St. Mary's gazette., 1864-03-17
MARYLAND CONVENTION.

This ruinous war goes on. Prophets
have ceased their prognostcations ~ to
ITS duration. No man how pretends to say
when it will end Meanwhile 'i,c ne. ionsi
debt increases al a fearful ra.e-,hree mil
lions Gay. Besides States, Cities. Powns
and Coua;;"s are contracting aporm,ous
debts to volunteers IN order TO stay- off the
draft. Pay day i. LOST sight of. n, one
seems to hink Of the taxes wh,rh must t..
raised "f The earnings Of Labor in oricr 10
maintain the public credit La spite o, .hc
terrible fn.ure-with white labor exhausted
by the L2vuc Of the hattie field, and slave
labor set free-ao man, of abe rarty IN
power. seems t. think in his heart of the
blessings of peace.
What is the national debt now? Some
estimate it al two thousand mil,ion-sone.
at three thousand millions. What is the
propnrtion of this enormous debt that Ma
ryyland will have TO shoulder? Are the re-
sources nj Maryland exhau.iIess? VIII
she DC ilie better aole to pay her share Of
the national debt, and her own State debt,
when !:cr labor system IL destroyed Shall
her fields remain uncul;lva.ed until labor
can be Imported from Europe: OH. would
TO God THAI these m;dfheu ctuld have their
becinuded minds once more ilanu.inei with
the light of reason. aud their hearts i'll
i'aned wiki the ores OF patrlotis.i, If they
would but Listen We would eutreat them.
We would implore them. even supplca,c
them OIL our knees, to pause in their mad
caicer. ard 20 nave conpassici. UPON their
children aud their ch!!dr-n's children
Their burden will he grsa', indeed. and
hasd to be borne, ii it does rot crush them
TO the earth. Why add the EXPENSES of a
State Consertioa: The tay- payers are
against IL. The Office holders ard office
seekers only. are for it.
Let The people. out of whose SVEN. aud
toll must be wrung the taxes to meet the ir-
teres; on all appropriations, waclhar BIZ
Congress. by the Lsgi.latur. or by H..
cities aud counties, reme;n DER :L.at these
arc their GeD:s. and that shfir property
aud their labo. are mor:.aged for the en-
tire amount, Let them pause and think
for themselves. Let them BE- free ,neu,
and not the slaves Of interested Office holders
who are iiaAi:s f',rtnaes ont of the mjSfor-
tuues OF the country. Let them not be
sulied by the ambition. ,iefnagvsuas who
seek promotion by s.,on,in. f,r tne last la IN
anal the last do!iarF Let Us all think uf
our poor b.eedin. couetry. and of the evils
that are t. COME upon us all when this desu-
iating va: Is over, end a. it NAV.
Outside 'f tae urgent necessity for strict
economy, time OF civil war IL no; th. time
Tor holding couveut.ou ~ remodel cur
State Constitution. ....
Our Cons 'itn,is.n was framed and adopted
by free people in . time oI pr,iniaG peace.
Ii its provisions are obeyei it vii continue
To secnrs IL our people the blcs-ing< Of lie,
liberty anh the pursuit os happiness Let
it reraaia a. it is! Tyuch it Mt at the be-
hest D; these who are forsi gners .o saf state.
and vino have no right 10 interfere with our
local !nsti urisns. Let rs not silrresr!sr the
right Of local sellf-goyern,rea.. Mel Of Ma
=, land il you wouii preserve ycr.r liberties
rnsi,i.,s. y 0r Constitution as ii j.. bp s.ains
AGaiNSr a Cmvcn,ien-FfszrrieL Cit
@e". e &C. rp