, 1863-09-16
G|)itago Qribuue.


Convention Proposed.
Governor Bradford Of Maryland has ad-
dressed an important letter to ex-Qoyernor
.Thomas, Of that State, which Is published In
tbe Baltimore american. In the course Of
the letter the writer says:
l am eatisaed that the conviction las been
eloT1J, but surely. maturing In the minds Of
growth and prosperity Of cur State demand
I'd change in our system Of labor, and the
events cf the last THO years have only served
to chow the necessity Of providing for that
change with tue least possible delay. When
we speak Of gradual emancipation It must
By way OF postponement Of the operation,
Int it honestly expresses only what 1t truly
means: TINT euch emancipation shall only be
60 g1adua] as TO guard 1t against the evil
consequences that must necessarily re-
suit to slaye US well as master from
TEN of labor that is Of Indigenous growth,
Nor will any one, trust, Imagine that In
speaking Ct emancipation bylegai or practica-
BILE meuDs. we mean to eu.barrass or delay the
project BY the use Of any cQuiyocal terms cal
eulated to leave any doubt Of the good filth
6f those who NOW that policy. But. the
people ofthe State honestly and earnestly Is
they may look to the policy of emancipation
as ca1culated to Secure future prosperity
will, however, never consent that such pol-
icy shall be cousummated By any action but
their.own, Or by any means but thoss which
their Constitution allows.
Tint Constitution expressly prohibits the
Legislature from abolishiug the relation Of
master and slave rs at present subaisting in
the state, and it can hardly be supposed that,
however Inclined VIC may be to abolish that re-
!ation. we can consent to do SO evan in the
f. "a f,f
The first step to be taken, therefore, Is to
provide for taking the sense Of the people
upon the subject Of conyeation to revise
the Constitution Of fthe State.
To advocate the call Of such Convention,
and to urge upon the next Legislature the ne.
ceesity Of submitting that question to the
people1t the earliest practicable day, is the
only legitimate mode by which the most ear
nest advocate Of emancipation can inaugurate
that policy. have never hesitated to ayoW
the opinion that the next Legislature should
by al means make such provision. The
right to express their views upon the subject
IT revision Of their organic law cTetT ten
years, and, whether or hot the same Consti-
tutiona1 duty cf providing for this right rests
upon the next Legislature, Us It did upon the
last, ne one will question their right to do SO,
m and 1ew that Wnl not urge the proprlety Of
their 50 doing, unless In the meantime COM
p3ete revulsion IL produced In public Genti-
ment By the most unNise course Of dealIng
with the subject
Nor will disposition Of the question BIZ
This, the only means Of meeting it, involve
the delay Which some seem to suppose The
Convention which assembled In 1851, and
framed our present Constitution, was author
lied ~ an act which was passed by the Lcgis-
lA1ure Immediately preceding 1t. The sane
act provided for submitting tic question Of
Convention to the yote Of the people, and tor
the assembling OF that Convention, if author
lied by such vote. The same proceeding
Ina3 be adopted now, and shall not heal
fste to recommend 1t to the next General
Assembly.
Thus may not only the question Of a Con
Tention be submitted, but The Convention IT,
self assembled by the summer Of 1864, and
the whole question disposed Of before that
summer II ended With such a prospect Of
tie complete settlement Of this Texed qucs-
ton, so far as Maryland Is concerned, before
the close Of another year, and what reason
is there for Wrangliug among the loyal voters
Of the State over this collateral issue and
what justification Tor amy such premature
and violent proceedings with slave property
az are calculated not only to infamc these |
Nranelipge, but to jeopardizc, If not certainly |
defeat, such proceedings in the next 'L:gisla- |
tu1e as have just suggested, and upon 1Aich |
60 much dependss