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times of payment, that the other debtors to the state . . . will
be entitled to " under provision of an act passed for debtors
that session.- Whether Amelung repaid the money to the
state is uncertain, but it is probable that he did not, because
in 1800 Amelung died while the New Bremen factory was still
in financial difficulties. Amelung's son, Johann Friedrich Mag-
nus Amelung, moved the glass factory to Baltimore in 1800,
but by 1802 he had to cease operations because he too was in
financial straits.los
In the field of direct loans to businessmen the state's exper-
ience in this first and only case probably disappointed all con-
cerned. Evidently Amelung's failure made the state cautious
in investing its funds in risky ventures, no matter how laud-
able or desirable they seemed to be.
Tax exemption, including the relief of all taxes for limited
periods of time an new citizens, particularly merchants, manu-
facturers, and artisans, was used by the state to attract desir-
able citizens and- businesses to Maryland. Monopolistic priv-
ileges and loans were used sparingly to aid private business in
projects the General Assembly thought worthy and of benefit
to Maryland. In the popular writings of the times, there was
neither denunciation nor even discussion about the wisdom
of the state's granting monopolies or privileges to individual
businessmen.
3
CORPORATE PRIVILEGES AND STATE PARTICIPATION:
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS
Incorporation of privately-owned business, by far the most
important means of state aid to Maryland business during this
period, was a method never before utilized by the General
Assembly to promote private enterprise. Corporate privileges
in Maryland before the war had been confined to the erection
of municipal corporations like the City of Annapolis or the
i°$ Md. sess, 1791 Resolutions. The 1791 act provided a six months stay on
debts.
F°a Quynn, 177. By an act of 1798 " for relief of certain foreigners " J.
F. M.
Amelung was secured in his property as if he had been a naturalized citizen
at the time he acquired it.
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