The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-09-11
The Republican State Convention.


assembled at Westminster, on Wednesday
last, was called to order by Mr.. Joseph B.
Pugh, of Port Deposit, Chairman of the
State Central Committee, at 12 o'clock NJ
John E. Smith was elected temporary
Chairman. w. T. Warburton, of Cecil,
was appointed on the committee of one
from each county and each legislative dis
trict Of Baltimore City on credentials, and
Hon. Jacob Tome was appointed on SINH
larly composed committee on resolutions.
PERMANENT OFFICERS.
The committees returned to the commit
tee rooms, and in few moments the Com.
mittee on Permanent Organization return.
ed, and through the Chairman, Baltis Fl.
Kennard, made the following report: Fol
President of the Convention, William j
Jones, of Cecil; Vice Presidents, Ephraiu
Richmond, of Frederick; Francis Miller, Of
Montgomery; Lemuel Mallalieu, of Queen
Anne's; John Reichard, of Washington
Riley E. Wright, of Baltimore city, and J
Perkins, of Prince Georges; for permanent
Secretaries, Charles E. Shanahan, of Tai
bot, and VIM. Moody, of Garrett; for Ser.
geant- at Arms, James r. Armacost.
The committee also recommended that
the rules of the Maryland House Delegates
govern the proceedings of this Convention
The committee also reported the creden
tials of delegates in regular order, substi
tuting the name of John T. Ensor, o.
Baltimore county, in place of H. G. Long
necker, and the name of DR.. VIM. S. Reese
in place of Hon. John L. Thomas, of Bal
timore city.
The report was adopted, and on motion
this Convention took recess of half Al
hour, while awaiting the return of the
Committee on Resolutions.
The Chairman of the Committee on Or.
ganization, after handing in his report,
said that he had been requested by Hon.
John E. Smith, temporary Chairman, not
to return him for permanent Chairman.
and because of this request the COMMITTEES
had reluctantly complied with it and chosen
another gentleman, Mr.. Jones.
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT.
On taking the chair, the permanent
Chairman, Mr.. Jones, of Cecil, said: He
had left home with no expectation that
such great honor as this would be con-
ferred upon him by this Convention
Therefore, his being elected Chairman was
no self.seeking, no following out of desire
of his heart. This Convention has met at
an important era in the history of this
State; at time when she is surrounded by
such terrible state of affairs as threaten
her financial ruin.
On looking about US, what do we see ?
In 1864 the Legislature reduced the direct
tax to five cents on the hundred dollars.
Being in the Legislature at the time, it
became part of his duty to examine into
the whole subject of the taxes. And he,
with the Legislature, deemed this sum of
five cents on the hundred dollars entirely
sufficient to keep up the sinking fund,
which was finally to pay off the whole
debt of the State, and to pay all the cur
rent expenses. To this was added ten
cents on the hundred dollars to meet the
Maryland defense loan. How is it to-day :?
The direct taxes are twenty cents on the
hundred dollars, and the defence loan,
which was adopted merely as a war meas
ure, only to continue for short time, is
still kept up and increased. Mr.. Woolford,
the great Maryland firancier, has issued
over three hundred thousand dollars of the
defence loan, which was to have been re-
tired, and which had only been intended as
a temporary expedient, and is only able to
meet the interest of the State debt and the
expenses of government by the constant
resort to the printing press. This is the
man who is named by the Democratic ticket
to continue this work.
The good name of the State is not as it
was fifteen years ago. He could recollect
the time when it was said that it was no
use to go to Annapolis with money to buy
legislation. Some might be needed for
purchasing cigars and oysters for honor
able members, but money for brides would
have been worse than useless. Now the
ring demands and receives its fifteen per
cent on every bill of appropriation that is
passed.
This very ring, the ring which demanded
its fifteen per cent from the charitable
institutions, has made the Democratic
nominations for Governor and other State
officers. Although Mr.. Hamilton was the
choice of the people who vote the Demo
cratic ticket, yet this ring forced Mr..
Carroll upon them.
On looking back, even at the war years,
we find that session of the Legislature
never before cost over $94, 900, but now it
costs over $4,000.
Our duty as patriots and as good Mary
landers, desiring the prosperity of the
State, is to See that the money of the State
shall not be thus squandered-that we shall
not be keeping, for instance, an Admiral of
the Oyster Fleet at an expense of $40, 900.
The good name of the State is beyond all
things. To weed out corruption we are
willing to join hands with any party or
any man who is sincere and honest in his
desire for reform [great applause] and
who wishes to elect Legislature that can
not be bought.
On the return of the Convention after
the recess the Committee on Resolutions,
through Francis Miller, of Montgomery,
its Chairman, reported that after consider
able debate the committee had instructed
him to report the following:
WHEREAS, We have seen with profund
the uprising of great masses of
the people of Maryland, without regard to
previous party ties, whose only object is to
secure honest and equal government, and
we shall best show our devotion to the
highest public good by declaring our desire
to CO operate cordially and heartily with
such movement; therefore,
Resolued, That committee of one from
each county and one from each Legislative
district Of Baltimore City be appointed by
the delegates from each county and district
to confer with all organized friends of
REFORM with the view to the selection of