92               The Maryland Constitution of 1864.            [438

ganic changes in the Constitution or system of govern-
ment, and urging the "violent partisan measures" of the
majority members as proof of this, they proceeded to spe-
cifically condemn numerous provisions of the Constitu-
tion, in particular those providing for emancipation, for
paramount allegiance to the United States Government,
and also the various test oaths, the increase in the legis-
lative representation of Baltimore City, the soldiers' vote,
and the manner of submitting the document to the vote of
the people. They further said—"Not only is this most
wanton violation of your rights aggravated by a contempt-
uous refusal to allow the least shadow of compensation,
but every possible means have been used to extend and
perpetuate the injury. The authors of these outrages,
apparently sensible that at some future day, a returning
sense of justice might succeed the mad fanaticism of the
hour, and reverse the iniquitous decrees they had pro-
nounced, have actually assumed the prerogative of judg-
ing for all time to come, for the future generations of the
people, and the future Legislatures of the state. The fiat
has gone forth that no future Legislature shall have power
to make compensation. The finances of the state may be
ample, the people of the state may desire to repair, to some
extent at least, this enormous injury, the Legislature may
unanimously respond to this sentiment, but no, the lu-
natics of 1864 have manacled their hands, they have no
constitutional power to do justice. Is the equal to such
enormity to be found in the history of any civilized region
of the world? We fearlessly answer, no! Other people
have manumitted negro slaves. Most of the states north
of us have manumitted negro slaves. Did any one of
these do this thing as the Convention has done it? Most
certainly not."

They closed by characterizing the Constitution as a
"wholesale robbery and destruction perpetrated by those
whose cardinal duty was to provide for the security of the
persons, the protection of the property and the preserva-