The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-08-26
Democratic Primary Meetings.

The Democrats of the It'll district assem-
bled in the Court House in this city on Sat.
urday, the 18th of August, for the purpose of
selecting delegates TO represent the district in
the County Convention which will assemble
here on the 18th instant, to elect delegates to
the Congressional Convention and the State
Convention. David F0wble, ESD, was made
Chairman of the meeting and James II. DIFF
fenbaugh Secretary. The following resolu.
tons were proposed by Col Maulsby and
unanimously adopted, and the delegation to
be elected was instructed to lay them before
the County Convention:
|. Resotred, That the declaration of the st.
Louis Convention that reform is necessary
in the scale of public unprecedented,
State, and municipal embodies the issue of
paramount importance to the American peo.
pie at the present juncture of their affaics-
the fact, stated by Governor Tilden in his
letter of acceptance, that, since the close OF
the late civil war, the people have paid in
taxes, the sum of seven thousand FIVE hundred
millions of dollars, gives such emphasis to
the above declaration as entities it TO the ac-
tive attention Of every citizen who cares for
the welfare of himself, his neghbors, and his
fellow citizens-the established fact, that one
fourth OF the gross amount of taxes, levied on
the people, has been embezzled by the officers
entrusted with their collection, ought to star.
tie into activity the alarmed attention OF every
honest man.
2. That it is impossible for popular govern,
ment to exist under continuance of taxa
ton so oppressive US that which has been
imposed on the American people since the
end Of the war.
8. That an excessive and proaigate expen.
diture Of public money has been persistently
interviewer with the many other grievous
abuses of the present administration
continuous abuse Of the taxing power, one of
the highest functions of government, has been
SO great as justly to beget suspicion that it
has not been casual, but has been deliberate,
and intended to reach the result to which it
tends, the gradual, but certain, wearing away
of the foundation Of popular government.
4. That the American people, since the
close of the war, have manifested drowsy
indifference to the strides ofthose in power to.
wards perverting the constitutional govern.
ment devised by our fathers TO n centralized
despotism-not less certainly despoiism,
because called by another name-iti is time for
the people to arouse themselves to a practical
exercise Of the eternal vigilance which is the
ofprice liberty, without which popular govern.
ment cannot continue to Withstand The persist.
ent assaults OF its enemies, in the guise Of
friends. IL is certainly true, that there are
considerable numbers of men amongst us
whose habits, tastes, and interests are not in
sympathy with the necessary simplicity Of
government by the people,
b. That we denounce, as one of such strides
the military order of the Executive of the
United States, issued through the Secretary
Of War Immediately on the adjournment Of
Congress, directing all Of the army not no,c
engaged in fighting Indian savages to be so
distributed in the Free States of this Union
OF Free and Equal States, as to be available
for most convenient use at the elections soon
TO occur--in substance, ordering the General
OF the army to take care, that whilst one fifth
OF the peoples soldiers are directing their
bullets and bayonets against Indian savages,
the remaining four-fifths shall be in conye.
nient readiness to direct their bullets and
bayonets against the people themselves, at
their own ballot-b0xes, when directed by
military authority, invoked by local authori.
ties, themselves, in numerous instances, de.
testing, and destested by, the great body of
the communities over whom they are placed
In rule by fraud and force. No man who has
been bred in the principles Of American Lib.
erty can fail to feel hot Indignation ut an
act, uncomfortable, until il occurred; but we
believe in, and rely on, the manhood Of
ninety-nine hundredths Of our fellow citizens.
and trust they will cast aside party passion IN
the presence Of so unparalleled an assault on
the principles Of their government, and ofthe
civil liberty equally dear to all, and willunite
inrebuking the malignant spirit which prompt.
cd Il; and we content ourselves with the dis.
charge OF present duty in entering our solemn
protest against this military order, repngnant
TO the spirit Of the Constitution and Laws,
and subyorsiye Of every principle Of Amcri-
can Lberty,-and In invoking each and every
Of our fellow citizens, who may be in sym.
pathy with government by the people to unite
with us in giving effect to this protest.
O. That we urge on our fellow citizens TO
hold in check, the warmth Of feeling natural.
ly induced by the act denounced in the fore.
going resolution, 10 such extent as may be
necessary to prevent that, or any other col
lateral question, from being used to Obscure
the simple issue: reform Is necessary ia the
scale ofpublic expenses--federal, State, and
municipal That issue settled, our govern,
fncnt is relieved from present pressing dan.
ger, and other perils which may threaten Il
We will meet, and repel, as occasion arises.
!. That the House Of Representatives ha.
entitled itself to the confidence and gratitude
Of the American people by its heroic labors,
which have resulted, notwithstanding the ex'
traordinary opposition by the Senate and The