The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-01-21
The Governors Message.

We are unwilling to impute to a man hold
ing the high office of Executive of the state of
Maryland, elected by the great Democratic
party, a purpose to mislead the people, in
solemn state paper emanating from him under
his sacred obligation to inform the General
Assembly of the true condition of the state
and the performance of their daties by the
several state officers. That such document
should not only contain facts, fairly stated, but
that it should not withhold any important in
formation necessary to correct Judgment, is
beyond question. Yet, in examining that
part of His Excellency's message which dis
eusses the finances, we fail to find any allu-
sion, even in the iaintest expression, to the
fact that, from 1870 to 1880 the public debt
was reduced by the sum of $1,000, 9s2 IA,
reduction vastly larger than has ever been
heretofore accomplished in the same length of
time in the history of the state, and this, too,
at very low rate of taxation. He contents
himself with a statement that the money aris-
ing from state taxes had not been exclusively
used in the purchase of the Defence Loan and
other loans not yet due, and which everybody
knows can only be obtained by giving an ex-
cessive premium for them, while the overdue
debt could be taken up at par without unne-
cessary expense to the people, and was d.
rected BY the act Of 1872 to be purchased by
the Treasury officers, who were required by
that act in their purchases to give the prefer
ence to the overdue debt Why should this
most important fact have been withheld
Was it from lack of knowledge2 That can
hardly be true, as the Governor must have
seen the statement published by the Treasury
officers on June Srd, last, and il he doubted
its truth he bad the means Of investigating the
the departments and ascertainiug for himself
the accuracy or inaccuraey Of the statement.
We are, therefore, irresistibly drawn to the
conclusion that the Governor did not regard
this information as calculated to advance his
side of the argument, which tended 10 show
mismanagen,ent upon the part of the state,
financial officers. But great state paper
like this is presumed by the people to contain
alths 5acts Here, however, was fact which
he could not mention fairly without damaging
the conclusion at which he evidently desired
the people 10 arrive While such a suppgessio
rcsl might possibly be tolerated in stump
speech, where an opponent had reply, Il Is
objectionable in a state paper emanating from
such source.
Not only has this important fact been with
held. but the message. in terms. charges that
the money collected from taxes levied to grad
ualfy extinglish the states indebtedness has
been Inisapplied and put to other uses. He
could not but have known that from 1870 to
1880 there had been expended in taking ap
the public debt. orcr and ab0ge the amount Of
all taxes collected for that purpose. the sum OF
She. ST. s., for the statement Of the Treasury
officers referred IS shows such to be tue case,
and be had every means in his power 10 as
certain ali the facts in relation thereto.
Again, the message states that the school
tax collected in 1881 ACCOUNTED to s54s, I'll,
7s and the amount distributed was only $40
4os.os, and that the balance had been misap-
piled or asea for otherpurposes- The Comp
tyeller Is notallowed ~ law to pay over at
one time all the money collected for school
purposes. II he did he would have nothing
to pay over on the remaining three days, on
each Of which be Is compelled by law to make
distribution Of, as nearly as possible, onefourth
Of the whole amount collected. Didthe Gov
ernor wish the people 10 believe that a por-
ton Of the amount collected had been retained
in the Treasury for other distributions required
d,r;r, the calendar YEAR, or did be wish them
to suppose that it had been withheld from the
schools for the purpose Of being expended for
other objects? Was this fair statement,
such as an Executive should make in state
paper purporting TO contain only impartial
statements? We leave the public to draw
their own conclusions.
Further, the message charges that the Comp
troller's report was not submitted to the Gov
ernor before he tthe Governorl made his
communication. We have II from the
Comptroller ; own lips, through another, that
IN the tables in the report were given TO the
Governor as soon as they were printed, and as
soon a. received by the Comptroller HIMSELF
and al Feast three weeks before the commence
ment of the session Of the Legislature. These
tables contained all the data upon which the
suggestions &c the Comptroller are founded,
and vet the message would lead the people to
believe that Mr.. Heating had withheld this
information from the Executive. Is snch
coarse 10 Ne commended2