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else. The fear of disloyalty is not to be thought of for a mo-
ment; and the proposed change in the basis of representation,
points to negro suffrage, and the equalization of the races.—
There are four millions of negroes to be dealt with. If this
element were insignificant or out of the way, there would be
no talk of Constitutional Amendments. But the power of the
South is to be held in check at least, if not appropriated by
the extreme men of the dominant party.

My opposition to any farther tampering with the Constitu-
tion, proceeds upon the honest belief, that Congress controls
all the power needed to protect the country against disloyalty,
whatever form it may assume, if any such exists, and that
Constitutional Amendments,to force equality between the races,
can only result in the ultimate annihilation of the weaker race.
Some time ago, the absorbing topic among political agitators,
was amalgamation: now it is "manhood suffrage," which
means amalgamation, and the power to hold office, without
regard to race or color, and every other attribute of perfect
equality between the races. This will all do very well for the
States of the North, where the colored race have never lived,
and cannot be induced to emigrate. With the Southern bor-
der States, it is a question of social and political existence.
In Maryland the negro would anon hold the balance of power,
if in a few years, from the swelling current of immigration
alone, he did not command the numerical ascendency.

The regulation of suffrage belongs to the States. I never
can consent, by any act of mine, to interfere with this vital
reservation.

It is a recognized constitutional right, over which Congress
has no control. If any of the States think proper to confer
upon the negro race the right of suffrage, and the right to
hold office, it is no business of ours—and it is possible that in
some of the States the negro might be allowed to vote, with-
out serious disturbance of existing relations. Bu,t in commu-
nities nearly balanced by the presence of the two races, in
which the infusion of the negro is so great as to constitute an
element of power, the struggle will terminate only in the
complete triumph of one over the other—andit needs no fore-
sight to predict, to whom the mastery wil be awarded.

Entertaining these views, I disavow all desire to widen the
breach, which now unhappily exists between Congress and
the Executive. Maryland has stood by the Union in the hour
of its darkest peril. In this land of free thought and free
discussion, we may surely be permitted, without violence or
insult, to express honest convictions of patriotic duty, and
constitutional interpretation, if this Government of our fathers,
unchanged by the events of the past, is still recognized as the
heritage of their children. The bitter hatred and vindictive
malice, with which the President has been assailed for his
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