Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-10-01
from the Cecil Whig.
Gov. Bradford and Comp
trOller Mamt's Views on
Emancipation in Mary
land and a Constitutional
Convention.

Mr.. Mu6t opposes Emancipation and
thinks 1t unnecessary.-" do not and
cannot approve the agitation of the qucs-
ton of emancipation of the slaves OF
Maryland
Again he says that l,o is opposed to
the introduction of this question OF cman-
cipation this fall, and also opposed to
any action touching it at present as pre-
mature, ill-advised, and unnecessary
Governor Bradford thinks the gro'ch
and prosperity Of the State demand f.
Emancipation. - am satisfied that the
conviction has beon slowly. but surely,
maturing in the minds of the people for
years past, that the future growth and
prosperity of cur State demand change
in our system of labor, and the events
of the last two years have only served to
show the necessity of providing for that
change with the least possible delay.
When we speak of gradual emancipation
it must not be supposed that the phrase
is employed by way Of postponement Of
the operation, but it honestly expresses
what it truly means: that such emanci-
patton shall only be so gradual as to
guard it against the evil consequences
that must necessarily result to slave as
we'll as master from too sudden change
in any system of labor that is Of indigi-
nous growth Nor will any one, I trust,
imagine that in speaking of emancipa-
tion by legal or practical means, we mean
to embarrass or delay the project by the
use of any e1uivocal terms calculated to
leave any doubt oc the good faith of those
who avow that policy
NJ. Mg6I thinks ,ce ought to rat un-
til this cruel acdr is orsr.-' Let US wait
for more auspicious times, when the re-
bclion is suppressed, the country at
peace, mems passions cooled, and then
see if we are able for so great ali under
taking
Governor Bradford opposes delay, and
thinks the achole question may be seHlcd
in 1S64.-'Nor will disposition of the
question by this, the only means of meet
ing it, involve the delay which some
seem to suppose. The convention which
assembled in 1851, and framed our pres
ent Constitution, was authorized by an
act which was passed by the Legislature
Immediately preceding it. The same act
provided for submitting the question of
q convention to the vote of the people,
and for the assembling Of that conven-
ton, if authorized by such vote. The
same proceeding may be adopted now,
and shall not b. tate to recommend it
to the next General Assembly. Thus
may not only the question Of a conven-
ton be submitted, but the convention it.
self assembled by the summer Of 1864,
and the whole question disposed of be-
fore that summer is ended
Mr.. MaM opposes a convention, and
says 1t IS granting e,erything the en'an-
cipationisfs ask.--' This clamor about
the constitutional convention, taking the
sense of the people, &C., comes particu-
larly from those wishing to abolish sla-
very in the State. And the intelligent
reader will also see in this proposition
that which, if yielded to by anti cman-
cipationists, gives up all that the oman-
cipationst can claim of the next Legis-
lature. This is the extent of its constl-
tutional authority over the question at
this time, and if it is conceded there is
nothing more needed to inaugurate in
the State, in full blast, the question OF
emancipation.
Gov. Bradf,rd says the call Of con-
vention is the first step IN emancipation,
and that the nert Legislature should by
all means make provisiom for such con n0en-
tion.-'That Constitution expressly pro.
bibits tho Legislature from abolishing
the relation of master and slave as at
present subssting in the State. The
first step to be taken, therefore, is to
provide for taking the sense of the peo-
Pile upon the subject Of convention to