Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-04-09
The Coming Campaign in Mary
land.

luHus
Several questions of weighty import are
destined to enter into the political campaign
tina: will come off during the ensuing fall.
The first in importance is that of Con.
vention to remodel the Constitution, and to
give to us more thorough form of republi.
can government The last state convention
effected much that was desired and impera-
lively demanded by the people, but it failed
to 60 far enough to meet the demands of
liberal and enlightened craftsmanship. We
are still suffering from, and aboring under,
to great extent, the old effects and rotten
system of permitting the few Shareholders
in the State to rule the numerous hard work.
ing yeomanry of the commonwealth. The
small slaveholding counties still hold the
reins of government, and dictate the policy
of the State, while such large constituencies
as those of Baltimore City, Frederick, Wash
ington and Allegany Counties, have no more
influence in the Senate Of the State, than
such small and feeble counties as st. Mary's
and Charles. 1t becomes the people of AL
legany and the other large counties, contain
ing as they do the wealth of the State, and
paying immense sums in taxes to the State,
that they should demand representation
equal to their population and their wealth.
We are at loss to know on what principle
ofrepublican government, the counties which
have but small voting population, can
claim to have equal influence in the halls Of
legislation with counties which count their
citizens by tens Of thousands. Surely the
simple fact OF their possessing given desrip-
tion of property, does not entitle them to
claims above those who possess another de-
scription of property equal if not superior
in value to theirs. Legislative power should
be in accordance with population, and not
the possession of slave property. This we
claim to be in accordance with republican
principles One subject then of interest in
the coming fall campaign will be the calling
of a Convention so to remodel the State Con-
stitution as to allow Allcgaly and the other
large counties their just representation in
the Legislature of the State.
Another subject of interest will be that of
emancipation. Since the diabolical effort OF
Southern Autocrats to overthrow the gov
ernment slavery in Maryland has been on
the rapid decline; hundreds of slaves have
made their escape, and those that remain
with their owners have become so democrat
lied as to be almost worthless. That slavery
can ever again be made of permanent inter-
est to shareholders in this State under any
circumstances, is out of the question. 1t has
met its doom in Maryland. The only ques-
ton then is, and it is of more importance to
the slaveholding interest than any otter,
what is to be done in the premises? 1t is
urged that Maryland, under the Presidents
suggestion of compensation, shall manumit
her slaves. By adopting system of manu-
mission with compensation the slaveholding
portion Of our citizens will receive an indem-
MITIGATION much larger than their slave prop
erty will now command in the open market,
and more than it will ever be worth at any
subsequent period, while the State will be
her like a terrible incubus, paralizing her eff
forts, and retarding her progress in her ma
terial interests. The subject is even at this
early period elciting much interest in that
portion OF the State where the slaves are
most numerous, and inquiries are being in
stituted in reference to its introduction in the
fall campaign. Mr.. Richard Chambers of
Greepsborough on the Eastern Shore, adj
dressed letter recently to the Hon. Judge
Blair. Postmaster General, on this subject, to
which the Honorable gentleman wrote the
following admirable letter, and to which We
invite the candid attention of our readers:
"DEAR SIR have yours of the 23d in
slant, asking whether it would not be better
for lis not to make the question OF Emanci-
patton in our approaching election.
"lf, as you assume, it was in our power to
make or not to make the question: it might
lie profitable to debate with ourselves wheth-
er we would or would not make it, But
when in point Of fact, it is not for lis to say
whether the question shall or shall not be
made, it seems to me to be idle to discuss the
policy of making it. The question is upon
US, and all that We can do is say on which
side we shall range ourselves. 10 be debat-
ing whether it is better or worse for us to
have it, is like debating whether the rain
that is falling is needed.
~ know, indeed, that too many OF our
friends ere so afraid of the slavery question,
or rather SO terrified at the Secessionist howl
of sAbolitionists,' that they persuade them
seiyt. that they can dodge the issue, and can
even join in The howl without helping the