The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-10-28
70 THE DEMOCRATIC AND CONsER-
NATIVE VOTERS OF THE STATE.


the earliest opportunity to congratulate
you upon the glorious triumph achieved
on the home vote upon the Constitution
recently submitted to the suffrages Of the
people of tie State.
% AT the outset of the contest the only dali
lyo gan in the State which opposed the adop-
ton Of the Constitution was suppressed.
Without the advantages ola free press, and
wi no opportunity for free discussion
b lor, the people Of the issues involved, this
victory has been won over combinations
OF Executive patronage and power, and in
spite Of the imposition Of illegal oaths, aid
intoler.nt dislranchisement of the legal
and qualified voters of the State unparal-
lelcd in the history of any free people
Your verdict has sealed with the stamp
Of condemnation all instruments which
were designed to surrender the rights Of
Safes 1T the footsoolof consolidated the
DRY of the Government, which destroyed sa-
cred rights Of property without compensa-
ton, which created au arbitrary basis of rep
rcseuta,ion with view of perpetuatipg the
political power of the State In the hands
CT a faction, and which, by system of
caths violative of the Constitution of the
United States, and iuimical to the exis-
tenco Of republican form Of Government,
sought to disfranchise, and forever to dis
qualify from holding any Office, and even
from pursuing TIE ordinary vocations of
life, the Maryander who loyal to the con-
stitu!iun Of the United States, and the
union Of the States, as framed by the fathers
Of the Repablic, nigh, perchance have Civ
en- expression TO desires or views hostile TO
tic Administration, the policy of Which
aimed at 4 revolution in the government,
the abolition Of slavery aud the overthrow
Of tho rights Of the States under the Con-
stituton. The people were called upon
to chovse between the State government
which had existed during the days of
peace and union and is adapted to the ne.
cessitics of reunion, and State Govern.
ment, which, under the euphonious name
OLA "Frce Constitution" aimed to erect
on Mary land soil an Abolition dynasty
Against this latter form of goverDme mt the
legal and qualified vote of the State has
expressed its judgment by a majority of
nearly two thousand.
We are satisfied that not less than TWEEN.
ty five thousand legal and qualified voters
Of the State, who we're opposed to this Con-
stltuticp, were prevented from voting eth
er from an unwillingness to sanction the
injunction cfan illegal oath, or from scru-
PIES Ct conscience. In Baltimore city
alone, out Of voting population of over
thirty thousand, only about eleven thous-
ana votes were cast. We feel assured that
in view Of the exer'ions made by the
friends Of the new Constitution, aided by
a letter from the Executive of the United
States, every vote in the city and counties
which could be had in favor of the new
Constitution was polled. The new Con-
slitution has been rejected by the hume
vote and qualified voters of the State
Had all the legal and qualified voters Of
tho State been permitted to cast their bal
lots without the imposition Of illegal oaths
the Instrument would have been rejected
by over twenty five thousand majority
The decision OF the state must, therefore,
Je respected. And while we would advise
the Submission Of the legal questions which
may arise in reference to the "count
Of the soldiers vote" and the adop-
ton Or rejection of the Constitution, FIRST
to the Governor We pledge to the people
of tue State our untiosiDg ,nergies to de-
tect frauds, if any exist, in the returns of
the soldiers vote, aud assured them that
should the Governor, contrary to our pres
eut convictions of the course which sense
of duty will induce him to pursue, con-
clude to count the soldiers vote, the proper
measures will be devised to test the cues.
ton in the courts, under the advice of emf.
nent counsel, and such action will be ia
ken in the premises as will preserve our
rights pending the decisions. In pursuing
this course we feel that we shall be dis
charging duty which we owe to the peo.
pie of the State in vindica,ion Of their
rights under the act of Assembly, which,
by the endorsement Of the popular will,
give stability and power to the Conyen-
ton. The Convention possessed no legis.
ative powers. Section 8 of the act of 1864,
chap. 5, provides that when the Governor
shall receive the return of the number of
ballots cast in this State far State for
the adoption or rejection of the Consti-
tuition submitted by the Convention to
the people, if, upon counting and casting
up the returns as made to him by the
Judges of Election. as hereinbefore pres
cribed, it shall appear that majority Of
the legal votes cast at said election are in
favor Of the adoption of the said Ccnstitu.
ton, he shall issue his proclamation to the
people Of the State declaring the fact.
In view of these plain provisions of law,
limiting by the popular voice the powers
of the delegates to the Convention, and
directing the Governor to base his action
upon the "roturns Of the number Of bal