clear space clear space clear space white space
A
 r c h i v e s   o f   M a r y l a n d   O n l i n e

PLEASE NOTE: The searchable text below was computer generated and may contain typographical errors. Numerical typos are particularly troubling. Click “View pdf” to see the original document.

  Maryland State Archives | Index | Help | Search		 search for:
clear space
white space
Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1866
Volume 107, Page 1993   View pdf image (33K)
 Jump to  
   << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
clear space clear space clear space white space

5
bo supposed that men who voted for Mr. Leary, Mr. Thomas,
Mr. Webster and Mr. Crisfield in 1861, and for Governor
Bradford in -1863, have ever given aid and comfort to the ene-
mies, or expressed a desire for the defeat of the armies, of the
United States. There has, in the opinion of your committee,
been a ways in this State a clear majority of loyal men, and
a minority only of sympathizers with and perpetrators of
treason; but if, by the influx of disloyal refugees from the
South, or from any other cause, these conditions are now
changed, and the disloyal clement does really preponderate
in the State, why then the more important is it that the
power to govern and. to legislate for the State should he rigor-
ously kept in the hands of the truly loyal. The nation has
not yet surmounted, the difficulty of her position, it is true
that armed treason has been suppressed; but the feeling of
domination, or caste, of opposition to free labor, of hatred
to the loyal States unfortunately have survived, the war which
has just closed; and, in the opinion of the commitee, it
would be extremely dangerous at this time to, entrust with
political power men of such unregenerate tempers. It would
give them opportunity, upon any slight, local dissention
among loyal men of the State, in a moment of apathy or
fancied security, to palce men in Congress whose sympathy
is with the vanquished enemies of the Republic to unite with
them when they shall be resolved to dictate the law to
loyal men of th nation who spent their treasure and gave
perpetuity of our Republican government.
To contemplate such a result is sufficient to appeal the heart
of the stoutest. It is to repudiate our national debt or assume
theirs. It is to palce those of the rebel army who deserted
our flag in 1861 again on the rolls of our army and raw to
desert again, perhaps, on the first occasion in in which the
country might need the service of the defenders. It is to
restore, if not slavery, a qualified personage which is worse.
It is, in short, to desert new, in the moment of victory, the
Free Labor, which we have have all fondly hoped would redeem
the continant.
The appeal is made that, "the South is all to be restored,
ad therefore all distfranchisement here should, be removed."
The South has not yet been restored, and it, will be time
enough when the Southern States are represented in Congress,
and when those who have resisted the Government there are
restored, to consider the question here. By the very terms
of the petition the time has not yet arrived. It may be that

  		clear space
clear space
white space

Please view image to verify text. To report an error, please contact us.
Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1866
Volume 107, Page 1993   View pdf image (33K)
 Jump to  
   << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>


This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.

Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!

An Archives of Maryland electronic publication.
For information contact mdlegal@mdarchives.state.md.us.

©Copyright  October 06, 2023
Maryland State Archives