St. Mary's gazette., 1864-01-14
Csv. Bradford's Message.

Gsv. 6ractorus message
This very voluuineus document Is he
fore us. and We have given il an nttentivc
fcrussl. ]. is evidently stadisd and
carefully prepared psper. bst il dors noi.
up p,a the whole. we think. rsf.c: nrcrmucb
ssedi, upon his Excellercy. The lshored
sSort hs mzkcs To- convince the admins
trsiinn that he IL with it, vhils'. on the
s,hsr- hand. be would nos have any one
10 think that hs would sanction or counte-
rance any act Of the National Executive
bat did MT fully commenj itself to his
avn sense Of right aud jastice, PAGES him
in posisionspo anosnslous thar he faun-
Gers badly in bis astempt At extrication-
Ills comments upon subjects Of ordinary
impcrs are souAd and Logical, and his
revisw sf the financial conditi"n Of the
State il such as win likely e"mmand The
tuhlie endorsement. Ills reference 10 the
laie election In the State exhibits q proper
svpreeiatiou Of the outrage aud wrong
that has been inflicted upon our people;
shilas bis suggestion. that the Legislature
ss.all endeasor to provide n.eaIss to guard
sg.inxs oil future military interference
With the exercise Of the right OF suffrage.
hss .he ring Of genuine tone and fairness
about il. Nor 10 bis Excellcncy willing
that tho subject of elections shall rest here.
is goes even further. He dots net re-
gard elections aa lrgal or valid. snless they
.re conducted ssr;et.y in secordanes with
the laws Of the State. and irrespective. im
i,xo, Of Federal mandates or military or
a.rs. Nov. this posit;an once so decided
ly taken, il would seen. hut fair to pre-
.ums. tba. bis Excellency wonld desire
no future election to be bold 10 this State.
until proper guarantees should be furnish
s.l. that it would be conducted with
spirit Of fairness and justice. These guar
aniees he has failed to obtain through his
sorrsspondeucs With Dir Lincolu. aud no
Laws thai the State Legislature can enact
will meet the case in pcias mere fully.
shsn shoss DOW upon The Statute Books
How. then. 10 it. that Gov. Bradford 10 for
:ts Immediate call ofa Convention. that
the $3.50 Of fhs people may be sakcn upnn
9 question Of extraordinary and vital i'm
rorisnee? Hs must be aware, that no
slso,iea has yet been held in shis State
nss even bis own--,hat was so likely to
excite military intcrferencs aa the one he
nsw proposes; yet be sauc,ions and urges
il. in she face Of the fact. that he is pow
er'sss to protect the voters against what
he -. mingly - much deprccsses-
terry interference or armed Intervention at
The ballo.-box. But. perhaps. his Ex-
selleney has n wisdom aud f"rrsigh, be-
yon6 our compass. and. in the language
Of his worthy predecessor. is simply seek
irg tho protection of our interests and
Ynprny" in the course hs proposes.
Nevertheless. We must decline 10 agree
With him. or admit. that there is either
consistency or logic in that portion Of
his message TO which we specially refer.
Negrs Soldiers. ..
We learn that there arc now several
squads efnegro soldiers scattered through
on, this county. and .ha. the influence
sxsr.ei hy their presence among the
slaves 10 becoming extremely prejn,lieial
70 the iaierest of our people. Since tho
arrival OF 1etaohment AZ Chaptiro.
most Of the negro men in shst vicinity
kavs left thsir masters. whilst these that
remain at home are becoming iadalent and
worthless. Indeed. slavery can now be
said to have bat little more than nomi-
nal existence in this State. and the rights
If tho Shareholders are as poorly respected
here % in any psrsion of "rebeldom.
And yet. We are loyal people and live
ander the Constitution and laws framed by
eur fsrsisthers! 1.-THE strong arm Of the
Government has twice interposed between
ns and our invaders" and an armed gar
ri.on 10 kindly furnished us. .Lat no quar-
rel may arise around the family altar. Can
i, be. that these manifestations of friend
ship and paternity are grossly d. ceptive.
and we're made simply 70 iull ss into q
false security? Otherwise. Why is it
'aas ruin aud penury and, wan, are new
lring brought upon us? Take frem our
shrsheldcr their slaves. aud they are
reduced to poverty. They have relisd. as
a class. upon this species of property as a
means 10 cultivate their lands. and have
been dependant upon the revenue thcreby
derived 70 pay their delts. Insolvency
end hcsearys now stare them in the facs.
aud they are incapable Of avoiding the
fate that awaits them. And, who has