The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-01-25
golitital Attairs.


eral power, which seem 10 threaten the an
initiation Of local government. We pre-
sent, below, another extract from the same
document. The people slumber on, IN
listless Indifference, while their rights
are gradually being taken away from them,
and their limbs bound with the wisps Of
Federal power 1t is our duty, as public
journalists, to sound the alarm, and arouse,
if possible, the masses to sense Of impend-
ing danger Gov Ponder, as the chiefex-
ecutiye officer Of sovereign State, utters
his earnest protest against this state Of
things, and the people ought TO give heed
to these notes of warning from their faith
ful and trusted tribunes Let every one
read and reflect Gov. Ponder says
The relation of the State to the Federal
government gives to our citizens an inter
est in the administration of Federal affairs.
It may not, therefore, be inappropriate to
refer to such action of the general govern
ment as touches the interest and affects the
welfare Of the people Of this as well as 9TH
er States of the Union As citizens of a
common government, we share in the pro-
lection which it secures, aud are compelled
to bear, in part, the burdens which in i'm
poses. The economical administration Of
the government is matter in which all
have direct interest, and if the public
expenditures are greater than necessary,
all have right to insist upon their cur
tailment. The interest upon the public
debt must be paid, and the principal ought
to be diminished by proper gradual re-
duction. Beyond this, the expenditures
should not exceed the absolute wants Of an
economical administration of the govern
ment. In my opinion the people of the
country are contributing at least one hun
dred millions Of dollars more for the sup
port of their government than they should
be required to pay. The citizens of this
''"'e nave 70 "e,i 'neir run snare OF tiiis
u""e'eS'A'5 pu'ueh lney are paying an
nually, into the Federal treasury, by indi-
rect taxation in the shape of duties upon
'n'poi'eu s'ous consumed ana 'n internal
'"ue ,aae'' no' mucn iess 'nah one NIL
"O" VI uuna's WINE 'h,s amount may
'''," 'inAii, as compared win amounts para
" m'ser ''a'es' IL rs nevertheless a heavy
'an apon "he resources oi our peopie--a'
'eaS' uouole 'ne amount required tor the
support oi their own local government
Inc business Oh this State y PRINCIPALLY
asr'cui'ura', ana the pronts 1t Affords, at
'he low prices winch nave prevailed fol
some years past Tor sueh products, ex-
'reme'y measre' Whatever dlminishes
unnecessarily those proniS Is felt as an op-
pressi'e purue'i, because II takes from the
peoP'e part oi Iha' which Is necessary for
'neir support ana comfort, Inc duties PAID
upon imported goods consumed are not on
oneiouS pu' many OF 'hem unjust Inc
'a'ia ra'es are ADJUSTED more Tor the pro-
'ec'ion oi certain interests IN the country
'nan 70 meet 'ne wants OF the treasury
anu 'he people oi 'his' as weii as other
o'aees' are NOT oniy paying a large amount
oi 'axes Tor the support Of the government,
oa' heasy .rioute 70 tne mauuiaeturing
interests OF tne country. These exactions
are rendered the more oppressive from the
low prices oil agricultural products, and the
curtailment of accommodations from the
banking institutions of the State. The
circulation Of our State banks has been
destroyed, and their ability to accommo-
date diminished BY the National Banking
System established by Congress. The Ma
tional banks, limited as they must necessa-
rily be in any agricultural community in
the amount of their capital and circulation,
afford less accommodations than heretofore
furnished by our State banks. The conse-
quence has heennot only to lessen the ability
Of our citizens to pay the exactions Of the
general government, but also greatly to di-
minish the value ofreal property within the
State, However well adapted the Nation
al banking system may be to meet the wants
of commercial communities and the money
centres of the country, experience has
proved that it furnishes to the rural por-
tions of the country far less advantages
than the State banks which it has super
seded.
mjuriously, however, as the material
interests o. 'ne people may have been af-
'ec'ed oy 'he action OF the general govern
aen', /" Is matter o. far less consequence
tlldu tDe uuuupf 10 be NUDrpDpu0nd from