Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-06-03
jIavIand Independent.
PORT TOBACCO. MD:
rpInAY. INTERCHANGEABLE 1873
COY. HAMILTON'S CRUSADE.

day last, pursuant to previous h"''ce'
for the purpose Of afforling the Cover
nor an opportunity Of venulating orally
his complaints against the Democratic
par,v. which he has heretofore 81 gen
orally disseminated throughout the State.
by means of his letter aud numerous
pamphlets. His address, which we re-
regret our space does not permit US to
publish contained nothing new. II
was confined mainly TO discussion OF the
wrong done and the violation of the
constitution in failing to make annual
additions to the Sinking Fund as posi-
lively required, by the plain letter and
mandate of that instrument.
There is no doubt that a great error
has been committed, and positive and
percmptory requirements. of the consti-
tuition uncomplied with, in this respect.
That instrument provides that no money .
shall be borrowed unless at the same I
time provision is made for paying the !
interest thereon and providing annually
for a sinking fund to pay the same in
fifteen years. In accordance with this
percmptory requirement, the Maryland
Defense Loan was negotiated and annual
Iva tax has been levied to pay the interest
and accumulate a sufficient sinking fund
20 pay off the debt in 1885, when it
falls due. Under tins act the accretions
Of the sinking fund went on steadily until
1872, when the Legislature passed an
other act, destroying the sinking fund
md directing the sale and cancellation
al s,ocka tI,oroin- So that "t pres
-, there il no sinking fund, though the
same taxes continue to be levied for
that fund, as originally provided by the
acts creating them. 1t is not charged
that the officers Of the Treasury have
been guilty of cmbczzlcmcnt or pecula-
ton, for the Governor expressly dis
claims making any personal charges,
but it is stated these funds, dedicated
by the constitution to the payment of
the bonded debt when due. have been
appropriated to the use of the State in
other respects. And this we believe is
the truth of the matter, for all this vio-
lation of the constitutional provisions
las been done in pursuance of successive
legislative cnactments, approved by
Governors Whyte and Carroll Fortu-
nately the people are not likely to suffer
much, if any, pccuniary loss in conse-
1ucnce of this wreck Of the sinking fund,
for the money levied for that purpose
has gone to pay other matters for which
the people would have had to raise, by
taxation, additional amounts. aud the
bonds can be renewed at greatly re-
duccd rate of interest.
But be this as it may, there is no ex-
cuse or justification for this fragrant VIC
lation of the plain language and spirit
of the constitution.
Now then the question naturally sug-
gests itself who is to blame for this
wreck of the sinking fund and the yio-
laton of the plain mandate of the con-
stitution?" Gov. Hamilton d;sclaims
the purpose Of assailing personally the
integrity of any one. Who then has
done IL Whom does he mean to assail
whom does he call upon the people to
condemn, and whom does he want to
gibbct in pursuance to this condemnation,
so earnestly sought by him in his fanat-
ical furore of sclfpraise and super emf
nent honesty? There can be but one
answer to these questions. He ac-
knowlcdges, and the evidence shows
conclusivey, that the wreck of the sink
ing fund is due to the passage of the act
of 1872 Neither Mr.. Compton nor
Mfr. Heating. the present Treasurer
IN, md Comptroller. were then in office, so
~, cannot DO laid at tI,cir door. I
mat INDEFINITE quantity The Ring
of which Messrs. German & Cotton are
supposed to constitute the doubie-joint- {
cd power, cannot be charged with it,
for this aw-head-and-blood bones had
not been invented then. Gov. WHITE
was then the Executive Of the State it is
true, but he could not have passed this
act without the assistance of the Legisla-
ture. That Legislature was Democratic
as the Governor was, and both were repre-
sentatives of the Democratic party The
Legislature enacted and the Governor
approved the law and the Democratic
party that put them there is RESPONSE
BILE for this act, and as every Legislature
and every Governor since has been
Democratic, and have continued the same
policy, why there is no escaping from
the conclusion that the Democratic
party is responsible for this misdeed. It's
then the Democratic party, on which our
Democratic Governor is now making
war, and is engaged in showing the
people of the State, by letters, pam
phlets and public speeches, is unworthy
of further confidence, and as logical
deduction, ought not again to be trusted
with power.
Mr. IIamilton's friends may argue as
they please. but there is no escaping
this irresistible conclusion They may
sav n 10 ts'rba R;Do b,,. NJ Ha.l /