|
|
|
speeches to which he had just listened. He did not un-
derstand that anybody wanted today a poll-tax. About
220 years ago the levying of taxes by poll was declared
to be grievous, and no poll-tax had been levied here since
1654. Poll-taxes never had been levied in the State of
Maryland, nor in the Province of Maryland for one hun-
dred years before she became a sovereign Stale. This
Convention might as well say that the good people of An-
napolis shall not eat their oysters shell and all. [Laugh-
ter. ] What good would it do? No one supposed they
would eat their oysters shell and all, but they might as
well be prohibited from doing it. You say paupers ought
not to be taxed. What difference did it make if you did
tax them? Could you collect it? [Laughter. ] Then
why put it in? There is no question here whether you
have a poll-tax or not; it is only whether you say poll-
taxes are grievous. He was for striking the clause out,
but was not to be responsible for any grievances that
might follow. It was a windmill which they were now
tilting at.
Mr. Stoddert said the gentleman from Allegany had
taken the correct position. This was not the time or the
place to discuss the wisdom, justice or expediency of a
poll-tax. The proper body to consider that question was
the Legislature. The people had the power to prevent the
tax if it is of the grievous character it has been described.
The discussion which has taken place was wrong and ill-
advised, and would have the tendency to array the poor
man against the rich man. Every State but Maryland and
this had abandoned the abstraction contained in Ohio
article. The property of the people of his county
(Charles) had depreciated immensely, and the taxation
was imposed on but a small proportion of them. They
had a population of 12, 000 negroes who, while enjoying
the benefits of the government, contributed nothing to
its support. As the gentleman from Baltimore (Mr.
Brown) had said, the landed interests had to bear the
burden. The people of his county were in favor of a poll-
tax, and while they did not wish to impose it on the other
counties, they desired the privilege of coming to the Leg-
islature to ask it for themselves.
Without coming to a vote on the amendment, the Con-
vention, at 2 P. M., adjourned.
127
|
|
|
|
 |
