Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-04-10


We have always had faith in the sober
second thought of the people; and though
the American people are the most patient
the world ever saw, yet they will not stand
everything, and they have shown that now
patience has ceased to be virtue.
Legislative.
The Legislature adjourned on Monday
night, and we are glad of it. May it rest
in peace!
The wisdom Of the constitutional pro-
vision limiting the session to ninety days,
is fully illustrated every time that body
meets. We cannot help it, but we always
look forward with fear and trembling to
its approaching sessions and feel as if a
load were lifted from US when it has ad-
journed. It may be that these feelings are
the ofshoots of the just apprehensions
which every lover of stable government
naturally feels when the Congress of the
nation is in session. And the wonderful
potency for evil legislation which the lat
ter assemblage has developed in the last
ten years naturally inspires feeling of
apprehension when one knows of the ex-
istence of similar body, even though it
be dwarfed into Lilliputian dimensions.
Though ninety days is allowed by the
Constitution as the period of the session
of our Legislature, yet it is well known
that all the really important work is done
during the last few days of the time. The
first part of the session is frittered away
in pleasure jaunts, visiting public institu-
tions, dining and winning at the same, and
doing nothing generally. Then when the
closing hours draw near comes haste and
waste, ill-advised laws and put-up jobs,
until naturally enough people feel relieved
when the honorable body has adjourned
sine die.
Perhaps the Legislature just adjourned
WAS less ohnnxinua in- thANn sas,,ants +hc-
many Of its predecessors. We agree with
a contemporary who says it will probably
be more noted for what it has not done
than for what it has done. And we think
this is about as high an encomium as could
reasonably be awarded to the average Le-
gislature of the present day, when excess
i've legislation seems to be considered a
panacea for all our ills.
We think the recent assemblage was
fully up to the standard Of our usual Legis-
latures in point of ability, though it was
sadly lacking in some very essential ele-
ments. 1t lacked sadly leaders on the
floor, and was most woefully inefficient in
its chairmen of important committees
There was not single man of distinguish
ed ability at the head of any of its great
committees. Hence the uncertain and de-
sultory character of its proceedings. Re-
ports of committees carried no weight be-
cause there was no one commanding conf
dence to explain and support them, and
they were mercilessly slaughtered on the
floor, to be afterwards, perhaps, when fully
understood, adopted. Revenue bills and
appropriation measures would be defeated
one day and adopted the next. All this
gave rise to endless confusion and reproach
Notwithstanding these difficulties we may
say that on the whole we think the Assem-.
bly, has done very well, and we say it prin
cipally because it has done so little. But
in one respect we think it deserves IN
stinted praise. Whilst overwhelmingly
Democratic, nowhere do we find that il
has enacted any purely partisan legislation
On no single subject that We can recall die
the Democrats vote as solid body a!
Democrats. Even in the contested cleo
ton case from Prince Georges county
though the Democratic sympathies were
strongly appealed to, to reinstate Mr.
Brooke in the office of Clerk, yet the com
mittee reported in favor Of new election
and on the adoption of their report the
Democratic vote was somewhat divided
So it was in regard to other matters. We
think this the more commendable because
it is so seldom we see a member, elected
by any party, sinking the partisan in the
effort to legislate for the public good
But still we are glad it has adjourned and
the honorable members have gone to their
homes where they can enjoy, in peace, the
sweets of domestic life, as much for their
repose as ours.
We are not aware Of any local legisla-
ton of Importance affecting our people
A bill was introduced by DR.. Lancaster,
and passed, relating to fences in this coun-
ty. What this bill purposes to accomplish
we do not know, as we have not been hon
ored with copy. We also notice bill
was introduced by the same gentleman,
and passed, relating to repairs on the pub
lie roads in this county. We have not
seen this bill either. If it is for the pur-
pose Of promoting tho more efficient re-