The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-06-21
From the Catholic Mirror.
MARYLAND.


constitution, but of the first principles
which should guide legislature In promo
ting the objects and ends for which it is
instituted. Government, under whatever
form administered, is concession Of the
governed--a creation of the people--inten-
ded for the protection and happiness of all.
Security of life and property are its de-
clared object. Any fixed policy, there
fore, on the part of those appointed to con-
duct the affairs of nation, which directly
or indirectly imperils or destroys the vest
ed rights of its citizens, vitiates the COM
pact between the governors and the gov
erned. The plea Of public necessity may
at times be sufficient to put in allegiance
the strongest claims of justice and right,
but certainly there is nothing in the pres
ent posture of our national affairs to excuse
the bad faith towards Maryland and the
other border States which Congress mani
tested in its recent proceedings, abolish
ing slavery in the District of Columbia. -
1t could hardly be credited that this eman-
cipation act was believed by its congress
sional advocates to be an honest one, when
they had before their eyes an enactment
of their own fan opposite character, pas
sed by themselves only short time before,
and couched in the following language -
"No amendment shall be made to the con-
stitution which will authorize or give to
Congress the power to abolish or interfere
within any State with the domestic insti-
tutions thereof, including that of persons
held to labor or service by the laws Of said
State"
To turn away from proposition like
THIS, and initiate system which invades
the vested rights which that proposition
meant to cover, looks very much like tri-
fling with the border States) and design
on the part of Congress only to play them
along until all the non-slave. States could
be made to work in unison against the
rights and interests of the others. The
limits Of oppression, it would seem, are
only to be circumscribed by the extent to
which the popular mind will suffer them
to be carried. Nothing could be more
unjust TO Maryland than the course which
the slavery agitation has been suffered to
take. 1t is true, there was lawless pop
ular outbreak within her borders on, the
10Th of April, 1861. But many depreca-
ted it at the time, and her legislature made
every atonement in its power for the I'M
happy occurrence. Let any one read the
proceedings and acts of her last General
Assembly, and then say If he can, what
further explanation could have been made.
Maryland is still one Of the United States,
entitled to demand the enforcement of the
constitutional guaranteesmade in her behalf
and to protest against their infraction -
Her legislature, penitent as it proved to be
for the misdeeds Of the 10th of April, was
not willing to sacrifice an institution of Vie
tai Importance to her prosperity, orseeitin-
terfered with by outside influences. ANTI
slavery distractions, though harmless in
New England, we're elements of ruin when
transplanted 10 Maryland. The idealism
Of the Negro-philist may be beautiful afar
of, but becomes extremely hurtful when
brought to our doors. The most ardent
Unionists in Maryland are pretty much of
one mind on the subject Of abolitionism.
The Governor Of Maryland, whose deyo-
ton to the Union no one will question, In
sisted in his inaugural address, upon the
indisputable right Of Maryland 10 regulate
slavery for herself. The last legislature
Of Maryland, which was not behind any
Al