The New York herald., 1864-10-12

Tho New Constitution-- rhe EmanciPa-
Sion Ciause-The Election To.dey and
Tomorrow.
OUR BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENCE.
BALTIMORE, Nd, Oct. o. 1854.
The Interest Fsh in the State Eectiom7Ae Question of
Aboiishng Slavery the Issue Ths C1sdidases for Mayor
OF Baltimore wa the Democrass V0ef-Xdyytandeys
Favorable 10 Emancipation Fears A0cTAs Eva Effects
Of ofFunaicimTne Ensanetr aSon Policy Expected BE-
Adopted, dc.
The election which Is to take place In this State the
present week on the new anti slavery constitutions to de-
tcrminc whether shall be adopted or not naturally
enough engages than nyhine else the attention Of
our people at this mopent, even amidst the pending
great military crisis and in view Of the Important inter-
ests Of the Presldcn,iai contest sbAn Maryland, with
the very large urtutored and dependent negro popu
ation yet within her borders, pass suddenly. under
the uoohnery devised ev tho lasa Convention, her
ancient TO new domestic conditions Tho voting, IL Ia
prescribed by the Convention, shall take place In this
city On Wednesday next tho I2.n inst be same day
the Mayors eectiop) but n the counties two days arc
allowed for taking the vote-ibat is the 18th 18th
inst It sesms to haye been deemed OF the nrst import
ance by the members df the Convention and their
friends. who desired the immediate unremuneraied
emancipation OF all tho slaves Of tho STATE that the
largest vote possible should be brought out 10 Baltimore
city. In order 10 counteract expected opposition TO the
measure in tho countes where the slaves mostly held
especially IN the lower ard southern part OF tho State With
the peculiar oath prescribed condition precedent for
nil the effect that they have never sympashized
with the rebelon-!t was 20 DO presumed that many
(whatever may be their present status would decline
to or bo excluded from voting, especially in this city
mostly comprising those opposed to The instrument
There might thus be such limited opposition 10 fail
bring tho full vote the other side but this
oSency s remedied apparently by fixing the election
here for the same day with that for Mayor and tho
democrats and conservatives make nomination for
that Office, two candidates are put n the hed by the
federal administration party and hot contest raging
between the respective factions ii is not doubted that
full vote will DO brought out Of those kindred elements 10
be cast at the same time for this free State and 10
believed, administration measure.
But will the opposition voters In the counties generally
60 to the polls ihc oath and hor balota2 That
is the question. The Hon. Reyerdy Johnson In brief
legal opinion on the subject while declaring that tho
Convention had power whatever TO alter IN advance
Of the adoption Of the instrument the qualification Of
voters advises a TO take the OATH and vote is tho
only way n which to protect their rights aud moral
nunctoa he says, will he violated by such course,
tse requirement, is void The Hon VIM. schey has also
given opinion taking the ground to
the nlegality or tho requirement, bc regard
ing the Convention having only the powers
Of q committee preparing WORK TO be submitted the
people me pre.existng legal votersand advises all
who cannot take the oath tender their
votes notwithstanding, aud 6 rejected to preserve he
ballots TO show hereafter how lhey woud have voted
The Information from most Of the counties varies, but
the larger portion Of Se slaaSpsi 70 t9q pepsure
come out and vote, and some of those c6nntes tue
opposition does no, consist altogether o. .s9s2 VIC hay
somo - ha slavehodng districts prominent men OF both
,aries have taken ground AGAINST the meagure. and
hearty supporters Pc, there ae coabtess. msSt Who
will absent themselves from lhc polls slch coun,es,
wen in this city, white n the western eounies,
where the slaves are now aud long been psIsnin
cant in number, the entire vote favor Of tho oon
stuon VIII be brought cut AMI registered Tor is adop
While ,here Is undoubtedly much feeling 10 tho
stale against this particular sohemeof sudden mhnci q
ton at this time is not 70 be inferred thc-cirom that
there Is sentiment and purpose among tbose Mary
anders-natves u the state Who mold slaves looNng
to- and symp hzng WITH inal extihctiop Of The nst-
futon rnst sentiment and purpose hsve been lons
shed 10 the state and IN the times past, those who
were Mt saveowrers pad doerence 10 those who wcrc
as their rights and convenences 20 the matter and
with the view Of avoiding any such violent changes as
emancipation was that win which the minds OF Mary
uders bad been engaged from time 10 time aud though
ssf T hy apstcal NQrheyn men presumlne upon ,he
evidences ,hes manifested 10 c;ms is.2 !is ststs
and sommsocs ins" has never been lost sigh, o. Tho
fsyorabe has been swnited-such ~ toe SUB
dsnce o. ~ aod nsys would moved on through
,ac iunueuce cf SILENT moral and physical forces TO
most satisfactory conclusion uon woico ~ would nave
shi,y. and thss would have been Sc hsing OF the
chincry OF state OF social e and no heart burnings
and real or imagined wrongs 10 be remembered. There
has bren time the past hf,een years that such
scheme under such circumstances, would nct have 70
ccyed the votes OF thousands who will either vote
against, not u all ou the prcseDt constitution
general expectation Va OF eorse, that the measure
Is nog bs carried through under The perfect machinery
isgisod cor tho purrosc Already 10 the large county
satmOro county adjoining this city have oomnalioas
FOR Judge and state officers been made, provided
~ "
matsri,. G., .ao 'Galgumenl is thafc expected