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4 people who adopted, the Constitution did an act of which passion, and not reason, was the cause, is only equalled in its absurdity by the demand which follows it—that the qualifi- cation of the right of suffrage which that Constitiition pre- scribes rnust he repealed by the very first Legislature winch. has met under the- Constitution. The assertion and demand both come with such bad grace from the month of the spokesman of the memorialists, who uttered no such opinions when the Constitution was adopted, and are so inconsistent with his former sentiments, that wo cannot grant to cither the merit of sincerity. It suited the interests of the spokesman then to support the disfranchise- ment, of those wlio supported the rebellion—it does not suit his interests now. The address makes the deliberate statement, that the Con- stitution disfranchised the majority of the citizens of the State. This assertion is in defiance of all fact, and the spokesman of the the memorialists has himself time and again asserted the loyally of the majority of the people of Mary- land. He has objected several times, and many of the very members of the committee wlio presented the petition h;ivo objected publicly, to divers measures of the Government while the war going on, on the ground that the people, of Maryland were loyal, and that such meaures were a reflection an theri loyalty. How is it, then that the Consti-. tution affects thus a majority of the people? But, the elec- tions in this State are the best test of this question. In June, 1861, an election was held throughout, the State for Members of Congress; no military force anywhere interfered; no oaths were anywhere asked for; in Baltimore City the elec- tion was held under the auspices of Marhshall Kame and his police and yet at that election one of. the larges votes ever taken here was polled. Member, of Congress were elected in every district but one, who were even advocates for the prosecution of the war; and been, all thoght the month of April and in the vert midst of the riot of the 19th, an outspoken opponebt of all trea- sonable sentiments. A majority of the whole vote of this, State then declared for war to suppress the rebellion. When Governor Bradford was elected, the sympathizers of with the rebellion then complained of interfernece in Baltimore city and county; stiil Governor Bradford's vote was a large clear majority of the whole vote of the State. It is not to |
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Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1866
| Volume 107, Page 1992 View pdf image (33K) |
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