St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-10-03
WILL THERE BE AN ELECTION /?

This question is propounded to us dali
ly BY the advocates of peace. We arc
unable to anticipate the designs of the
government. but still We are hopeful that
notwithstanding the gloom which over
hangs our beloved State, J69 people will
oe permitted to vote for. such delegates to
the General Assembly As they may sup
pose will most truly reflect their will
without the interference of federal soldiers.
At all events We hope this privilege will
be conceded to the people Of the counties.
As to the city of Baltimore, now that
the Police Commissioners, whose duty it
is under the laws to appoint the Judges of
election &c. have been displaced. and i'm
+p,isonei by the federal govern ment, we
confess to an entire incapaci,y to under
stand how legal or constitutional election
eau take place i'll that city. Possibly,
however, the government at Washington
will. i'll due time, relieve the apprehen-
sions of all law abiding citizens on this
subject. 1t may be that we shall have
what all notwithstanding aud law-aL,::-
ing citizens will regard as free and fair
election. This depends, however, Of
course. upon the will of the powers
that be-" But our friends should not
condemn the Administration ut Washing
ton in advance of the fact. We advise all
to be prepared TO vote, or, at least, to at
tempt peaceab!y aud quietly to dcposi,
their ballots Aud preliminary to the election
it is important that trustworthy a. COM
petcnt candidates, entertaining the senti-
ments and advocating the principles of the
Peace party. should be nominated for the
various county Offices. Our State candi-
dates are already nominated. The next
thing We have to do is to Nominate. in
this county Candidate for the Senate, six
candidates for'the House of Delegates, ii
candidate for the Shcrriffalty. aud cardi-
dates for the various district Offices.
There is Nd ''teosom' in all this; and We
think it unreasonable in any one to sup
pose that the President will permit any
interference with the right of the people
to meet IN convention, for these purposes.
BY virtue OF the authority vested in the
officers Of our late County Convention,
they have, as will appear by their notice
in another column. liked upon the 12th
of October. as the day for holding our
County nominating Convention. We urge
the delegates to the convention from the
various districts TO regard it as a most
sacred and patriotic duty to attend the
Convention and discharge the obligation
which has been imposed upon them BY the
people. Let US DO what it is our duty to
do to-day. When Tomorrow comes it will
be quite time to consider the exigsncies BY
which v. may be surrounded-or whether
as citizens OF Maryland, we still have any
right to defend or duties to perform. No
proclamation has been issued by the
President prohibiting the nomination Of
candidates for the various Offices provided
for under the Constitution; no law has
been passed BY Comyress on the subject.
nor forbidding An election to be held, or
prescribing new and unheard of quali6ca-
items for voters; and. hence, as matters
now stand it is bu, reasonable to suppose
that our ancient constitutional right in
these regards will be respected by the
President. At all events let us attempt
to exercise our constitutional rights, 90
that We may not have Cause hereafter to
reproach ourselves with the failure to dis
charge the n,ostsacred duties of free.
se!f governing people, through. what may
turn out to have been, unfounded and un-
reasonable apprehension Of military vio-
lence