Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-12-12


what have never doubted, that Maryland
has no sympathy withrebelion, and desires
to do her full share il the duty of suppress
sing it.
Looking, therefore, to the evil done by
your predecessors, and deeming it impossi-
ble to mistake tLe wishes of the people, as
expressed at the ballot-box, I have not hes
itated to convene your honorable bodies in
special session, in order that you may at
once perform the will of the people, by ta-
king such4steps as will, in your wisdom.
seem mest effective to vindicate the honor
and Loyalty of our State, {
have such confidence in the courage,
ability and patriotism which l know to ex-
ist IN this Senate and House of Delegates
THAT might we'll here conclude this COM
munication. feel sure that no topic on
which you should take action will escape
your discernment. But in accordance with
custom, and with the requirements Of my
duty, I herewith respectfully offer some
brief suggestions in regard to the more
prominent topics which demand your i'm
mediate and careful attention.
The taxpayers in Maryland are looking
with great interest for your action in regard
to the best method Of raising the money
which is required to pay our proportion of
the national tax levied by Congress to aid
in defraying the expense of the war, and
also the other sums which will be necessary
to enable this State to follow her own for
mer patriotic example md that of her loyal
sisters
Our proportion of the National tax a.
mounts to the sum of four hundred and
thirty-six thousand, eight hundred and twen-
ty-three dollars and thirty three cents and
Congress has allowed fifteen per ccntum of
this sum to be retained by us to defray the
costs and charges of collecting the same.
1t is impossible for me to offer any esti-
mate of the amount that will be necessary
for the other purposes [ have indicated -
But look upon the whole subject as one in
which dollars and cents should not be re-
garded. The rebellion is to be put down,
no matter at what cost. Our State must
bear her share of the expense, and our peo-
pie have shown their desire to do so by cast
ing an overwhelming majority of their votes
in favor of the maintenance of the. Union.
Yours, then, should be no niggard hand.
1 In this case liberality will be economy; and
i the people look TO you thus to vindicate their
4 devotion TO the Governments
A direct tax, to raise the necessary amount,
would, in my opinion, fall heavily upon the
people at this time, because of the partial
NV Of fbo ,or.0on@;1o Il
pursuits. Of course, if the money can be
procured in no other way, direct taxation
must be resorted to. But, as such tax is
always unacceptable, and would be onerous,
under all the circumstances, [ trust you will
be able to devise some method by which it's
imposition at this time may be avoided.
The Legislature being constitutionally
empowered ''to contract debts to any amount
that may be necessary for the defence of the
State" it seems to me that the best method
Of raising the required sum would be to bor-
row, on the bonds of the State, an amount
sufficient for our purpose, after deducting
therefrom proper proportion to be reserved
as ,sinking-fund for their redemption.
The interest on the bonds might be met
by very slight increase of the present small
rate of direct taxation which, so increased,
would not amount to the rate so long and
cheerfully borne by our people when no re-
bellion threatened the Union. By thus
pledgng the States credit, the people will
be relieved from paying at once the heavy
debt which has been fastened upon us by
the insane conduct of the Rebels. We shall
also be spared the modification which would
certainly ensue in consequence of our in
ability to collect the necessary amount by
direct taxation in due time to meet our obli-
cations to the Government
It may not be inappropriate to suggest
here that you cannot reasonably expect any
, assistance, to meet the exigencies of such
the Treasury. The Comptroller of thai
fhDepartment informs me that on the Both O
5 September, 1861, at the close of the fsca
year, the condition of the Treasury was al
follows
Baanc4 on hand of Sept. 30th 1860 S 255, ,5s7. Il
Recelpts during the year 960,S13.0 o.
$l,2l6, ,4O0.s
, Disbul scd dpring year l,046, 1864
5 Leaving balance of S ITO, ,O44 4:
as of September Goth, 1861. ======
] Probable demands upon the Trsaury
for the current fiscal year 1000, O.of
; Amount of sinking Fund on the 30th
of September, 1S60 $4,S23. .229 3;
Accumulation Therefor during the
year = 23l ,ls9 o:
| Showing the actual Skiing Fund to
be on the 1st SepteA8ber, 1861 S5,054 AIS. 81
Sept 3oth, 1861 - s 4o9l9.e s.
More detailed information in regard to
the condition of the Treasury canube readily
obtained by you on application to 1he Comp
troller.
1t is undoubtedly strict duty, and sko
due to the pride and honor of the State, thai
you make immediate provision for raising
and equipping Maryland's quota of the FIVE
hundred thousand volunteers called for ty
the President under the act of Congress au-
thorizing him so to do. believe that quota
can he raised without difficulty so soon as
Won shall advance the money to nov tho av