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

nent citizens. The correspondence is as
follows:
BALTIMORE. March ~. 1881
To His Ercellenry William T. Hamdton,
GOeern"r IF maryland.
SIR:-The undersigned, citizens of the
State of Maryland. and Jealous support
ers of the Democratic party and its prln-
ciples take this means OF addressing Your
Excellency for the purpose OF obtaining
full and reliable information upon mat
tiers of the gravest interest and import
ance to the party of which they are mem
bers and to the people of the entire State.
1t is we'll known to every Intelligent cltl-
zen of the State that in the last canvass
for the election of State officers the rep
resentatives of the Democratic party in
convention assembled adopted 4 platform
setting forth the principles and purpo>e s
If the organization. and proclaimin% to
the people in emphatic and unmistakable
language their determination to reform
very many abuses in the public service
and extravayanceS in the use OF the pub
lie treasure that had been long practiced.
and from which the people of all sections
and all parties demanded relief. 1t is
also well known that during the canvass
the candidates on the Democratic ticket
Yourself amongst the number. everywhere
md on all occasions advocated and pro-
missed reformation Of these abuses.
These earnest assurances given ST. free
~ to the pablo inspired the confidence
If the people. and having the most i'm
pliciL confidence in your personal and po-
litical integrity. and believing that under
your administration the relief for which
they had SO long and vainly sought would
be assured, they rallied with enthusiasm
to the support of the entire ticket. and
the State was carried by an overwhelm-
ing majority. But. sir. Il widespread
md deep seated reaction of public senti-
nent has taken place since the election
IT 1919. and disappointment and dlstru>t
nave taken the place of harmony aud
confidence. The people have been de
,eived by false promises and their conf
ience BETRAYED. 1t is currently reported
that the expenses of the last Legislature
were extravaganza beyond ali precedent.
md that SD far from aifnrding the people
redress of grievances, additional bur-
lens have been saddled upon them.
During the coming Autumn it will be
The duty of the people of the State t"
elect a new Legislature. They want t"
KNOW the nature and extent of the e&
DenditureS Of the last with view to
sending true reiurmers as well as trIir
Democrats to represent their interests IL
the next; men whose promises may b.
depended upon for the faithful perform
tnce of the duties entrusted to theiI
keeping. AS Governor of the State, it l.
.our right and duty. under the constitu-
lion, to investigate the expenditures "t
the State government. AS citizens
md tax payers of the State, We respect
ully request of you to furnish us. at your
earliest convenience. an authentic state
nent of the expenses in detail of the last
LEGISLATURE and such other information,
Us may be III your possession or iscccSsi-
rle to you touching the failure to obtain
The promised reforms. and to suggest alS''
what are in your opinion the best avail
,ble means for correcting existing abuses.
Very truly yours, &c,
John GILL; JAMES +. TATE. JOHN '. l..
F1SDLAY, BRADLEY T. JOHNSON. ED
L. f. IlARDCAsTLE. STEPHEN BoNsAL.
GEORGE THOMAS, and others.
H>GERsTowN, April ). 1881.
Mssrs. GU, Tate, FIndloy, Hordcastle,
and others.
GENTLEMEN:-Iou communication
had the honor of receiving. beg leave
TO say that inquiries of similar import
have been made by others. You are
pleased to direct my attention to certain
questions of publ interest, and for i'll
formation respecting them, and your i'll
quiries have reference to those common
place operations of our State government,
that should always be kept in the publir
knowledge for its constant supervision
md criticism. Anything in this respect
| that | can do in connection with your
selves to subserve the public interest
freely 10. In doing it there need be no
personal issues. and | wish it to be under.
stood in what I say that | shall make
none. \ great many wrongful and un
wise things are done often innocently on
with good intentions, but that does no,
make them right, and whilst honest in.
| tention but ignorant action may excuse
| the individual, it by no means ,justities
the wrong itself or prevents well-timed
efforts to correct it. A dispassionate and
noa- personal consideration of the con,
| Germs of our State government and OF
| those things that require either attention
or reformation should be regarded as tn.
highest duty of the citizen. 1t should b,
equally removed from any motive to adj
vance the personal objects or aims of any
| one, or to improve any one in his person
Or estate, other than that which ma,
naturally, lesitimately, and honestly flow
from the reformation itself.
Individuals sink out Of sight before tn.
real and practical fact of government
| Personal ambitious are not to be consid
cred when the common good is involved
but in Il free government can only bt
tolerated by the people when they az.
| made subordinate to the public weltale
| and invoked to secure it.; and then in
stead of being evils to be condemned
they may develop a spirit and an excel
| leuce to he commended. 1t is with great
| satisfaction that we all can recur to thu
| political canvass Of 1879. We then had
a united Democratic party acknowledg
| ing TIE necessity of reforms and resolute
| ly declaring its fixed purpose to make
them; to economize expenses and to cor
rect abuses wherever existing i'll the gov
eminent. Indeed the whole people, with
out respect to party, seemed to be in
| bred with common sentiment. 5,
| much was this the case that had it moi
been for the rivalry of candidates no ont
would have supposed any differences t.
exist among the people.
Therefore, any thing i'll response to you
| must be made i'll that elevated sense
which comprehends the whole people OF
the State and their common interest.
Always Il Democrat, and conforming to
the strictest rules Of conduct and diSci-
pline, and believing in the just and be-
naticent purposes of Democratic govern
ment. but reattirm them i'll my earnest
desire for its continued supremacy in the
State. Differences do exist upon national
questions between the great parties OF
the country that so deep down into the
primary thoughts of the people. and
which naturally give rise to a rational
and consistent antagonism, and upon
which questions our people are Demo-
cratic. and wish faithfully to remain SO:
but upon our local affairs the whole peo-
al, ,,r,.ti,,lIy th;pk ,l;Ea ora intent IN