The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-05-01
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Agricultural Society Middle.

Mr. EDITOR: But for the assertion contained
In Mr.. II. Harris Archer's letter, published in the
Hartford Democrat of the 18th ofApril, that "the
charge of fraudulently mterliming the certificate
of incorporation of our Agricultural Society has
been made by one of our county papers, appa
rently for the purpose of impairing its pros
pecte," Iwould not, for the first time, nditc il
letter for public print
thy citizen have for injuring such praisewov
thy enterprise? You and your paper have al
ways been warm, earnest advocates of every
measure for the benefit of our comfy and the
welfare of its people, and most Jealous supper
tiers, for years, of railroads and agricultural so.
cieties.
Ifthe charter of the society, which YOU together
with others labored so hard TO organize, was de.
signedly mutilated, you deserve the thanks of
the stockholders for exposing the fraud point.
ing out the mode to circumvcne the manipulo.
tors, restore the original act of incorporation.
and retain the stock agreed tn be subscribed un.
der its provisions.
| An act of Incorporation was submitted 10 n
mass meeting, held in Bel Air on Saturday,
january 24th, 1874, and by that mass meeting re.
| ferred to q committee, who made some slfpht
changes in its provisions, all of which were
adopted by the meeting, with the entire act, ex
ccpt the section naming the directors, who were
subsequently to be elected by the stockholders.
The striking out of this section, which was in.
serted in compliance with the law of the State
has caused ali the difficulty, us the friends of the
society predicted. This charter was then signed,
| sealed and acknowledged by the corporal ors
and under 1t citizens OF the county agreed to take
| stock.
| meeting of stockholders was afterwards call
cd, directors elected, and the act Of ircorpora.
| ton was approved by Judge Waters. When
handed in for record in the Clerks office it PROV
ed not 10 be the act Of the mass meeting of jan,-
| airy oath, but the act of unauthorized Scrsons to
suit their own views. correspondent of your
paper called attention to this, whereupon the
mutilated charter, bearing on its face the evil
| dences of what is above stated, was withdrawn
from the Clerks office where it should have been
left, and has not been returned, although re
| peatedly asked for.
new agricultural society was then immcd,-
ately formed, with other incorporators, without
consultation with stockholders or with u ma
jolity OF the original mcorporators or the direc-
| tors elected by the stockholders. The act Of
these unauthorized persons contained the same
Objectionable provisions which were never rati-
| fled by the mass meeting of the 9th january
nor by the stockholders Of the first society.
Now, your paper is arraigned before public
opinion for exposing this fraud and suggesting
that the original corporators be called together,
In orderto perfect the organization of the origi
nal society. do not think you have anything
! to fear.
But Mr.. Archer says that the first act of incor-
| poration was illegal, and therefore an absolute
nullity, and of course being nullty could not
be ''traudulently intcrlincd." This sounds so
was interlined. 1t certainly does not belong TO
the manner OF reasoning Of farmers; for as cIari.
table as they are, they will not excuse one who
! intended to do wrong and only fails BY an acct
dent which he could not control, and which the
| law will not punish. They will hold the would
be wrong-doer to moral accountability: and
are clear-sightcd enough to see that if the acts
stated herein were committed ii was "fraudu.
lent intcrlineation," be the instrument illegal OF
not. This charter was recorded as II LEGAL 1onei
! those md IL, /, l.,
late for them to set up its illegulity as an cx
cusc for the interlneation. Besides the friends
Of the original society who will not countenancc
nor defend such conduct, are not satisfied of it,
illegnlity-and will take advice upon that sub
ject.
| Whilst speaking of the legality of papers.
| would like to know what authority uny commit
tee appointed by any person or persons had to
Alter amend or revise the dccd or charter of The
corpOrntors under the original act of incorpora
ton. The Legislature of the State has provided
mode, which should have been pursued and
deny this last remaining excuse for this I'M
warranted act.
Farmers who have agreed TO take stock in The
original society, if fairly dealt with, will com
ply with their agreements; and your PROPOSE
tion is the best that can now be adopted with
any prospect of success.
Twelve directors are certainly enough to man
age The affairs of the society and ill all the oil
ces, and still not be over burdencd with their DIN
ties. Some Of the corporators, directors am
stockholders who were not consulted, at Least
think SO.
As for the directors chosen by the stockhold
ers, no one can object to them. They are ineli
gent and discreet gentlemen, and the affairs o
the society may be safely entrusted to thei
hands; but there is an objection TO unauthorize,
persons intcrlining papers signed and acknowl
edged in good faith, and believed by the signers
TO Dc valld legal Instruments; especially whel
such interlineations and changes were mad,
without aseertaining the views ola majority 0
the original incorporstors or directors, or ever
any number of the stockholders.
Trusting that some good may grow out of thu
meeting of the 10th of May, that the affairs O
the society may be placed upon fair basis sc
that harmony may be ensured, and we may hay,
u fine meeting this fall, am, Yours, &c. Il.