Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-10-17
ICOMMUNICATED.1

ICoMMUNICATED
Mr.. Editor: Being confined, from indis-
position and a fall recently had, AMI un-
able to travel, lave been looking over
the proceeding@ ii the political parties of
the State, and especially of our county,
with more than ordinary interest Whilst
took no part in either convention, Unjust
say feel deep interest in the well-being
of our State, and especially in our county
affairs. 1 could not but feel surprised at
the boldness of the two last conventions,
held in your town on Wednesday last,
October 1st,) in that they both acclaimed
against extravaganza and heavy taxation,
and promise retrenchment and reform and
especially was | surprised to see the indie
pendent Democrats, socalled, passing re-
solutions of censure against the last Legis-
lature of the State for appropriating the
sum of twenty-five hundred dollars to-
wards clerk hire, &C., for the benefit of the
Comptroller of the State, &c. | am an adj
vocate for reform, and have ever been OPP
posed to any and all increase of expendi-
lures of money more than is really neces-
sary for the support of government and of
ficials thereof and would willingly and
gladly see the salaries of all officers of the
Federal, State and county governments re-
duced to the smallest possible sum consist
ent with the position and duties thereof
But what farce to talk of reform and re-
trenchment and at the same time attach
themselves to party whose political lead
ers have just voted themselves over mil
lion of dollars for services for which they
had been amply paid, and then talk of re-
trenchment when the party, with whom
they now propose to act, have doubled the
Presidents salary and increased the pay of
all officers of the General Government over
fifty per cent. Oh, ye Independent Demo-
Gratis, how can you stumble at a mole hill
and stride over a mountain Your Ian
guage about retrenchment will do very
well, but your action is aiding to give our
State and county into the hands of those
who, in every State in which they have
had the rule, have increased taxation and
distress. l am opposed to the manner in
which conventions, as a general rule, have
been conducted, and do not feel pledged
to support them. In that respect I am in
dependent, not having attended primary
meeting, or participated in any of the pro-
|ceedings connected Herewith.
Now, sir, hate extravaganza and I'M
necessary expenditures, whether in private
individuals or in officials of the govern
ment. [ would be glad to see every off
cial attending faithfully to the discharge
of theNduties of the Office to which he may
have been elected or appointed, as the case
may be, with due regard to economy, and
to the saving to the State or county of
every dollar that can be, and have no I'M
necessary charges against the State or
county. But l cannot see how that can
be effected by voting with party the his
tory of which has been to increase extrav-
agance, and thereby increase taxation and
distress. Look at Washington city-the
taxes amount to a heavy rent on all real
property. Look at the down-trodden
South, where Radical rule has been car
ried out for the last several years, perfectly
overwhelmed with debt.
Yes, sir, such is the history of Radical
rule. How then shall I, as an independ-
ent voter, act9 Yes, sir, claim to be in
dependent at this time, for, as I before
said, Ihave attended no political meetings
this year and shall not !; yet have an in
terest, as taxpayer in the reduction of
all expenses of the General, State and
county governments, and must act accord
ingly.
We have now before us two sets of can
didates for Office the regular Democratic
and Conservatives on one side, and the
Radicals and Independents on the other
Neither can claim to be independent, both
sides have now been regularly nominated.
I did not like the nominations made by
the Democrats and Conservatives in all re-
spects, and had said 1 would not vote for
one of the nominees. Whilst, however, 1
had strong objections to the manner in
which that nomination was made, I have
a stronger objection to supporting those
who promise SO much reform and yet go
with party who have never been known
to retrench in the least.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, for 1 have
written much more than I intended, as an
independent voter, see but one choice
left-either to vote with the Conservatives
the entire ticket, or else divide my ticket
and thereby open the chances of success.
1 shall choose the former and vote the en-
tire Conservative ticket, and hope, if elect
ed, we shall receive from them every re-
trenchment in the expenses of the State
and county they can possibly make.
A TAXPAYER.