The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-11-26
No Extra Session Of the Lsgislature.
NEEDuwA ~. q 1858

$3.50 VI 49, Is - ~ ~ u ~
NEEDuwA, Nv 1868.
Mr.. Editor. of ne 9ss,ttyecslls OJser-
ger :-Einclose letter from Governor
Bowie which you Will please insert in
your hext Issue Us put! is ins.
tended to roliete publie anxiety upon
the subject Of an extra session i the
ELegisiatasg ;andespecialfy thusc who,
like nysclt, WHY he yggFatif Il te learn
that they reEnotto be called Koad their
homes. To .Au,lapelis, this winter. Its
spirit and sound sense viii commend
themselves to the hearts and, .ihtelli-
gelce OF the people of the State, who
win be.pleased to be assured that they
have Governor who deeply sympathie
yes with them in their heavy burtheu
of taxation, aud who will direct all the
efforts Of his administration to reduce
and tighten that portion, of it which
comes within the province Of bis duties.
Very respectfully and truly yours,
80 JAMES I. EARLE. !"
Te ga
r"FAIR VIEW" .CoLIINGroN p. o. y ~
Prince Georges county, Md, {,l
s-.., =. >. Nov. s, 1865.
My DEAR MIR. EARLE:-Absence
from home has prevented an earlier res
ply to your esteem: favor, of the goth
ultimo.. / was very glad to, have the
expression of. your opinions upon the
matter of an extra session OF the Legis-
lature, and were pleased to find that
they accorded so entirely with nay own.
Some pressure has been brought TO bear
in favor of the Legislature being con-
vened, but l can see no adequate reason
for it. The: only one which has had
any influence with me was the legisla
tion sought to be effected with reference
to the widening and deepening of Jones'
Falls, in Baltimore City. Had the ac-
ton of the City authorities or the SEN
timents of the citizens OF Baltimore been
united in this matter, and in favor OF, a
session, should have felt "a grave. res
possibility resting upon me it, | had not
called one In view OF the danger ofJloss
of life and property which the ;llterna-
ton Of the Falls is sought to avert. ra,
But as yet no defuite plan of action
has been agreed upon, as | understand,
by the Engineers to whom the matter
has been referred. The people of Bal
timore are divided somewhat among
themselves as to what is best to be done,
and am assured that large majority
of them prefer that the whole matter
shall go over until the first regular SEES
sion, when the perfection of their own
plans, aud ample time upon the part OF
the Legislature, will result in making
this dangerous. and unsightly stream en-
tirely harmless for loss, and. indeed, by
its water power and course through the
heart of the City a source of revenue,
and the means OF greatly enhancing the
value of property. f,.
81 There are many reasons against an
extra session which will readily occur
to you, aud which therefore | will not
enumerate. But there is one which has
had great weight with me. The Con
stitution declares that sessions shall be
only biennial. In the last five or six
years we, have had as many sessions of
the Legislature, and two Constitutional
Conventions in addition. Without
some strong reason to the contrary, |
think the spirit of this article Of the
Constitution should, equally with all
others, be conformed to; and further,
10 State or people can stand. the bur-
then of taxation which these repeated
sessions, with the necessary expenses
and unavoidable appropriations, incur.
The financial condition of the State is
good. Let ours be the aim to improve
it by strict economy now and always,
and wise Legislation at the proper time.
The people, although grieyously OPP
pressed with taxation, National, State
and County, are checrfally carrying the
burthen, in hopes of its being speedily
lightened. Let them be encouraged in
this hope by sesiug no ayoidahle expen-
ditures put upon them. So, f.
1t would, as you know, be most agree
able to me to have the Legislature, with
which my social relations last winter
were so pleasant. meet NC in Annapolis
when l enter upon the discharge of the
Executive duties, but neither the mem
bsrs nor myself would consider this, in
the absence of others, sufficient rea-
son for converting an extra session.
,,n ain, my dear sir, With high respect,
yours very truly Hill
800 f,g, ~ ODEN BOWIE.
Hon. JAMES 7. EARLE, State Senator,
Queen Anne's County, Maryland.