Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-04-11
Correspondence of tho Beaeon-) :
Annapolis. April 4,h. ls12:


The General Assembly Of MARYLAND
closed its labors. the curtain has fall5j1
and opportunity 10 review. in spirit OF.
calm aud impartial equity snd fairness.
acts. both Legislative and Executive. pre-,
scn's itself.
In the disposal Of Executive patronage
Gov Whytc Gas an;icipa,e,l) has been in
fuenccd By the promptines and instincts
Of an absorbing and not dishcnorable am
bition. On the next General Assembly
Ito meet in 1870 will dcrolve the right
and obligation Of elceting successor 70
Mr. Hamilton. whose term OF Office as
Senator from the Western Shore OF Ma
ryland will then expire by limitation.
To secure the succession, once more to
wear the Senatorial role. to make allies.
aul neu;ralize opposition. have been
the governing and determining prime pies
of Gov Whyte in tie bes.owal Of and re-
moval from Office.
In view of pas, and future possible CON-
plica;ions of PARTIES in St. Mary's coun.y'
its Claims on Executive consideration were
not considered of much. ifofany. account.
Her pretenticns TO an Inspector of Tobae-,
co were ignored. and Executive pronisea
and assurances were wantonly violated!
and when the passage of the law creating
the office Of weigher Of grain. &c pre-
sen.ed locus Pe.ifeWie" TO His Ex-
cellencv. he improved the occasion by n
renewed violation Of his promise and as
surance that St. Mary's county should
have her claims favoraLly considered"
Gov. Whyte's record bears witness to
the fact Of lis being always true to DEM
orra,ic principles and his own interests
His talents are not of the Gr>t or even
second order. but he is surpassed By none
in political fnesse. bland and cordial ad-
dress. and in making wise and effective
comhinatinns Further, his friends claim
for him high moral and religious status.
He is IN honorary or active member OF nu-
merous pious societies and associations
he does not drink strong drinks-he new
er plays or has played at cards, and, mi
raIIs dicta - it is affirmed (non credO)
THAT he never pressed dear woman's lips
until after the nuptial knot was tied anu
church's holiest permission had been OBJ
tanned. Allowing all that his friends
claim for him to be true. a. to his highly
moral and Christian character and possess
sion Of negative virtues. il is a mystery to
me how he ever acquired and retained an
influence or popularity in the Democratic
party. or Of what portion Of the State OF
Maryland ne may be considered TO be the
representative man. Southern Maryland.
l wccn. has little right or desire to consid-
er him "or his virtues" as peculiarly her
own.
The Senate and House of Delegates have
done much business and passed many
wholesome laws. local and general. Both
branches had the advantage Of having had
for presiding officers compcten. and cour-
teous gentlemen. well skilled in parlia-
mcntary laws and precedeuts. prompt TO
decide. and vigi,ant in enforcement frulcs
and decisions. Mr.. Speaker German is
possessed Of mos. courteous and captiya-
ting manners. and has an expression OF
countenance extremely kind, soft and pre-
possessing. He discharged the duties of
hia office most abb and impart Rsss-
- ~ aescendipg ~ the cha fee.s;
srt in tieba.s. AZ fVais res, d.
ignored the exam I'd his as;
Mr.. La,robe. fnc, l havcReEar in
my experience of public bodies seen any
presiding officer who exsellcd Mr.. German
in dignity and ease of department. quick
ness and fairness of decision, or usbanity
and gentleness in address.
Itis to be regretted that the effort TO COM
promise difficulties between State Of Ma
ryland and b. & D. X. r. should have
proved abortive. The House of Delegates
is responsible for such result. although i,
must be admitted. that after the passage
Of the law to tax property Cor gross re-
ceipts) Of all railroads. the b. 4 o. r. r
Co. evinced very little wish or anxiety for
favorable action in the premises. In ma
king appropriations for schools. &c. the
Committee Of Ways and Means OF House
of Delegates declined TO extend State as
sistanco. or TO continue appropriations for
academies or bodies of a exclusively denom-
national nature or character. The rule
was wise one perhaps, but in its app.i-
cation, the House was not very happy or
consistent 1t refused an appropriation
Of SO. 600 TO ST. Mary's Industrial School.
which is open to children Of all dcnom;-
nations. and granted Sl2, o00,o ST. Johns
College at Annapolis. which. although
open to al denominations also. is and has
been exclusively under the control anG
management of one only. Irejoice at the
good fortune of St Johns College in OBJ
tanning such endowment. and only regret
that other literary aud useful schools aud
institutions were less fortunate.
The defeat o: the bill to enable the
County Commissioners of Prince Georges.
Charles and ST. Mary's counties to sub
scribe to the stock of the Washington and
Poin, Lookout Railroad. under wise and
specified conditions and limitations, and
with proyiso to submit said bill to the vo-
ters of said counties for their approval. ere
it could be submitted TO and receive the
sanction of the Legislature Of 1874, has
no. dampeued the arior or postponed the
action Of the new organization in taking
the initiatory steps to surrey and construct
the road.
A company of efficient and skillful civil en-
gineers and surveyors is being organized
with \ view to commence operations. and
to mark gu. the line and construct the
the bed of said road. and also to obtain
the right Of way, &c. Ii is not proposed