The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-11-27
THE DUTY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

On the Legislature of 1856 will rest
devolved upon any similar body in our
State during the last decade. The demands
which will be made on it are pregnant with
the well-being Of society, and the preserva-
ton of law and order. Great abuses have
crept into every department of the State
government, sinecure offices have been
created by the score, positions made for
the jackals aud camp followers during the
last hours of a Legislative session, such
persons indicted into such positions at the
latest moment and salaries paid them for
the whole term, the peoples money made
to compensate the party services Of fuse
full men, taxes increased, the cost of
Legislative session more than doubled, and
a lobby, with the flesh pots as the objects
of it's intentions, controlling absolutely all
legislation. Mercenary motives prominent
in every public act, honest merit ignored,
integrity overthrown and ring of corrup-
tionists directing State affairs as though it
considered power but plaything, and the
welfare of the people but a bubble to be
blown about by every jackdaw at his Ca
price until it bursts. Ruffianism rampant
in the greatest commercial center of the
State, the ballot box tempered with in the
most fragrant manner, the will of the peo-
pie defeated by organized villainy, and
fraud and intimidation sanctioned by men
who fill the highest official positions
Such is the grave condition of affairs
which the coming Legislature must look in
the face, and prepare itself to grapple with.
That it will be able to correct all the abuses,
or even the greater portion of them, we do
not hope and can not expect, but we turn
in confidence to it to take the initial RENE
dial steps. The people look to the appoint
ment by it Of investigating committees
composed of men who will dare to do right,
and who will not be deferred from an hon
est, conscientious performance of their duty
by any terrorism which the ring may en-
deavor to exercise. The demand for the
exposure of the villainies and the punish
ment of the authors, regardless of the
names which they may bear, is imperative,
and if the nippers can be placed about the
wrists of Mr.. Michael Bannon, all honest
men will rejoice to see him summarily
elected from the position which he would
dishonor, and which he would occupy by
virtue of the most glaring and infamous
outrage. The manifold interests of the
State call for more rigid economy, and
the looping off of the foul excrescences
that have been exhausting the powers of
the Commonwealth. But above all, the
people look for the repeal or amendment,
by the Legislature, of the present Registry
law, which occupies place in our statute
book but to disgrace it, and which has
become tool in the hands of the Ring,
and made to serve party ends in the most
unblushing manner. With the conniyance
of the Registers and the Ring judges of
election it has degenerated into an instru-
ment of the most palpable fraud, and every
consideration of public and private moral
lily and fairness calls for it's immediate re-
peal, and the substitution of law which
will accomplish the purposes for which 1t
was framed, but which it SO far falls short
of achieving. AS these duties shall be met
and performed or avoided, so shall the com
ing Legislature be judged. IT, champion
ing the cause of the people, it shall lay the
knife to the cancers of the body polite,
and endeavor to nfuse into it's veins more
healthy flow of blood, it will be remembered
with gratitude by all. But if, meanly stoop-
ing to corrupt power, it shall only answer
the beck and call of the Ring, it will re
ceive and deserve the execration of all up
right, honorable men. The two courses are
before it. Which will it choose
fB- If you have friend with a cough or