Name/Title
Notes for a speech by Andrew Shriver, reproductionEntry/Object ID
LMS2085.2Description
Notes for a speech by Andrew Shriver (1762-1847) advocating for the formation of Carroll County dated 1833, reproduction printed on cardstock. Title reads "Argument in favor of the new county", with 12 numbered paragraphs of supporting arguments. Arguments support the creation of the county for practical and political reasons, including travel distance to courts, high taxes paid to Baltimore and Frederick counties, and support for equality between rich and poor citizens.Context
"Arguments in favour of the new county-
1- The most of us live at the distance of from 25 to 40 miles from our respective seats of justice; on account of ^ which we suffer serious inconveniences and losses, in being compelled to trudge backwards and forwards to Fred R [Frederick] and Balto [Baltimore].
2- [Frederick] county contains a population of 45, 789 souls- Baltimore Co. 40,250. The [population] of the new county will be about 25,000 leaving to [Frederick County] about 30,000 and [Baltimore County] something less.
3- The great amount of business to be despatched by the courts, causes such a delay in transacting ours, as is greatly prejudicial to our interests at home. This has particular references to the Orphans Court.
4- We pay into the County treasuries more than twice the [amount] of tax which is applied to objects which immediately interest us- that is, we pay more than Twice our just proportion. (see Carrolltonian 10th Aug [1833])
5- In [Frederick] Co. we pay for roads, bridges, and poor, $3863- there is appropriated to our roads bridges & poor only $1555- in [Baltimore County] we pay for the same $2061, and receive but $1050.66-
6- With a Court House at Westminster we can do our court business without loss of time or money. Witnesses and jurors will make clear their pay. Business will be done cheap, the poor especially will be benefitted; the facilities for going business will insure to them rights which they do not now enjoy' the will be on an equality with the rich.
7- Then all our Taxes will be expended and circulated among us, instead of being sent of the neighborhood- the first year about $15,000, and every subsequent year $8 or 10,000. A portion of this will fall into every mans pocket. The poor especially will again be benefitted. Money will become plenty, and an annual drain of thousands, from among us, will be stopped.
8- Then much small small business, which the poor are interested, and which will not admit of their going to the expense of carrying it to [Baltimore and Frederick County], may be done. Small appeal, and other cases against rich men may then be prosecuted.
9- The people of Balto. Co. are now liable to be summoned to court in criminal cases, in which, if the party indicted is acquitted, the receive no pay in attendance. They would then be relieved of this oppression, because the same regulation does not exist in the other counties, and will not be adopted in Carroll County.
10- General prosperity and increase in the value of property throughout the new county, must follow a division of the counties.
11- It will afford a tolerable market for the farmer. He will able to dispose of many articles of produce which now yield him nothing, on account of their not being sufficient importance from transport to [Baltimore].
12- The people of Balto. County included in the new [county] pay $1.50 tax in every $100 worth of property they own. In Fred. Co. they pay $1.19, the former, even if the taxes should be increased somewhat, are not likely to be any worse off than their now are-"Acquisition
Source (if not Accessioned)
Maryland Historical Society
