The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-06-06
: 1t is expressly provided in the Con.

with" in other words that so long as the
present Constitution remains unaltered,
slavery shall not be abolished IN the State.
As the matter now stands it is utterly i'm
possible for US to say At the ballot.box wheth-
er We will accept or reject any scheme Of
compensated Or uncompensated emancipa
ton and when the Copperheads and the
self styled conservative Union men " who
sympathize with them, raise howl about
the emancipation issue being forced upon
the people of Maryland they dom, know
what they are talking about, or else they
wish to cheat the loyal masses into giving
aid and comfort TO the Rebels, by persuad-
ing them to retain the old Constitution In
its present shape, so that it may interfere,
or come in direct conflict, with some of the
measures the Government. may deem neces-
ssry to adopt for the suppression of the
Rebellion. That there is cat of some
kind under the meal must be very evident
to any one who will give the subject a mo.
ment's consideration. Let us look at it.
If Slavery is the melting cause of the Rebel
lion, and the only obstacle in the way of
our having permanent peace, is it not the
part Of both wisdom and patriotism to get
| rid of it as speedily as possible? But
whether it is or is not, oil sensible men
admit that slavery is doomed in Maryland,
and that in very few years she must in the
natural course of events be free State
Is it not therefore the most egregious folly
for us to shut our eyes and refuse to make
any preparation for the change? Should we
not be getting ready to meet the issue, in
stead Of whimper;..s about ignoring it,) by
endeavoring to put ourselves in o condition
to dispose Of the peculiar institution in such,
manner, and at such time as to US shall
seem best?
The Baltimore Union Convention a week
or so ago adopted the following preamble
and resolution, which covers the whole
ground:
WHEREAS, Our present State Constitution
has wisely provided that the people of the
State shall have the right, at the end of
every ten years, of determining whether
that instrument shall or shall not be altered
or amended, by making it tue duty of their
Legislature, at the first session after each
census, to submit the question of calling a
convention to revise the Constitution to q
vote Of the people; and whereas, the last
Legislature failed to discharge this duty
therefore
Resolsed, That it is the obvious duty of
the next Legislature not only to provide for
submitting this question to a vote of the
people of the State, but to submit it at such
time and make such early provision for
the assembling of such convention, should
the people sustain such a CALL as well as far
as possible repair the loss of time occa
stoned by the failure Of the last Legislature
to perform that constitutional duty.
Now we submit it to any man
not blinded by passion or prejudice, or in
sympathy with the enemies Of his country,
if there is anything unreasonable in such a
proposition, or anything squirting, even,
toward an effort to force the emancipation
issue into the coming campaign? All the
unconditional Union men ASA, is that our
next Legislature shall make the necessary
provision for submitting to the people wheth
er or not they desire convention to revise
the Constitution. If they do not desire one,
they will say so at the polls, and there the
matter will end. If they do desire one;
when they come to select delegates to that
convention they will determine whether they
will votefor emancipationists or anti-eman
cipationists. Tier the direct issue will be
made and met. Until that time-although
in the interim we have no disposition to stop
the discussion Of the emancipation question
through fear of dstractins .he Union senti
ment of the State-we do not consider 1t
legitmately in order, Or of vital importance.
What we want at this juncture, is candi-
dates for the Legislature who have conf
dence in the people, and will give them an
opportunity to say whether they are " for
convention" or against convention -
and candidates for all our Offices who will
give every measure the Government deems
necessary for the suppression of the Rebel
lion, hearty and unqualified support
Insidious falsehoods are being circulated,
and all sorts of side issues raised by design.
ing demagogues and inscriptions poll
ticans who wish to secure their own selfish
ends; but the only object desired by the
truly loyal men of Maryland is the defeat
the utter humiliation in the coming cam
paign of all candidates not favorable to sub.
hitting the question of calling convention
to revise the Constitution to vote of the
people, and at the same time unconditional
supporters Of the war policy deemed most
advisable by the Government for crushing
the Rebellion. Let us commence working
in earnest but let us commence right end
foremost.
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