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1866.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 241 and not punitive in their character. These odious disabilities were imposed in the midst of a sanguinary strife, when passion had usurped the domain of reason; when the barriers of the Constitution were overleaped under the plea of preserving the Government; but now all danger has passed; the Southern people have expressed an almost unan- imous desire to return to their allegiance; many of their chosen leaders are engaged in the peaceful pursuits of indus- try; and thus, the cause of these enactments being removed, why should not the effects cease? If the provisions of the Constitution are preventive, there being no longer any dan- ger to apprehend, it is nothing short of oppression to con- tinue them; and if they are punitive, they are clearly ille- gal and void under the decision of the Court of Appeals. We cannot believe the disfranchisement of our people jus- tifiable, and therefore would say to those who assumed the power in trying times, that if then excusable, a heavy re- sponsibility will rest upon those who persist, in denying, without reason or justification, the dearest rights of citizen- ship to a large majority of the people of Maryland. At this auspicious period, when the dark clouds that enveloped the country for four long and bloody years are passing away; when the bright era of unity and peace is dawning upon the Republic; when the wise and generous statesmanship of the President of the United States is receiving the well-merited plandits of the civilized world, are the people of Maryland alone to be deprived of their most valued privilege for simply exercising the sacred right of conscience? The undersigned cannot believe that the honorable mem- bers of the General Assembly will longer sanction the pre- scriptive clauses of the Constitution, but that they will at once perceive the justice of removing the undue rigor that has been exercised towards so many of their fellow citizens. Such an act of well-timed justice would, in the opinion of the undersigned, receive the sanction of three-fourths of our peo- ple, greatly conduce to the prosperity of our State, and the restoration of that kindly feeling which should exist among citizens of a common country. All history proves that no government can rest secure upon prescriptive principles, and that they should participate in the exercise of political power who have great and endearing interests to provide for and protect. Let us then draw lessons of political wisdom from the contemplation of the past to guide us to the goal that lies open to our future; and let us firmly assert and main- tain those cherished constitutional principles which can alone render our nation great and our people happy. |
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Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1866
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