are directly affected by the
Bill, has twice, through her City Councils, remon-
srated against its passage. The Directors in the
Company, appointed the part of the city, havesg-
nlhed their opposition while that of the great body
of the people of this city and of the counties stua
ted on the line of the road, has been decidedly ex
pressed, and would have been manifested ten
times as vehemently had any sane man believed
that 1t was possible for the Bill to receive one-half
OF the number of votes that were cast in its favor
more unpopular measure, or one more certain
to result in the political and social disgrace of all
concerned in its concocton, advocacy and pas
Sage-if pass it should dove can hardly i'm
agine. The BROCK bill, and all the frauds and
iniquies connected with its history, will be for
gotten and forgiven when the consequences of the
absolute surrender of our great highway of COM
merce into the hands of foreign capitalists or do
mestic STOCKHOLDERS will, year by year, be making
themselves more and more sensibly felt in the de-
cay OF this cty's prosperity-the diminution of
her trade-the impovershment of her people, 1t
Is for the House to consider whether ii
will interpose lis veto to avert these consequences
from us; or whether it will blindlyconfrm what the
Senate hassounwisely done. There was a time when
the greatest safeguard against hasiy and perncious
legislation was considered TO be the wisdom and
discretion of the Senate The present is not the
only case this session in which the last reliance of
the people must be in the integrity and irmness
of the Lower House. We trust that body will
weigh well and carefully what it is called upon to
do. 1t is called upon to amend the charter of the
BALTIMORE and ONO Railroad Company, by
changing the constitution of its Board of Directors
which has remained the same since 1885. 1t is
asked to give &c. 262 shares ofstock representation
of twenty-three Directors against representation
of eighteen accorded to H. $50 shares 1t is asked
to concede to less than six millions of capital in
the hands of private individuals, spectators and
Others, a controlling voice over that of the City
and State, in the management of Il great public
work, costing over thirty millions of dollars-and
in the wise and prudent administration of which
the City and State have interest which is para
mount to every other. The Legislature cannot
make such a concession without virtually betrav-
ing its trust and exposing the interests which are
committed TO its keeping, to certain and, it may
be, irreparable injury.