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19 resistance to the Constitution and Laws could hardly be ex- pected to facilitate them in resuming the privileges of citi- zenship, which they have deliberately abandoned. In the meantime, they have no just right, in any fair view of their existing relations, to complain of the hardships of a law which they have themselves deliberately provoked, and which intended no more than to place the Government of the State, .at a time of imminent danger, in the hands of its loyal de- fenders. Are they not the legitimate guardians and deposi- taries of its power? The Repeal of the Registration Act, in my judgment, will not materially benefit any class of voters who have been heretofore disfranchised under its provisions. The Oath of Allegiance prescribed by the Constitution, makes it incum- bent upon the Judges of Election, to do substantially what the Registers are required to do under a fair and proper in- terpretation of their powers. As the Executive of the State, I do not feel authorized to recommend a repudiation, by the Legislature, of the organic law of your State, by any radical modification of the terms of the Registration Act. To alter or amend the Constitution, upon which this Act rests, would require the sanction of the qualified voters of the State. The regular stated meeting of the General Assembly under the Constitution, takes place in January next. The Delegates who will compose that body maybe expected to represent the wishes of the people upon this subject, as the agitation now going forward will show its results in the ensuing fall elec- tions. No other practical mode of dealing with this question occurs to my mind than by its reference to the Representa- tives of the people, who shall compose that body, who, com- ing fresh from ^eir constituencies, will be prepared to reflect . the public sentiment in any action which may be deemed prudent and advisable. FEDERAL RELATIONS— RECONSTRUCTION— NEGRO SUFFRAGE. The successful close of the rebellion suggests to the State of Maryland a careful review of her Federal relations. In the midst of an administration, unparalleled for its modera- tion, and the brilliancy of its results (not the least important feature of which was the enfranchisement of the country from the degrading stain of slavery) we were called to lament the loss of the representative man, who had been selected as the chosen leader of the people—struck down by the hand of an assassin. With no blot to dim the record of his great fame, he was relieved at the threshold of labors, more formidable and perplexing than those through which he had borne him- self with such manly fortitude, just as he was about to turn aside from the bloody field of civil strife, which he had been |
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Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1866
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