the condition of the finances; the resources of
the State; its plighted faith; the obligations of
the Legislature to meet it, and the impropriety
in the Legislature, to intercept the action of the
committee of ways and means, on the subject.
[See page 68, of same journal.
On the same day, Mr. LeGrande of Balti-
more, and a Democrat, offered others, declaring
that whilst it is the duty of the Legislature to
provide adequate means for the support of Gov-
ernments, "those ends may for the present be
attained without a resort to direct taxation."
[See page 70, of same journal.]
These resolutions elicited in the House a warm
and excited debate, and after various discussions,
another distinguished Whig. Mr. Tuck, now a
member of this Convention, submitted on the
twenty-third of January, another set of resolu-
tions denouncing in very strong terms the mes-
sage of Governor Grason, and declaring "that
this Legislature does not concur in the suggestion
of the message, that the revenue should be in-
creased by a direct tax laid on the real and per-
sonal property of the people." [See page 126, of
same journal]
It will readily be preceived, how completely
the committee of ways and means were embar-
rased. The entire whig party in the House, stood
firm to a man in opposition to Governor Gra-
son's message. At the same time although the
democrats had a majority in the House, there
was a small division of them, who, with the
whigs, opposed a direct tax. Every effort was
made to induce a small portion of the whig party
to act with and support the committee of ways
and means. Three distinguished gentlemen from
Baltimore, and he mentioned it with infinite
pleasure, for it did them great honor-
Messrs. Grafton Dulany, J. V. L. McMahon
and William Schley, visited in person the whig
members and appealed to them to come to the
rescue of the chairman of the committee of ways
and means, as he was ready to report a tax, if he
could carry it. It was urged, that is could then
be done, free from party influence. That the
governor, a democrat; the treasurer, a whig, and
the chairman of the committee of ways and
means, a democrat, had supported, and were in
favor of it, and it only required a small support
from whig members, to carry a measure which
should rise above party. It was urged that the
measure would have to come and that it had bet-
ter come at once. But the appeal was in vain
The committee could not get support sufficient to
carry the measure and it was driven to resort to
the best expedients which could be carried un-
der the circumstances, and to assign the best rea-
sons that could be furnished, for pursuing such a
course.
A temporary expedient was adopted, but with
it went forth the annunciation in the report of
the committee, that upon the faith which capi-
talists, at home and abroad, gave to our acts of
assembly, they have been induced to subscribe
their money. In this manner, the debt has been
created. The money has been actually borrow-
ed and distributed through the State, in payment |
of officers, contractors and laborers, who have
been employed on the public works."
"The professed design was an advancement of
the common prosperity of the people. So far,
the end contemplated has failed, and the State
is called upon to redeem its obligations."
"We must so act as to prove, that what we
owe, we intend to pay. Every principle of honor,
virtue and patriotism, compels us to such a
course. It is not the characteristic of an Ameri-
can to mould his principles to subserve his sel-
fishness. What he would require of another, he
will perform himself. His principle is to exact
nothing but what is right, and submit to nothing
that is wrong,"
"When General Jackson was the President of
the United States, he insisted upon a payment of
a debt due by the French Government. In en-
forcing the claim, the friendly intercourse be-
tween the two nations, were for a while arrested.
We were upon the verge of war. Great as was
the opposition to his administration, on other sub-
jects, upon this question the hearts of all united.
though the controversy was with France, our
ancient ally, when we were struggling for politi-
cal liberty and independence, still as the demand
of the government was just. past friendship was
forgotten, and the course of the administration
ardently sustained. The chivalry of the nation
was aroused, and nothing but an unconditional
payment of the debt would have been tolerated.
It must not be said of us, that what we exacted of
France, we will refuse to others."
"If the period has arrived, when to pay the
interest on this debt, all other resources have
failed except direct taxation, we must resort
to it."
That, in the opinion of the committee, "there is
no necessity to provide for a direct tax, at pre-
sent, but they cannot disguise the fact, that after
the year 1841. it will be inevitable, unless the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal company, and the
Baltimore and Susquehanna railroad company,
shall contribute largely to the payment of the
interest on the public debt."
[See report of committee of ways and means—
Session 1839.]
Mr. BROWN demanded the previous question,
but waived it at the request of
Mr. DONALDSON, between whom and Messrs.
SPENCER and CHAMBERS, of Kent, some explanations
passed.
Mr. BROWN renewed the demand for the pre-
vious question.
There was a second.
And the main question was ordered to be now
taken.
Mr. GRASON enquired, if it would now be in
order to move a call of the House.
The chair, at this time, was occupied by Mr.
BLAKISTONE.
The PRESIDENT of the Convention rose and
said, that under the new rule, a call of the House
was not in order, after the main question had
been ordered.
Mr. SPENCER said, that the vote on such a
question ought not to be taken without a full
House. He moved, therefore, a reconsideration |
