Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-15

ing address To tho People Of Maryland by the minority
Of the late Constitutional Convention Of that State explain
Ing their for opposing the changes in the Cons
tuition and recommending the people OF the State to vote
against its adoption
To the Voters OF Maryland.
The undersigned members of tho Convention lately in
session at Annapolis for the formation of new Constitu
ton believing that the instrument pared BY the majority
OF body about be submitted TO you LOT
or 10 altogether untitled to the c0ndton ana
necessities Of the State deem proper to present for your
serious consideration Of the reasons which nave IN
duced oppose it in Convention, which, we respect
fully submit, should induce you to Tejectit a .
At the outset of this movement we. in common win
large portion of the State entertain the opinion that TINS
period Of civil war in which scarcely family 10
the State exempted from the excitement necessarily
resulting from the personal participation Of one or more
of its members and in large number Of cases from the
death such member and from the destruction OF properly
and the pecunary loss to which they baf been
was not the appropriate time for calm considerable work
which of all others demands the cool debeation OF men
in the highest degree Invested OF personal or party preu
does. #t
Constitution should institute form Of government for
all me-or ali persons who to be BY IT under
oil the changes to which political organizations must D.
with the great eternal principles OF
political social and moral truth and justice which, as they
can change should be disregarded and made
give place impusve feelings and opinions which
Of passion and excitement DINO the Judgment
of even good men. -
all our anticpaons of The evil influence of the times upon
the character aud temper its members Many persOas
were chosen delegates who have never engaged in
such pursuits would probably direct their attention to
subjects connected with elementary principles OF organic
law fitted for the government of free people for all me
men whole claim to in the body rested entirely
their violent and vocerous support Of extreme partisan
doctrines and that prosecuting spirit against all who d
fered them which is always the result OF great ex
element Accordingly have found the majority indulg
ing violent partisan having no relation to the
proper duties of The body, 60 far disregardng the
obligations which they cannot but acknowledge to be uni
versa invite the arbitrary and irresponsible inter-
ference of the President and bis military subordnates al
their sole will and pleasure to seize, confscate and ap
prOprate the property of such OF our citizens as they
NAV select and to exile others into the country OF
the public enemy for imputed offences OF which they de-
carsd them guilty without trial opportunity OF defence
while in the breath they announce, as an acknow
lodged principle that ought to be taken or i'm
prisoned dsseized of his freehold liberties or priv
iepes OF ouawed exiled in any manner destroyed
deprived Of his life liberty or property but by the
Judgment of his peers by the law OF the land Let the
reemen OF Maryland reflect upon the fearful consequences
of surrender Of these Fundamental these essena prin-
cplas which underle the fabric OF all political social and
personal security and they may we'll bs prepared to es
tho work those who have rodden under foot these
safeguards of rights in thei eagar and reent
less pursuit of large portion OF our who
are made the victims of blind and anatics persecution
and that for other than an honest difference OF
opinion as to the political of the party in power
Looking the actual changes which the proposed Con.
sitution will make the organic law 1t may be said they
chiefly consist 10 two particularsone the anxious ad
Of the negroes the other restrictions and mpo
stcns upon their Some change has been ELECTED
trcs and circuits increasing the number OF Judges and
extending for five years their term of Office But this
Ike other matters did not seem TO be OF sufficient import
ance demand the concentrated and decisive support OF
the whole party
1t known that the city and county of Baltimore, and
the three large western Counties sent to tbs Convention
number of members sufficient to control its action. Their
delegates number thirty six, being majority OF the ruling
party and OF omnpoteDt the caucus uhose man.
dates must be implicitly obeyed is IN this portion Of
the State that few be found The
almost entirely in the counties OF the Eastern Shore
those the southern parts OF the Western Shore
ibe we'll known process by which the election was con
Quoted under the Convention bill, in with mill
tary exerted to nmdate voters prevented the full
of the popular will aud increased largely the pre-
of abolition members and abolition sentiments
il was therefore, natural these facts should
suit in favo.ism to the negroes and opposition to their
owners and q result more e6ectuay accomplish
ed The slaves, women. and children, at one blow
taken from you manumitted, instantly turned loose with
out the slightest provision for you for them Widows
orphans the destitute old and creditors many instances
dependent alone the value of this property reduced to
poverty and want by remorseless indulgence of auat
cal phenzy which heeds appeal from helpless infancy
or decrepId age.
Not only is this most wanton violation of your rights
aggravated by contemptuous refusal to allow the least
shadow of compensation but every possible have
been used to extend and perpetuate the injury The
of these outrages apparently sensible that at
future day returning Of justice might succeed the
mad fanacsm of the hour and the Diquitou de-
they had pronounced have actually assumed the
prergave of judging COR all time to come for the future
generations Of the people and the future Legislatures Of
the State The fat has gone forth that future LeQs
lature shall have power to make compensation. The
nances of the State may be ample the people Of the State
may desire to repair to extent at least, this
Injury, the Legislature may Unanimously respond to
this sentiment but the fanatics OF 1864 have maDaced
their handsihey have constitutional power TO do JUS
ce Is the equal to such enormity to be found in the
history Of any civilized region Of the world We fearless
ly answer no! Other people have manumitted negro
slaves Most Of the states north Of have manumitted
negro slaves Did any Of these do this thing this
Convention has done i'll Most certainly not.
Aud this Wholesale attack all the interests Of all the
has been INDUCED at the expense Of blind dsre
gard to the comforts nay the necessities OF the
groes Not the slightest provision has been made for the
young aud the helpless the aged and decrepd. Appeals
made, nterposition invoked by of US whose
experience has taught to know that there many off
these utterly incompetent to procure garment to clohe
them, mouthul of food to noursh them 1t has been
10 vain they have been e far any action of their
boosted deverers s concerned to exposure nakednes
and starvation This consequence must inevitably follow
unless their masters charge themselves with the
burden of their maintainance
Every that the anmosty OF the majority could
DEVISE respect 10 the property OF the slavehoder being
exhau ted the Det step seemed to be 10 arrange
ters eectualy TO render their condition hopeless
and remedess by denying them any agency the political
affairs of the State. Knowing that they generally
opposed in their political opinions to the President Of the
United States and that large number of young
had gone from midst to unite themselves with the