Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1868-10-09
Does the Constitution authorize the le-

vying of capitation tax? Is not its theo-
ry and spirit entirely against it? Does
it not say that all tases shaub levied APP
on property2 Does it authorize conscrip-
ton, coercion and confscation ? We think
not. This (assulned good law '.New
Road bill'' does all these. First Ego "a
round and number the tribes" (ain't this
conscription, then divide them into gangs,
then order them to duty, (ain't this coer-
cion? p If they refuse to perform the SER
vice and labor required, then levy tax
upon them, (whether able to perform the
required service or not and force it out
of them. If not in their pockets. then up
goes the last pig or chicken. Nothing is
sacred, nothing exempt. is the language
of the zaw and of the orders Of the mighty
Captain, the one-naan poaver to his hire
lings and tools, (ain't this confscation?) y
These are some of the fruits and results of
the unauthorized. but assumed remission
of legislative authority-and responsibility
to unauthorized and irresponsible parties.
And for any thinking @aan to assume that
our Legislature has or can assume the
power to remit its authority to other par
ties, clothing them with power tolegislate
with binding force, is an assumption suf-
fciently startling to make us apprehensive
for the safety Of our rights and liberties in
the future Or else suppose him (our
correspondent afflicted with Judicial blind
ness, thinking and reasoning outside of,
above and beyond, the Constitution. Fit
|deciples, then, of Sumner" living. or of
"Stevens' dead. He. should be elector
on the Grant and CoIfax ticket They
have right to claim his support--and,
let US hope, they will need it. Let him
60, we say, we want no $1,000 masters
no 500 whipers-in, nor harkers on here.
We are detaining YOU too long. But
let us say, we will not damn with faint
praise" nor call things by unusual names
if we know it. Now a word as to the
many reasons which induced us to call
upon our Commissioners to resign. Will
you, Mr.. Editor, turn to your files and
publish the allowances. made the several
Registrars for 1867. That of the 1st
district (old Hill Top was but $4S.-
Every day was made taat the law allowed,
and we believe one dag more; and every
cent was charged that could be fairly and
allowed the other districts for the same
service for the same time, under the same
law. All we're allowed much more, and
one of them, the I'd, we think, more than
double that amount. Was not the Su-
perintcndent of Roads employed at S. 900
year, while, it is said, gentlemen equal
ly competent and worthy, would have
taken the position at $500? Why then
was not some one of those equally compe-
tent employed at $500? Above all, why
was the bonus of 5000 afterwards given
the early tavorite? Are the Offices with
in the gift Of the Board eff Commissioners
exposed to the highest bidder? 1t seems
SO. Then they charge US with $100 At
torney's fee? These are a fen Of the
(possibly many) things we can't under
stand. Is this not "recklessly squander-
ing the peoples money? This is the
charge we make against them, then why
should they not resign2 Did they not
tell us when they we're candidates solicit
ing our sufrages, that they were compe-
tent and would faithfully and honestly
discharge the duties of the office. Have
they done it2 No. They are either IN
competent or unyaiMyM. Why (again
let US ask) should they not resign? If
they do not, tbs because they want more
of our money, and mean to have it.
We are, Mr.. Editor, crowding your
columns too hard, and ask pardon for the
trespass asr -.sr
But, let us say, when the rod of coer-
cios is lifted and matters take their pro,
per shape and level, we will turn out to a
man, and repair our roads, and, if needs
be, assist our neighbors. We have con-
cluded, however, not to do so under the
crack Of anybody's aohip. With our best
bow, and many thanks, we stand firmly
No. 3.