The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-10-01
The Constitutional Amendment.

The amendment to the Constitution of the
State, proposed by the last General Assembly,
which is to be submitted for ratification or
rejection ut the general election on the I'd day
Of November next is most important one.
If II majority of votes are cast for the amend.
ment, it will become part of the organic
law of the State.
BY the eighth section of article four of the
Constitution, MS it now stands, whenever n
party to any cause makes application by his
counsel, supported by affidavit of such party
concerned that he can not have fair and
impartial trial, the court is required to order
the removal of the case for trial to some 9TH
er court having competent jurisdiction. The
judge has no discretionary power in such
cases, except to designate the court where
such case shall be tried. Thispriviegc, which
was intended primarily as II safeguard to in
dividuals against whom local prejudices
might exist, has, however, been frequently
abused by ltigants, sometimes for the sole
purpose of worrying their antagonists into
more favorable terms than they could get by
u fair trial; and even counsel have upon
some occasions resorted to it to obtain con-
iinuance when all other devices have failed
1t has repeatedly occurred that the expenses
of our courts have been increased unneces.
sarily by the removal Of petty criminal cases
to other counties, when such cases could
have been as fairly and more economically
tried in the court where the prescntment was
made
The amendment, if it should be ratified by
the people, would not apply to civil cases,
where the expenses are borne by the parties
to the suits, neither would it apply to cases
which are or may be punishable by death.
In all other cases, including the petty crimi-
nal cases alluded to, the amendment leaves
it discretionary with the court to determine
whether or not the reasons for which n re-
moval is asked are sufficient, The removal of
cases has frequently been found to be great
hardship to witnesses, besides adding great
ly to the expense of the county, and the
amendment, if ratified, would have the effect
of materially lessening the cost of our courts,
WlbuOut thO iSuoo WIFI Tile
proper administration ofjustice. We there
fore hope it will receive the full vote of the
people of this county.
BALTIMORE COUNTY NoMINATIoNs.-Ou
neighbors in Baltimore county, made their
Democratic nominations on Friday and Sat-
urday last, under the Crawford county sys-
tenn. The result has been bewildering to the
Statesmen" of the county, and numerous
speculations are INDUCED in as to what
might have happened if something had been
done which was unfortunately left undone.-
The contest was short, sharp and decisive
and large vote was pollcd. We hope for
the success of the cause which we all have at
heart, that those who failed to get the cand-
dates Of their choice, as well as those who
succeeded, will work as earnestly for the
election of the whole ticket nominated as
they have just done for their own particular
friends.
The ticket nominated is as follows
For Senator, T. Sturgis Davis for House
of Delegates, David Fowler, George Ii. Will
liams, Wilson Townsend. ID. nj. Matthews,
z. Poteet and Charles e. Fendall for States
Attorney, j. Frederick G. Talbot; for Sheriff,
Shadrach STREET.; for County Commission
ers, VIM. Carmichael, Pleasant Hunter and
Edward Rider; for Judges of the Orphans
Court, Joshua +, Cockey, Thomas G. Rut-
ledge and @. II. Owings for Treasurer John
#. B. Parlett; for Surveyor, Thomas l.
George.