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16 The Maryland Constitution of 1851. [394
During this time a convention was held in the city of
Baltimore at which delegates were present from the states
interested. The subject of internal improvement was
thoroughly discussed, and, in the language of Governor
Lowe, " promises were made which created a wild delusion
scarcely equalled by the dream of oriental imagination.
The people were told that instantaneous wealth and power
were within their grasp; that millions upon millions of
public debts might safely be incurred as the returns of the
investment would be certain and immediate; and that, for
all time thereafter Maryland would be free from even the
light burden which she. had borne from the beginning;
while from her exhaustless treasury, perennial streams of
gold should flow bearing upon their bosom into the re-
motest section of the State the blessing of knowledge and
refinement."8
The result was that when the legislature met in extra
session in May, after a violent opposition, an appropriation
of eight millions of dollars was made, which together with
the appropriation already made, and those made two years
later, involved the State in a debt of over sixteen millions
of dollars.9 To meet the interest on this debt and gradually
absorb the principal, excessive taxes were imposed upon
the people. Violent opposition to the taxes was manifested
in several places. In some of the counties anti-tax associa-
tions were formed declaring their inability to pay the tax.
In Harford county open resistance to the law was made.
When the collector of the tax attempted to sell some prop-
erty on which an execution was levied for the payment of
the state tax a mob chased him from the place of the sale,
threatening to kill any one who should venture to bid.10
This condition of affairs, and the popular excitement
caused by the financial embarrassment of the State brought
8 Gov. Lowe's Inaugural Address, June 6, 1851.
9 McSherry's History of Maryland, p. 368.
10 Niles Register, 5th ser., vol. 65, p. 354.
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