Year: 1860




THE NOMINATION OF CANDIDATE


FOR MA YOR, dc.


In pursuance to call published in the daily pa
pers, large number of the members of the late Re-
form Convention, the late Central Committee OF
twenty-one, and other friends of the Reform move
ment, assembled on Saturday night in the saloon
of the Law Buildings, corner of ST. Paul and Lex
ington streets. The meeting was called at eight
O'Clock, but shower of rain happening about that
hour, prevented many from coming in until some
time after.


A few minutes before nine O'clock George NJ
Gill; Esq, and said that he supposed all pre-
sent were aware of the purposes for which the
meeting had assembled. The friends of the city
Reform Movement were not there in any repre-
sentative capacity, but only citizens of Balti-
tlmore, on their own responsibility, to consult to-
gether as to the best mode of selecting candidates
for the Mayoralty of the city and for the members
of the City Council.


1t was well known that the Reform Convention
which had formerly assembled in that hall had ad-
J0urned sine die, and it was also well known
that many projects inaugurated by that body
had been successfully consummated. Applause. |
They were here tonight citizens, to adept some
mode by which the government of the city may be
dvested of partisan influence, by selecting men to
fill the important offices without reference to their
political opinions, and who would be pledged to re-
trenchment and economy, in conducting our NUM-
cipal affairs, by which means city shall again
be made to prosper and flourish. Applause.


Mr.. Gill then proposed, as chairman of the meet
ing, DR.. Alexander c. Robinson, which nomination
was received with applause.


Hugh A. Cooper and Lawrence P. Bayne,
Esqs. were then selected as Vice Presidents and
James Z. Thomas and Henry M. Fitzhugh, Esqrs.,
appointed Secretaries.


After the meeting was thus fully organized, Geo.
Nj. Gill; Esq, moved that committee of five be Sc.
ected by the chair whose duty it should be to re-.
N anh padd fpf &c
baltimore, for the consideration of the meeting.
The motion was concurred in, and the President ap
pointed, as such committee Messrs. George NJ
Gill, George William Brown, S. Teakle Wallis
Charles Webb and Felix McCurley, who retired TO
consult.


During the absence of the committee, the Presi-
dent took occasion to thank the meeting for the
honor conferred upon him in selecting him as their
chairman. He had accepted the CALL not with the
confidence that he competent to fill the posi-
ton, but because the meeting, placing their conf
dence in him, had honored him, and he had no
right to decline. He then sad that perhaps as
some were there who did not fully understand the
objects of the meeting, it would be as we'll for him
to state that many of the Reform Party in the city
were impressed with the necessity of protecting
the city government from party Influence, and with
this view they had called this meeting to consult
together as to the best mode to be adopted for
selecting candidates for the high offices of the
cty-of the necessity of choosing men without
reference to their political opinions-men who



the city of Baltimore


While the President was speaking the committee
returned to the hall.


George M. Gill, Esq, their chairman, then said
"Mr. Chairman, am requested by your commit
tee, to present for the consideration of this meet
ing the resolutions which l now hold in my hand,
and also an address to the citizens of Baltimore
which accompany them, which will now proceed
to read"


Mr.. Gill then read the following resolutions:



are desrous to disregard national politics in the selection
of their local officers: And


WHEREAS, Experience has shown that the mode hith-
erto pursued of nominating candidates for the Msyoray
and City Councils is always attended with party feeling
and liable to great abuse; therefore be it


Resoued, That the President Vice Presidents Sec
retaries of this meeting authorized and requested to
select from the community at large twenty reliable cit
zens, from each ward without reference to party
but who shall be in favor of carrying out the object Of
this meeting, whose duty shall be convene
at an early day, and nominate suitable person as an
And be it further


Resolred That said committee shall compose the indie
pendent Reform Central Committee, with full power to
make such arrangements as they may deem proper by
consultation with the friends of reform in the different
wards by ward meetings otherwise, to nominate at
lhe proper tme suitable persons as Independent Reform
Candidates for the City Council and to take all
and proper measures to the election o all said
didates.


much applause, after which he continued and read
the following address, which the committee sub
m1tted to accompany the resolutions:


To the Citizens of Baltimore:


number of the citizens Baltimore property hold
ers and Others deeply interested in its welfare embra
cling individuals Of every trade and profession and
ing from every secton having in the of their
rights as citizens met together to take in refer
ence to the affairs of the city, respectfully lay before YOU
the result of their deliberations Their proceedings we're
public and will appear in the daily papers simnltane
ously with the publication of this address


Some Of their number members of the late Central
Reform Committee and others of the late City Reform
atnl hr fhal
out in the administration of the City Government the
measures of Reform which were commenced year ago
and some of which have since been so happily con-
summated. But the meeting does not profess to
be representative body in any sense of the
word, and while its members private ctizps claim
the right to present their views to their fellow citizens
they ask for themselves only respectful consideration
and Tor the measures which they propose such weight


For many years the affairs of the city been entirely
under the control of other of the great political
parties OF the country The Mayor and City Council have
been elected with but slight reference to the personal
qualifications of the candidates, and almost exclusively
the ground their professed fidelity to the nredom
nant party for the time being


The inevitable consequence has been that men thus
chosen for their partzan procvtes have exercised the
community as for the benefit of their party for the pro
motion of their selfish endsand the reward of their
party friends.


And further consequence has been that many inefi-
cient and even corrupt men have filled city offices from
the highest to the lowest No honest and
can deny this statement.


Various political bodies in the field each EN-
bittered against all the Others and victory and
the question which the people of Baltimore must now de-
eide whether they will commit the affairs of the city
to the management of of these political combna
tons and thus sacrifice their great interests party
STRIFE, with which those interests have conneXion
whether they will inaugurate by placing the
City Government in the hands of men selected with
view only to their qualifications and pledged carry on
the government without reference to party and for
promotion only of the welfare of the city and the
perty of the whole people.


Many thinking in the United States have been by
recent events reluctantly driven to the conclusion that
Republican form of government is utter failure so
iar as the administration of large cities is concerned
And the present system of managing municipal affairs
IS to be perpetuated the opinion be conceded to be
wellfounded But it confidently believed that the
and good Of all parties tired Of this system are
desrous of divorcng the city party po
tes SO auspcious time as this for the trial of this
experiment may never again occur.


In this belief the present movement has been COM
menced The plan of calling ward meetings to select
nominating convention has not been resorted because
1t apprehended that that mode does not at least in
present condition of affairs afford the best means of as
certainng the popular will The plan proposed has
been adopted after much consideration only
simple but more effective for the purpose designed The
officers of the meeting have been authorized to appoint
committee of twenty consisting of from each ward of
the city, who shall the people, the next cleo
tion an Independent Reform Candidate for Mayor The
same committee is asoconstituted Central Committee
with full power to make such arrangements they
deem proper by consultation with the friends Reform
in the different wards by ward meetings otherwise
nominate suitable members for the City Council and
take all necessary and proper secure the cleo
tion of the various candidates.


lew acs VIII snow the great Importance of the inte
rests involved and the absolute necessity of placing
affairs of the city in competent and honest hands:
The stock debt Of the city on the Oath of


January, 1860, amounted to $14 SIT 295 IL
To this must be added the guarantee for the


Parkersburg Railroad. .....s.......... 500 900 90
And for the Western Railroad. 500 000 90
The city water debt must probably be increased and
there must also be added debt for the City Hail.
another for the Amshouse another for special appro
prations beyond the estimate of the Register another
floating debt and another for the purchase i'm
provement and support of the new Parks the first
of which is about $500 900.


Adding these items together, the debt which Balti
more Is, or must soon become responsible, be
down at not less than twenty millions Of dollars
The population of the city is about 90, 900.


The taxable property within the limits direct taxa
ton amounts to sl3l O525 5 The amount required for
the of the city for 1s0 according to the Regis
ter's report, is 81 1868 ,39l.37


Thus per cent the taxable property even if it
could all be collected which is far from being the case
is computed by the Register that but sixtenhs of tax
can be collected during the year which it is
and much is ultimately lost.


It is true that the interest on large part of the city
debt IS at present paid by different companies may
never have to be paid by the city ITSELF even with
this abatement very formidable debt remains, and the
annual expenses which by reckless extravaganza in
creasng yearly require the hand of reform Heavy as
taxation is it does not meet the expenditure and the
deficiency is yearly increasing


1t should be the cardinal policy of the not
its debt for any purpose whatever and taxation should
be as tow as proper regard to obligations with
strletest economy in expenses, will admit.


The city tax for the present year per cent and
is as much can be borne without nictng great incon
venience and distress the people; but it is manifest
that unless there is entire change in management
of finances the debt will be largely increased and the
taxes raised to point beyond the endurance the
munity.


The powers the city government are defined clearly
and explicitly by of the Legislature but of late little
respect has been paid to these and powers