The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-14
THE MASSACHUSETTS CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENnMENV

The Boston Courier of the 18th, SAYS: The
smallness of the vote is undoubtedly owing in the
main to the fact, that the people looked upon it
mere party question, not affecting the rights of
the citizens in general. They soon saw also that
the Republican party, so far it be now said
to exist as an organization in Massachusetts, was
irreconcilably divided upon it; and were willing
enough to see the Republicans fight it out among
themselves, and to destroy one another if such
happy consummation could be brought about. The
universal and often lachrymOnious remonstrances
urged upon the party from all other parts of the
country, naturally must have had their effect to
prevent many from attending the polls The eff
forts of our Senator, Mr.. Wilson, in opposition,
must also have had certain influence, though we
observe that his native Natick went against him.
And then, sngulary enough, after the solemn ac-
tion of two Republican Legislative bodies upon the
measure, when the time for the expression of the
popular mind upon it approached, there was a Won
derful scattering among the leaders. Seldom,
think, has there been manifested so much whiting
squabblng and evasion. The campaign had been
laid out two years before circumstances had mate
rally changed afterwards, and when the day of
battle actually appeared, there officers to
lead the host. We suppose the germ of the amend
ment to be found in this passage in the Inaugural
Address of the Governor, for 1858:
'There can be object of higher Importance
than that of determining upon what conditions the
right of suffrage shall be conferred, and what legs
lative safeguards necessary to maintain the pu-
rity of elections and to protect the rights of Amer
ican citizens. | shall cheerfuy concur with you
=
this purpose"
The ball thus started rolled, evidently however
gathering moss. On the day of election, most
people believing the amendment would at all events
be adopted, staid at home-too many, we fear,
malicously voted for it, for the very purpose of
putting the Republicans into the tight place which
they mautestly occupy in relation to 1.-THE
frightened 'dOminant party" ITSELF with all the aid
it had, either sincere insidious, could muster
ly about 30, 900 men in the ield-and the Comman-
der-in-chief Notwithstanding his original recon-
mendations and professed cheerful concurrence in
legislative expedients for this purpose, ignomini-
ously fed the fight, and before a blow was struck
was snugly ensconced, two hundred and fifty miles
away, in the st. Nicholas Hotel, New York. Was
such an avoidance of the duty of voting worthy of
an "iron man ~ Is this the example to be expect
ed of the Governor of the State? the leader of
party? the holder of high office ? the anxious ex-
pectant of something more the Gamis, Cawdor,
and the wOuld-be-king?
The London Times thus recapitulates the acts of
reputation the part Of several of the American
States:
"The coniscation practsed by the State of Penn
sylvania has recently been described. To prevent
any portion of the European public from being de-
luded by the constant fourshes of other deaulting
Governments of the American Union, the following
short OF their respective positions will be
sufficient. The number of States to be included in
the list is five. Mississippi, Michigan, Florida
Arkansas and Indana,-but there is considerable
difference in their degrees of turpiude. The ori-
she repudiated FL 0000 900 in 1912, and has never
paid any interest on the remainder. The 900 900
was issued to establish the Union Bank of Missssip
pi, and the 100000 to establish the Planters
Bank. The holders of this latter seem to think
there is some prospect of an arrangement being at
length made to pay principal and interest. The
bonds issued by Michigan amounted to FL 000,0 600.
They were sold in the London market-nOne, it is
believed, at less than sS per cent.-by Mr.. Samuel
Jaudon, the agent of the Bank ofthe United States,
and the failure of that institution, before it had
paid to the State more than 80 per cent. of the
amount due for the bonds the State resolved to re
pudiate the balance. This took place in lS4l, and
was again deliberately confirmed by the Senate and
House of Representatives in lS45. The bOndholders
were therefore required to convert their claims at
the rate of $500 for FL 000 but of course submitted
to the spoilation only under protest Florida has
repudiated about GAG, 900, raised for the establish
ment of a Union Bank, which speedily became nso-
| vent. Arkansas owes 100000, on which, like
Florida, she has paid no interest for 20 years. She
has contented herself however with this quiescence,
| and has avoided placing an indelibe stamp on her
legislative history, by not adopting any formal res
| oution in favor of a fraudulent course The debt
of Indiana about G., 500, 900, and was compro-
missed in 1916, the State for one half the amount,
conveying to the creditors the Wabash and Erie
] Canal, 400 miles long. At the same time it was
| promised that the work should be protected, but
instead OF doing so the Legislature have chartered
avarlety OF competing railways which have render
| ed 1t yalueless memorial has accordingly been
presented, urging that the State should receive
| back the canal and make compensation to the
holders of the bonds. The reply has not yet beer
received, but there is said to be hope that will
not be altogether unsatisfactory Times
March llth, 1859.