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24 and elevate the condition of the freedmen, by all practicable ef- forts. A large class of the people of this country, both South and North, are not prepared now to concede to this claim of universal suffrage to the negro race. Whether that time will ever come, will be for the future to determine. Com- pulsory legislation certainly will not hasten it. The full protection of the laws, the privileges of education, and the untrammelled enjoyment of his labour, are all that he can justly claim. Of these he should never have been deprived. To force an experiment at this time which is already creating go much of angry feeling, will be to endanger the safety of a people, who are wholly unable to sustain themselves, in the conflict likely to ensue. If it be true, as experience shews, that races and nationalities assimilate and fraternize with each other, in natural sympathy, and the impulses of com- mon interests, what will be the fate of the unfortunate negro, overwhelmed in an unequal contest of numbers, and forced, as he may be, when thus overwhelmed, to yield to a bondage more degrading, than that from which he has so recently escaped. Maryland has no interest in negro suffrage, beyond the effect which it is calculated to produce upon the general in- terest and welfare of the country, and the negro himself. Her policy is already settled, by her new Constitution. To withhold from other States the same power which she has exercised, to deal with this and other subjects of a like char- acter, appertaining to their domestic governments, would be to let go the most popular feature, which has heretofore con- tributed to our bond of union. President Johnston properly refers to the States each for itself this claim of negro suffrage. Their action, in disposing of it whether favorable or otherwise will be accepted by the people of Maryland. It seems to me proper and useful at this time that your voice should be heard upon this engrossing topic, during the deliberations of your present session. I can only say for myself, that in dealing with this subject of reconstruction, which concerns so intimately the welfare of our own State, and the future of our beloved country—cordially endorsing as I do the liberal and humane policy of President Johnson— I shall hold myself prepared with the sanction of the people of Maryland, to co-operate in the plans which he has so wisely inaugurated, to restore, by all the proper encourage- ment, and at a suitable time, the relations of the past, and to re-unite our people once more in the bonds of a common brotherhood. FOREIGN RELATIONS—THE MONROE DOCTRINE. An expression of opinion, from the representatives of the people of Maryland upon the conduct of our Foreign Affairs, during the rebellion, would seem called for in justice to the |
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Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1866
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