St. Mary's gazette. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1863-1867, 1864-03-31
Authorization Movements Grounds to
P>p1iar Opposition.
March Glst. 1864.

/
We clip iro'n the last wAok' ; issue of the
! Prince Csoryi"n. the f"linwing ccgr.i
arguments against 4 Convention. The
reasons assi--nr! are clearly ami fnrc;',.y
presented. aud we co.,m"ni them to the
voters of this county. ny basis for action
at the ensuing election:
l. In the iirs. place. the Convention is
irregu!arly calIe.i. ani i. a fraui on the
people. Tn, Constitution provides fur 3
submission of the question immediately af-
ter each census. The pr per Legislature
omitted 20 DO this. The succeeding Leris
laiure. jost adjourned. had 40 power to 10
1t. as it was 4 specific direction t, it's pre-
! decessor.
2. The vote Oh the ..ealt" itself m the
election If delegates are fx,nl for the same
day, In direct conrravention ot tn. Cnn.ti-
'ntlnn, which provides that HE question
shall be submitted at the recnlar general
| election III the Fall. an! the delegates
elected at convenient day thereafter.
(Sre Constitution. Art. XII.
8. Nat one month was allowed for the
consideration of his mnmen,nus proposition
by the people The Legislature adjourn
ed March the l0'h. The election is 10 lie
held "n April 9th. The m pvenent skulks
from Investigation, and >huns ventilation
by public discussion before the people. who
are thus sought to he cheated out of all on
p"rtunity for mature reflection. The idea
was to carry the movement By sort of
rnsa, before the sober. srcond thought"
OF the masses could arouse itself To action.
4. The Convention is called at a time
most inopportune. unfortunate and un.ime-
iy, aud ander circumstances the most dis
cordant aud i1expedien, that the mind can
conceive. All this is cn,Hn,lied ii, the sim
pie reflection that 1t is called in the mio.t
eta C'o1 War that has no parallel in his
tory. and which extends its disorcaniziny
Influences quite as nuch TO this State as 20
tie territory covered by actual hos,ili,ies.
Indeed, we ARE part # the seat nf war. IF
"tfcial bulletins inay be credited. the State
is nomen,arily liable to invasion. The
opening campaign may envelop our fields
IN its embrace. 1t promises tn be exciting
and dis'racting beyond all precedent. Is
such q time suitable for Constitutional re-
form? 4
D, The movement involves arr increase
OF taxes, and at time VIXEN Federal and
State taxation. bonuIies. loans, losses Of
property. los~s of labor. spoliations.
wrongs and nisfortunes have impoverished
The people. An hundred thousand daliars
will not cover the expense # the Conven-
ton alone. Several special elections will
be necessary. Then, th- cosrof an extra
Legislature to carry Gu: its provisions.
Then. other elections to choose officers
nnder il. We cannot pay rreseut taxes.
We shnull avoid new and uuneccssary
ones. as 'aad-dog shuns water
g. The immaculate, wholesale, uncnndi.
'l"Iial and .uncoDpsnssi-d'' Addition Of
slavery is the main motive. To itis q
large n'sjori'y of tue people are opposed
by their interests, their Opinions. Ly the
welfare Of tho white race. By their chsrita-
bic consideration of the true weli-bcing of
the negro, and by their just and reasonable