St. Mary's gazette., 1867-06-06
The Poll Tx

/ disposed # the Poll Tax matter by refus-
ing to rcmoTe the prohibition forbidding
the Legislature to impose such tax IN 'thls
State. re have thought it would interest
our eitizens to read the remarks of Mr.
Jalnison, one Of our delegates, delivered
Upon this question, May 9th.
Mn. PRE.IbE>T 1T IS with coasidera
/ bic reluctance that | entcr into this dis
cuszon, but the debate has assumed such
wide latitude that | deem it both apPro-
pirate and necessary, as member of the
| Committee on the Declaration of Rights,
to submit few observations upon the
| question before us 1t has been assumed,
sir, that the striking ont of the provision
of the Bill of Rights declaring poll tax
to be "grievious ,and oppresslve" would.
not be construed as expressive of the sense
of the Convention upon that subject, but
as simply remitting to the General Assem-
bly, the control of the question as incldcn-
tai to its powers of legislation. But, sir,
I apprehend that such would not be its ef-
fccts upon the people think they would
regard the issue as directly presented as
to whether or not, in our Judgment, poll
tax is ,'grievious and opprcsslye." View
ing it in this light, | cannot, by 1yote.
consent to strike out 4 provision not only
sanctifcd by the lapse of ages, but enun-
eating, in my humble judgment, wise
and Just political principle | do not re-
oard this as a matter of policy, to be left
to legislative discretion, bat as great
fundamental principle incorporated into
our organic law a denial of power
which the people have refused 20 delegate
to their representatives; an exemption
which they have long held too sacred TO
permit being the subject Of Legislative de
| bate and control 1t las been well re
marked by The gentleman from baltimore
city, Let something be held sacred from
taxation" and would earnestly ask, rot
in the spirit Of tcmago gogism, but with
full appreciation and a Just conception OF
the relative duties, obligations and priv
leccs of the citizen, that throughout our
State the elective franchise. which has bat
80 r, Gently been relieved ofits shacklcs, shall
be free from restraint and exempt from
taxation. Let not tie phantom Of the tax
collector, which already meets our, over
burdcncd people at every tufn, confront
them also at Tie ballot 5oz, and demand
of the voter the price which the State ex
acts for the exercise of the greatest and
dearest right Of a freeman.
agree, sir, with the learned gentlemen
from Charles. (Alr. StoGdort,) that the
man who would value higher the amount
of the tax that might be lcvtad than the
elective franchise itself, would be unwor-
thy of the enjoyment Of SO great right.
Bat | 60 further than that, anu believe,
that that State is not fully and truly re
puf lean which cuacts, that every man
Shall paw a certain monied consideration is
a COZ Ii ION precedent to the exercise Ct the
! arcat right Of suffrage; that would for tSe
| frw thousand dollars it would pat ito(he
Treasury, open wider the door Of bribery
ard corruption, and place an apparent
value upon that which should be above all
pricc in The estimation cf the people, who
are 80 Fortunate as to bc clothed with
the privilege
Sir. it is q we'll settled republican prin-
cil,le, that, AL power is derived from the
consent of the soyerned,' but if We depart
from the doctrine enunciatod III this 10th
Article Of the Biil of Rights reported hy
YOUR Committee, il will be nc cessary to de
clare, that all power is derived from the
consent of those who are either willing Or
able to contribute a certain amount Of no
nov prior to giving Withholding hat assent
to the measures that may be submitted In
the administration Of the State Govern
mcat. Such, itgscems to me, would be Its
fair and legitimate Interpretation.
Mr.. President, this question does not
present itself to me as contest Between
the rich aud the poor, as has been lntima
ted during the debate. | take broader
and hope, truer, view of it. Under the
operation Of such principle, all must BE-
=clually taxed, all must bear equally the
burden, and think it will be generally
conceded that people are averse to taxa
ton, and that the rich man would be un-
willing to assume additional burdens IN or
Ger to faSteu them upon his poorer cish
bor. SIR there Is, and should be 40 an
tagonism between them. The blessings
of good government belong alike to all
The one contributes from his greater
means to The support Of the GoVernment
which. in return. throws the mautie Of It's
protection over himself, his family, and his
property: the other by his labor, hls skill,
and his Industry contributes to buId up
the matc,i..l prosperity Of the State, which
shields from wrong and oppression his per