Montgomery County sentinel., 1882-03-03
Indignation Meeting.

In response TO a call posted around the
town, about seventy persons, some attracted
by curiosity but majority from sympathy
in the object of the meeting, attended town
meeting at the Court House, on Tuesday
evening last. The meeting was called to
order by George Peter, Esq, who nominated
Captain James Anderson as Chairman and
Messrs. S. A. Matlack and H. f. Veirs were
made Secretaries.
Mr.. Peter addressed the meeting, condem-
ming the attempt to place the appointment
of the Town Commissioners in the hands Of
the County Commissioners, and moved that
a committee on resolutions be appointed
The chair appointed Messrs Peter, Elder,
and Dr. Maddox. Whilst the committee
was out Henry c. England, Esq, spoke in
favor of universal suffrage. At the conclu-
son of his remarks, Mr.. Peter reported from
the committee the following resolutions,
which were unanimously adopted
We the people of the Town of Rockville,
in Montgomery county, Md, in mass meet
ing assembled, have heard with the deepest
regret the attempt being made in the Legis-
lature of Maryland 10 deprive us OF the
right of franchise in electing the officers of
our corporation, and comforting the power
OF appointing such officers upon the County
ommssoners-five gentlemen who are
| non-residents of the town, and who have no
direct interest in our corporation affairs.
We deem this effort subversive of the
grand principles upon which the institutions
- thic nation arp foun1ad and a dirnct n T.
tempt to break down the rights of the people.
This effort is in contravention of the recog-
nized and accepted right of the people to
vote for and by their votes select the per-
sons who are TO govern them. In view of
| these facts, therefore,
BE 1t ReS0t0ed, That from whatever source
this scheme of depriving us of the right Of
| selecting by our votes our town officers en-
anates, or by whomsoever it is advocated,
| the measure meets with our most earnest
condemnation and disapprova.
| Res0tped, That any and every attempt to
deprive US of the right of franchise in the
! selection OF our corporation officers against
| the wishes Of u large majority of the people
\ of our town can be viewed by us in no other
! light than a gross and fragrant outrage, an
/ attempt to pervert the spirit OF our institu-
/ tions, and uproot the grand and iundamen-
| tai basis ON which the very fabric OF our
| government rests; the right Of the people to
| rule by their ballot.
| Res0lced, That as ireemen, regardless of
party, we view with distrust and fear any
4 and all attempts To disiranchise us, and when
it comes to a question of party iealty, we
can recognize no party of men willing TO
perpetrate so great II wrong.
Res0iUed, That our Legislators from Mont
gomery county in this measure are not in
their action representing large majority OF
the voters in our town, but are representing
II small minority, that in the late election no
issue existed involving our corporation oI
its rights, and the present action of these
legislators in this scheme to deprive us Of
one of the highest and dearest rights known
to freemen justly meets with our disap-
proval and m erits our Indignation.
Resolved That Us ireemen we claim this
inalienable right, to select our officers by
our ballots, and the men who seek to de
prive us of this small privilege in our town
only need the power and opportunity to de
prVe us OF the right of franchise entirely
If we are unfit and incompetent to elect u
mayor of our town, are We qualified u
vote for Governor, Senator, Legislators oi
judges?
Resolged, That it is the sense OF this meet.
ing and the earnest desire of large ma
jority Of the voters in our town that the
right of franchise should be free to all, that
a property qualification is odious and OBJ
noxious.
Resol0ed, That copies of this preamble and
these resolutions be sent TO the three news
papers in our town and they be respectfully
requested TO publish the same, and that d
copy be also sent to the Delegates in the
Legislature of Maryland from Montgomery
county.