The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-09-14


In the canvass just closed for the nomination
OF candidates for the several State and county |
offices, the undersigned presented himself for
the suifrages OF the voters of the Conservative
Democratic party, for denomination as a candi-
date for the State Senate.
One Of the most prominent objections urged
against my denomination was the fact that
was Director of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
| road Company, and that would be governed
entirely in my action as State Senator, if elect
ed, by what might believe was the interest of
that corporation, however antagonistic it might
be to that of the State, and particularly was it
charged that if elected, l would support any
measure looking to the State being compelled
| to pay all losses sustained by the company in
the late strike ofits employees. Another charge
was, that was in reception annually of large
! sum in consideration of my services as Director
| of the company.
appointed BY the Board of Public Works to re-
present the State in the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company and il is my sworn
duty to protect as far as in my power lies the
interests of the State in that corporation This
| have done to the best of my ability, although
| in justice to the management of the COMPANY |
must say tnat since have had the honor of be-
| ing member of the Board of Directors l have
| seen no disposition on the part of the manage
ment to urge any measure calculated in my
| opinion, TO prejudice either the States interest
in the road or detrimental to those of the COM
munity at large. The only questions which have
| ullSCD, Vi uUy ulOInGUl were OF legal clarac-
ter. One was the right of the State 10 continue
to receive one-iith of the receipts from the pas.
senger travel OF the Washington branch; the
other, the right of the State to tax certain prop
erty OF the company; which questions the
courts will decide.
AS to the charge of my being in favor of COM
pelng the State to pay for all losses sustained
by the company during the strike of its en-.
ployces, will only say that the charge was a
malicious one, because, if elected, would have
to swear to support the Constitution of the
State, which positively forbids the passage of
any eX post facto law, or, in plain English, the
ENACTMENT of any bill providing for the repara-
tion of any particular wrong after it was com
mitted.
The other charge, rs regards my receiving
large compensation for my services is incorrect.
No emolument of any kind whatever is allowed
any Director. The only privilege cnjoyed is the
right of passage over the road free of charge ;
therefore the position is solely one of honor and
trust.
1t may be thought by some that this reply TO
the above charges should have been made before
the primary election was held, and that it is ul-
necessary and uncalled-for now. In one sense
1t is so, as it cannot affect q nomination already
decided upon but It's object is for another pur.
pose, and that is to serve as an introduction to
Il few brief remarks desire to make to the PEG.
pie of Hartford in reference to that spirit of un-
mcritcd hostility which appears TO be felt by n
portion OF them, in common with those of other
sections OF the State, in regard to the Baltimore
refer to the causes which produced this feeling,
it is sufficient TO know that it exists and has eX
listed Tor several years, and which, when it is
considered how intimately the interests of both
state and company are interviewer, every well
wisher to either or both, should most assuredly
endeavor to allay. There are gratifying eyi.
dences that better feeling is being developed,
and expressions have been made in different
quarters through the press, that The true inter.
csts OF the State demand that fair, amicable
and impartial adjustment of all matters at issue
between the State and the company should be
made by the Legislature at its coming session.
This is so evidently correct and proper that it
requires no argument to enforce its propriety
and cXpcdiency.
Principally through and by the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad the State of Mary.
land and the city of Baltimore now occuDv
the proud position they do. The one, ranking
first among the States of the Union SO far as its
financial credit is concerned, and the other as A
great commercial emporium, and destined TO
become one OF the most important grain marts
OF the world 1t is not amiss to state in this
connection, that it is but an act of impartial
justice, that the proper credit should be given
to the master mind which for nearly, If not
quite twenty yerrs, has directed the operations
OF this great work While there may be an hon.
est adherence OF opinion in regard to some of its
measures, and their bearing upon certain inter.
ests, stlll when the grand results are considered
which have conduced to build up on q firm and
enduring basis, such important enterprises and
inuustileS WHICH nave SO advanced and Will con-
tinue to advance in prosperity and wealth both
, state and city, we certainly can without apy
very great demand on our magnanmity forget
the transient effects of any mistakes which NAV
have been made during the past in the manage
ment of the road.
That experience is one of the best of teachers
cannot be Denied and profiting by it the causes
which upon examination and proper considera.
ton are found to have been heretofore the
sources OF dissatisfaction, will in the future
doubtless be avoided. With the final adjust
ment OF all differences which may exist between
the State and the company by the Legislature
an era of good policy will be inaugurated
among the good results of which will be con.
sequent advancement of the credit of the road
and OF the value of its securities, in which the
State and city of Baltimore, as well as many of
our people, are deeply interested. An extension
OF its operations would also naturally follow,
calling for large increase iG the number of its
employees, with greater ability to pay them
liberal compensation for their labor
In respectfully submitting the above to the
consideration of the people of Hartford, my only
motive is to encourage the development of q
public sentiment which may have its proper
weight with the next General Assembly, and it
is to be hoped that the result of the deliberations
of that body upon the matter may result in such
an arrangement that will be mutually satisfac-
tory to both State and company, and which will
finally close all dsagreements between them.
JNO. CARROLL WALSH.
SeptemberS, 1877.