The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-04-23

for an adequate tax to pay il imposed ut
the time would he the subject of certain
criticism; whilst upon the other hand to
pay the debt in Il half generation is in
itself sound morality and IL rational. sim
Pile act of justice.
The constitution. article 3. section a.
provided that No debt shall be hereaf-
ter contracted by the General Assembly
unless such debt shall be authorized by
Il law providing for the collection of an
annual tax or taxes sufficient to pay the
interest on such debt as it falls due; and
also to discharge the principal thereof
within fifteen Years from the time of con
tracing the same; and the taxes levied
for this purpose shall not be repealed or
applied to any other object until the said
debt ami interest thereon shall he fully
diSchaI ged. y : and further that the
General Assembly shall not use or APP
propriate the proceeds of the internal inn
provement companies or of the State
taxes now levied or which may hereafter
be levied To pay OF the public debt IT, any
purpose until the interest and debt are
lully paid or the sinking fund shall be
equal To the amount of the outstanding
debt
These provisions. regret to say, have
not been regarded. and into the causes
for which do not now propose to inquire.
Had these provisions been observed the
debt would have been extinguished by
1889. We are not prepared. AS we should
have been and as we We're required by
the constitution to be. to pay the debt
maturing in 1883. and ut the last session
provision was made for continuance OF
it or the larger part of it. Our resources
are so ample. onr credit so good. our dis
position t" pay SO unlunbted. and the
payment of the interest So prompt. that
those who hold our securities do not wis h
them paid. for no better investments can
he had, and those who want the money
for other purposes also do not inspire its
payment: and therefore it is the more i'll
cumbent upon the people who wish to he
free from debt to special attention t. this
branch of the public service. and to SEE
to it with the most exact scrutiny that
the means are always accommodating. to
pay promptly the principal of the debt
when II natures.
1t is time to reform our conduct and q"
back to our simple duty; adhere for til,
future Ii2idlv to constitutional require
rneIt>: practice economy and Ittreucl,-
mcnt in every branch at the public ser
vice; establish an efficient y, stem -
prompt collection and ptvment over Of
taxes. and to that rud "a bill was bcl,r
che Legislature. but fnr1uiIatelv failed
Ia pass: all.ly the public none, tn t! e
purposes for which it WIS raised, an
then. with the gradual accumulation %.
,'apiral IN the sinking fund. with it's rein
ve>ting interest processes and with the
authority in case our own securities.
sell too high Of investing in United States
securities. which vary in marketable
prices but little, We will. with our presen,
rate of taxation and without increasing
it. and from our other ordinary reSuu, ces
soon put the State on the high road I"
reedum from debt. and this too withnu,
disturbing the good securities we still
mold. rather leaving them to he conSol
lated into permanent school fund
which, with local resources and the sur
plus of the usual receipts into the Treas
Try. will give generous and efficient
,upport to our schools without calm.
rpou the State at all or IL general taxa
ION. And then, once out of debt an'
rec from State taxation. We can rtlegai.
III those c"nsr"velttd questions of taxa
non. having reference to exemptions
whether of mortgages. plant of manEfac
tories and whatever else may be though,
-Apedient to the COMMITTEES and the city tnl
:heir own local settlement, and as the i'll
;erestS of each shall he supposed to r.
luire. The interest then in taxation be-
my localized instead of dirfused over the
Ahule State, the hitherto exciting differ
.nceS will receive contemtment in the har-
nony of local government. And even
Il in the future there should be an occa-
nnal requirement for a general tax.
which, under our present constitution
AN never be large. it may be appnrtione,.
,mnng the counties and city upon some
ultabIe basis. and thus relieve the STATE
rom much expense and trouble in its ac-
counting departments, whilst at the same
time weakening centraliziEg combina-
lions and simplifying still more the gov
r.rnment.
But the most important of all is thai
10 secure and maintain a government oi
The people there must he pure. free and
air elections. This is the foundation
tone of our free form of government
il is to teach the men in power that they
ire the agents and not the masters OF til,
people. 1t is tn express with rigid truts
md fairness the popular will, whatever
that will may be. The masses of the
people want good, honest government
They crave liberty and the order OF law
live to them the, opportunity tn know
md to their voice ITS true expression and
here is no danger t" the Commonwealth
The Observation-Disclosures to secure all thu
must be efficient and practical. An Ell.
rctive registration la" is required to 5.
a. Il
uId efficient law against h,ibing and c,n
upt practices at elections to secure H.
ar as can he Il pure vote. Aud then. Ill
addition. primary meetings. which now
rave ST. prominent relation to our elec
ions. should be put under legal pr,'trc.
ion against fraud and violence. Bills I"
heSe ends were submitted during the last
>eS>i"n but failed To pass.
In the enjoyment of these blessings
mt of debt. free from taxation. with fail
md honest elections, WITH in short, g.o':
md honest. simple and frugal govern
ncnt. having the finest of climates. cheaI
md fertile Land. accessible by water ana
.ailr"ads constructed ar in course of COLI
truction. with oateways wide open fnl
immigrants invited by svpry c,,Isid-ra-
ion of location. laws and e ,vrrnmeut-
We can hardly comprehend the progress
II our material prosperity. There arr
'ther important questions and Interests
requiring thoughtful cons,ieratinn-th.
,yster tubaccn and other interests
which the State undertakes t" protect or
~ regulate, and which manirestly are not
now in a satisfactory condition, but to
which do not now propose IT, refer.
Let me assur you that in doing what
I can in common with yourselves and
those who think with you to promote
these objects. there is nothing of person
al consideration. 1t is not for the purpose
of putting up or putting down any one.
Personal motives and ambitions sink out
Of sight before the perpetual life Of the
State and all its grave concerns. lndi-
vdualS die and their names disappear
and are forgotten, and their acts for good
or evil only live after them; but the State
the penple--generally following gcner.
alton. continues to live.
In this sense the people care nothing
Tor individuals. 1t is the State-their
country and their right of fellowship.
citizenship and the right to enjoy it as Il
heritage for themselves aud their children
after them. 1t is good government they
want. dii1usin: content and dispensing
Justice. And the contests of individuals
while very properly enlisting ou.' interest
do not stir the proiuundest depths of feel
ing. Agents are wanted to carry o"t the
purposes of government, aud it is small
matter whether it is this one or another
so that the duties are fully and faithfully
performed. Whilst there is always an
honorable ambition to serve the State, 1t
should be done in the unselti>h spirit of
patriotism, and with the full appreciation
of the cardinal 'litical truth in a free
government that it is but trust for the
benefit of the people. III have said any
thing in this lengthy communication that