The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-01-01
THE LEGISLATURE.

On Wednesday next the Legislature of the
State of Maryland assemblies at Annapolis,
to take into consideration such matters as
may come before it, to pass such laws as the
changed circumstances of the people may
require, and to afford such relief as may be
Just. The citizens of this Commonwealth
turn to it, as last resort, for the correc-
been heaped upon them. Their honest will
defeated at the late election by means of the
most shameless and brutal instrumental
ties, many of the sworn officers of the law
arrayed against them, and upon the side of
the most lawless and disreputable elements
Of our population, protection refused them
by those whose duty it was to afford pro-
lection, subjected to the foulest indignites
and their lives jeopardlzed while endeavor-
ing to exercise the common privileges of
American citizens, their rights ignored, or,
at least, denied by the highest tribunal in
the State, they come, finally, to the door
of the Legislature, in accordance with the
guarantees of the Bill of Rights, and peacea-
bly, petition that body to grant them that
justice which they could not expect at the
hands of inscriptions Police Commission
ers, and which they have not received from
partisan Court. That this language is
not too strong there is abundant evidence
to prove. The case, as it will be presented
by the Reform party, will strongly appeal
to the sense of fairness Of every honest
member of the Legislature. All that that
party asks is full, fair and thorough inves-
tigation by committee composed of men
who will have some regard for their official
oaths, and who will not endeavor to shut out
testimony on any mere technical grounds.
If, after such an investigation, no basis is
found for the charges that have been made
charges that directly affect the good name
Of the State,-let the responsibility and the
odum rest upon those with whom the
charges originated. If the outrages have
been perpetrated, nothing can be gained by
refusing an examination. Silence in that
instance will be a confession of guilt. Any
attempt to "cover up" or to shield the
guilty ones, if such there are, will but con
firm the suspicious of the upright men of
the State, and, sooner or later, retributive
justice will come.
The Democratic party must face the
music. One of two things it must do, re-
fuse or grant. If it refuses to investigate,
its triumph will be short-lived. The vic
tory it has gained by means of "pudden "
tickets and by force of the crimes com
mitted under its banners by the lowest of
the rabble will hang, like milestone, about
its neck and ensure its final overthrow.
From the standpoint of party we would
desire such refusal. But in this contest
there is something more than mere party
welfare to be considered. The purity of
the ballot box, the right of every citizen to
be protected in the exercise of the privilege
guaranteed by the Constitution, depends
upon the result.
That the Legislature will meet the issue
in proper spirit, and institute such meas
ures as will be necessary to remedy the
injustice that has been done, we have, as
yet, no reason to doubt. Mr.. "Mike :"
Bannon, and Mr.. Arthur German, and Mr..
"Jack =" Fenton and others of that stripe
will, of course, endeavor to block the efforts
of the honest men, but we opine there will
be quite enough of ability and integrity
present to checkmate the attempts of those
worthless. Pinkney Whyte's henchmen will
be there, the lobby will b" button hole, I"
"Billy" McKewen will importune, Fussel-
baugh, Gilmor and Milroy will beg, all the
pressure which the Ring can command will
be brought to bear, even John Lee Carroll
may descend from his lofty eminence and
eondescend to mingle with the whippers-
in,' and there is remote possibility of a
partisan speech from Judge Richard Ora
son of the Court of Appeals. The infu-
ences that the straightforward men will
have to resist will be powerful, but we trust
that they will not succumb, but will give
a., the Reformers an opportunity to establish
the truth of their charges, if it can be so
established. The Supreme Court of the
State has offered premium to fraud and
violence in one instance, we shall see
whether the Legislature will follow the
example in another.
This is to give notice that all citi-
zeus trounled with (Iouoh or Gold Shpuld