Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-03-07
A CARD.
TO WILLIAM Fl. BRAWNER, esq

CIR: In the .Times' of the l4th ultimo, you have
- a Card, addressed to the Voters of Charles
done to the Commissioners of the First District, in
the inference that may be drawn from my publish
ed reasons for resignng my position as one of the
Commissioners Court, in the paper OF the 18th OF
ment, that Mr.. Harmon, as President, did not vote
except in of tie which still think is exp
cept in eccting of Tax Collectors and Judges Of
the Election. If he voted in any other instance,
whilst was in the Court, l was not aware of it,
and such has ever been my understanding of the
duties Of President. Again you complain and
quote me as having said what did not say, name
ly: "He (Mr. Burch) further says that every
thing he attempted to do for his district was OPP
posed and voted down by the members from the
First District" If Mr.. Brawner will turn to my
published piece from which he processes to quote,
he will read thus: "And have no knowledge o..
ever proposing anything for my district-no mat,
ter what-that it was not opposed and in nearly all
cases voted down." The reader will perceive at
once the difference, if you, sir fail to see it. And
then, as with flourish of trumpets, he asks, cat
whose instance Carpenter appointed Tax Col
lectors' Now, sir, on the day OF that appointment
you were absent said to have been confined to
your room from ndsposition. But had you inter
Iogated your associates (Messrs Price and Han
sony they could, and no doubt would have told yor,
that Mr.. Carpenters appointment was opposed
steadily, for four ballots and If rccollect arlght
he was elected on the fifth ballot You ask also,
cat whose instance has Shoots bond rejected"
&C.? Mr.. Smoot is, as far as know, a very worthy
young man, and his bondsmen gentlemen whom
/ esteem very highly; but neither of them, as
shown by the assessment book had any real estate,
did, when the question was asked me, say did not
think the bond sufficient; and ask you, sir, with
the power before you to ascertain the facts would
you have passed the bond? You ask, eat whose in
stance was Thompson appointed Constable Now !.
sir you are aware, if you will reflect, that the APP
pontment of Thompson was not made when pro-
posed it; but after the adjournment of the Court,
Thompson met two Of the members and they agreed
that if Mr.. T. would get certificate from Smoot,
that he did not want the office, then he CThomp-
sony should be aPpointed,-an so it ended. He
was not appointed by me, for it was plainly seen
there an opposition to it, and Thompson sue
ceeded in doing with gentlemen out of Court what
they seemed unwilling to do in Court. cat whose
instance a bridge built the White Oak
Swamp &C.? Why, sir, at the instance of the
petitioners, who complied with all the forms
quired by law, &C., and not at mine. Again, cat
whose instance Mr.. Darnell authorized to close
a certain road on his land?'' Was ever such an
order granted? if SO, it was not at my instance, for
l made no such move nor did ever hear that such
an order was granted until read it, sir, in your
card. Mr.. Darnell tells me he never heard of it
before. 1t was certainly understood, whilst was
in the Court, that we had no jurisdiction over the
matter, and left Mr.. Darnell to exercise his own
will in the matter. Mr.. D. so understood it. Pray,
sir, inform me when such an order passed? You
then, sir, wind up your piece by saying, ''To the
best of my recollection Mr.. Burch never did pro-
pose anything for his District that was not concur
red in, except in two instances" &c. Now, sir,
as regards the Judges of Election, Messrs. Davis
and Wills, they are good men and good Judges,
and the reason proposed others We're, that the
year previous neither of them attended, and
thought the same thing might, occur again, and
hence suggested others; and here let me do Mr..
Price justice: he voted to sustain my suggestion:
As regards Mr.. Fendall, death has removed him,
and as we should ever deal lightly with the dead,
18th of January left it. believe, sir, have fully
noticed your card, and have endcavored, without
show to be sure, to give statement of each case
you have named as they occurred. And here will
close, by saying that was opposed to several ac-
counts that passed, from my District, and so stat
ed, but they were not curtailed AS you, sir, have
expressed yourself personally, in SO kind a man
ness assure you that, for you individually, well
as for each member of the Court, entertain the
very kindest feelings.
Respectfully, yours,
JAMES w. BURCH.
Newport, March 5, 1861. 1t