The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-04-20
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1878.

We desire to treat Mr.. Wilson with
all possible respect and courtesy and
gave place to his letter in our last is
sue, in which he explains his reasons
for voting to consummate what we
think great wrong to our State and
county. We think he and his col
league were over reached in this
matter, and we deeply regret that
the names of our representatives are
recorded in favor of such a bill.
Mr.. Wilson is mistaken in suppos-
ing that we are disposed to disparage
his or his colleagues energy, watch
fulness and industry in other matters,
and we only criticise their course in
this matter because they allowed
themselves to be misled, and "de-
bauched" if you please, by the agents
and active workers of both railroad
and canal, into casting votes, which
when rightly understood, will be in
opposition to the views and wishes of
every right thinking citizen in the
county. He says it is star more
cay to criticise than to adjust equit-
ably and fairly the intricate and long
pending differences between the
State and the railroad" In reply we
have to say that their interference
with these questions was wholly IN.
warranted. The railroad company
had taken these questions into court
and availed of every legal expedient
to make the controversy of long
standing, and when it found itself
beaten at every point and judgment
about to be entered up against it, it
proposed "compromise," and de
bauched" the Legislature into its &C.
ceptance. Does Mr.. Wilson pretend
for one moment that the railroad
company would have taken these
cases out of the courts had it not have
been practically defeated on its every
issue, or for one moment believe that
the people of this section of the State
have gained single valuable conces-
sion for all that has been so easily
surrendered by them? What does
the concession of lower rate for coal,
&C., to Cumberland amount to? If
effective, it draws away from our own
commercial metropolis the trade of
our county to enrich and build up
the trade of a rival, and in another
State, and.the benefits that our PEG.
pie may derive are more than offset
by the damage that will accrue to the
State at large by the diversion of its
trade. Are our people willing to ac-
eept prosperity at this price-of an
other sections loss?
The dodge is a shrewd one to
"drive" our freight by the way of the
canal and build up that defunct con-
Germ by compelling our trade in coal,
lumber, &C., to 60 to Alexandria. AS
to the State interests in the canal had
we not better sink the whole concern
than revivify it by taking the trade
from our fellow citizens and tax
payers and transferring it to Alexan-
dria? Is the paltry interest we owe
to the canal to over balance our in
terest in Baltimore and for the sake
of our petty investment in the canal
are etc legislate for the building up
of Alexandria, or to enact laws to
compel Garrett county to find ITS out
let for coal, lumber. &C., through
that lone horse town ?" We wish to
to do Mr.. Wilson no injustice, but if
this was not the legitimate purpose
and effect of this compromise" we
are open toconviction and will thank
him to show in what other way this
compromise amounts to anything.
Will Mr.: Wilson please point out
what other concessions, remote or
prospective this famous "comprO-
mise" holds, out? We think that
they can all he included in the gen.
eral classification of "glittering and
subtle generalities."
The compromise amounts to Just
this: The questions were in court,
and near decision which was gen.
orally supposed by the best lawyers
would be favorable to the State.
Those decision would have settled all
the points in controversy satisfactor-
lily. There was no call for legisla-
tive interference, and unless some
substantial concessions were offered
by the railroad the Legislature had
no business to interfere. The only
concession made was wholly in the
interest of the canal-the price paid
by one corporation for the others 81
lence while its interests were in peril.
The railroad can very well afford all
it has granted if the compromise will
Stand IF hos saved nnp million