Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1870-03-17

Leeislltsrs . I'll and etss1 isatt -
sf the Ian. 1hss b 20 b1k f = -,
er intsaded thst . vielasisa = - -
ahould In all y any 60 = IL ro.
I'll The meeting Of TIE Loeidsi -.
cially in . casa q the vi1In6Go j
ter where % much damage 4 Re.v
accrued to the Ssaes tsn ordse 6S Ker
fair and inperiilsd sfs1it } r. ~ -.
porary loan-under IT, patrun ] -
kindly aus'iees Of I pcoerau 1 - ~
ob.ivious Executivs.
win the friends OF the 0ov< - =.
mis that HE delay to sct in ths 81
proceeded from ignorance Of tkeS - q
1867 II not. the point II ri1r116u
that he sacri6ced the interest oel = 80
in her great emergency. sclely, ~
view Of creating "a opcartcuis Z
Exscasivc meange - aSarrssaNpSs
ievectivs. and nudsr the solk and pless-
ant guise Of disisisrested justice, inssi.l
the views Of an liberated mind into the
hearts OF th. Legislature. and thus pre.
ciritase concomitant aud hostile action.
under an aggravating sense Of 4 damnin ,
wrong committed against them. Aud
Why! only to induce the LegisIa ture TO
commence that action which would force
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to nav
into the Treasury the amount of cap;sa-
tion tax-'hat which the Governor had
refused to do urder the Law and which he
neglected TO do. although We are told in
his message that his whole action pro.
ceeded from his duty. TO have the laws
obeyed. M. sir, it vas no. for that
that would have been q plain proceeding
TOO plain to compass the end. of the
enemies OF the Baltimore aud Ohio Rail-
road. Resolutions are introduced for \
seire faeias. aud Tor what :? to make the
railroad pay the money? to make her
comply with her charter Z to make her
keep her plighsed faith to the State D
No. sir. bu. to have forfeited her sh,r
Forfeit her charter, and for what Z be-
cause she would not pay into the Treasu.
ry OF the State that amount Of money
which her counsel advised her not to paw.
and which l say. so far as nv limited
knowledge Is concerned, she had . right
to withhold. both in Law and equity
Why not meet this case according to law
aud justice? Why this scirs taciu. for
teiture? All, sir, We have been told why
by the Senator Of the First Legislative
District Of Biltimorc; and by whom else?
by his E1cellency. the Governor Of the
State. in n communication to a Baltimore
paper. The scire facias is not inteude
to force the BI!tinore and Ohio R,ilroai
to perform its duty. but TO perscc, the for
felture OF her charter, SO that she could
DC rechartered by her enemies. Was nn.
this programme ELECTED few day; ago
from the lips OF the Senator Of She First
Legislative District Of Baltimore, the
firm and conf iential friend of the Execu-
sive.ssd re-echosd By his Exc.llency
himself in his Communication heretofore
alluded TO 2
Now. Mr.. President, if :his has bean
the cause of the whole movement, f1e
Governor neglected to perform his duty
months ago. according to the Law Of 1868,
which gives him all power. A message
calculated to prejudice the minds Of the
Legislature against the corporation, the
seire facias following close thereon for
forfeiture Of its charter. the object Of
which is admitted. not to force tae pay
mnnt Of money slid t, be due, but to re-
charter the road according to their own
wishes. Is it uncharitable to conclude
and announce upon this foor that the
lengthy message Of hostility to the road
proceeded rather from the embittered
feelings Of discomi,sed road than the
jus. action OF an unprejudic ri Executive?
Had the Governor performed his duty,
this exciting and unpleasant discussion.
aud its injurious influences, would hav,
been obviated. and the case Of the State
and the Baltimore and Ohio KaiIroal
would have hcen submitted to the arbi,-
rsment of law. with view to jus, and
equitable settlement Of all differences
Having given my views upon the cause
OF t"is unpleasant difficulty. I will nnw
proceed to state why think the B,l,i-
more and Obi. Rlilroad has acted with
consistency. justly. and with right and
law upon her side. 1T has been deman-
dcd OF the Biltimorc aud Ohio R,i!road
why she should. after paying the one 9Th
tax for 50 many years, now refuse to paw
the same in the present and future. i.
is true the Railroad had paid this one
hfih tax for number of years she
agreed to do 30. BY accepted obligation,
which obligation sto is snll willing to
abide BY. Can i. be said that this was
a moral, rather than n legal contract ? II
moral. let rs agree to act in accordance
With the morality Of the case illegal, be
controlled by the decisions Of the Law
Ii moral. was it right, after such an ex.
pendi,ure Of money aud the per;eetine of
SO powerful aud complicated machinerv
rs this road consists Of. for the S.ats of
Maryland to charter foreign rival cor
poration unshackled by . one .fifth pas.
senger tax. thereby enabling i, to under
wsrk the Baltimore and OHIO Rsilroad.
much to the disadvantage Of that Compa-
ny. aud which. If permittei to be carried
out to the fullest extent, will ultimately,
on account Of :he burden once lightly as
sumed by the Baltimore and OIio R,iI.
road, depreciate the interest and destroy
the future prospects of that corporation
AN TO be told that this is morally right?
Then, il bad morals have marked the
action Of the State, could tho Baltimore
and Ohio R,ilroad hesitate to take advau-
,age of those legal rights shich opror,u.
u,ty were exhibited TO il, aud Of which /,