The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-09-16

as would probably direct their attention to
subjects connected with elementary prln-
ciples of organic law, fitted for the gov.
eminent of free people for all time
men whose claim TO seat in the body
rested entirely on their violent and vocife-
rnus support of extreme partisan doctrines
and that prosecuting spirit against all who
differed from them, which is always the
result of great excitement. Accordingly,
we have found the majority indulging in
violent partisan measures, having no rela-
ton to the proper duties of the body, even
so far disregarding the obligations which
they cannot but acknowledge to be univer.
sal, as to invite the arbitrary and irrespon-
sible interference of the President and bis
military suhordinates, at their sole will and
pleasure, to seize, confscate and appropri-
ate the property of such # our citizens as
they may select, and to exile others into
the country of the public enemy for i'm
puted ofenses, of which they declared
them guilty without trial or opportunity
Of defense, while in the same breath they
announce, as an acknowledged principle,
"That no man ought to be taken or i'm
prisoned, or disseized of bis freehold lib
critics or privileges, or outlawed, or exiled
or in any manner destroyed or deprived
of bis life, liberty or property, but by the
Judgment of his peers or by the law of the
land" '!'.'." q.
Let the freemcn Of Maryland reflect
upon the fearful consequences of sur
render of these fundamental, these essen.
tial principles, which underlie the fabric
of all political, social and personal securi-
ty, and they may we'll be prepared to es-
innate the work of those who have trod-
den under foot these sacred safeguards of
our rights, in their eager and relentless
pursuit of large portion of. our fellow
citizens, who are made. the victims of a
blind and fanatical persecution, and that
for no other cause than an honest differ
ence Of opinion as to the political course
Of the party in power.
Looking to the actual changes which
the proposed Constitution will make in
the organic law, it may be said they chief.
ly consist in tw o particulars--one, the anx.
ious advancement Of the negroes; the 9TH
er, restrictions and impositions upon their
owners. Some change has been effected
in the judicial system, altering the arrange.
ment Of the districts and circuits, increas-
ing the number of judges, and extending
for five years their term of office. But
this, like other matters, did not seem to
be of sufficient importance to demand the
concentrated and decisive support of the
whole party.
1t is known that the city and county of
Baltimore, and the three large western
counties, sent to the convention number
of mem bers sufficient to control its action.
Their delegates number thirty six, being
a majority of the ruling party, and of
course, omnipotent in the caucus whose
mandates must be implicitly obeyed. 1t
is in this portion of the State that few
slaves are to be found. The Shareholders
are almost entirely in the counties of the
Eastern Shore, and those in the more
southern parts of the Western Shore
The well known process by which the cleo.
ton was conducted under the convention
bill, in connection with military power,
exerted to intimate voters, prevented the
full expression Of the popular will, and in
creased largely the preponderance of abo.
litiou members and abolition sentiments
TWAS therefore but natural that these facts
should result in favoritism to the negroes.
and opposition to their owners, and never
was a result more efectually accomplish.
ID.
The slaves, men, women and children,
at one. blow, taken from you, manumitted,
instantly turned loose without the slight.
est provision for you IT for them. Wild.
ows, orphans, the destitute old, and credi-
tors in many instances, dependent alone on
the value of this property, reduced to pov.
erty and want by rem orselesa indulgence
of fanatical phrenzy which DEEDS no ap-
peal from helpless infancy or decrepid age.
Not only is this most wanton violation of
your rights aggravated by contemp tuous
refusal to allow the least shadow of com-
pensation, but every possible means have
been used to extend and perpetuate the
injury. The authors of these outrages.
apparently sensible that some future day
a returning sense of justice might succeed
the mad tanaticism of the hour, and re-
verse the iniquitous DEGREES they had pro.
nounced, have actually assumed the pre-.
rogative of Judging, for all time to come,
for the future generations of the people
and the future legislatures of the State
The fiat has gone forth that no future leg.
islaturc shall have power to make compen-
sation. The finances of the State may be
ample, the people of the State may desire to
repair, to some extent at least, this enor-
m ousinjury, the legislature may unanimous
ly respond to this sentiment, but no, the
fanatics OF 1864 have manacled their hands
they have no constitutional power to do
justice. Is the equal to such enormity to
be found in the history of any civilized re-
gon Of the world? We fearlessly answer,
no! Other people have manumitted negro
slaves. Most of the States north of us
have manun:tted negro slaves. Did any