, 1864-10-14

On Wednesday and Thursday last the peo-
pie Of Mar; ;land voted on the new Constitu-
ton which mas framed By the Convention at
Annapolis last September.
The first article ofthe declaration of righte,
which appears as preamble to the new Con-
etitntion, aflrms that tall mea are created
equally free; tnat they are endowed By their
Greater With certain inalienao1e rights,
among which are life, liberty, the en-.
joyment ct the proceeds of their own
labor, and the pursuit Of happiness
This is the ''root ct tha matter"
If the EmsncIpationists of Maryland have
won thls civil battle they will take the high
est honors of the field. There is no "elit.
teting generality" in the phrass which can
GELS The word s9are from the laws.
Article twenty. tour Of the declaration says
neithtr slavery hor involuntary sergltude,
except In punishment OF crime. whereof tho
psfty shall have been duly convicted; and ali
peraops held to service Or labor as Slaves are
hezehy declared tree"
secllo1 thirty-six prohibits the General
Assembly paeeipg any law to compensate
masters or claimants Of slaves en- manclpated
bs thu Conttitutlon.
Lotteries arc forever abolished b7 the Con-
stftution.
Article five atlrms Ii. Constitution aud
laws of The United States to be the suprems
the stste owes paramount allegiance. The
Legislature is to make provision for taxing
The vote If soldisrs In tne field.
Section iour OF ths Constitution provides
that all pczrons who have aided the rebellion
In any way, or performed any act of war
against the United statee, or have been in
any y ay associated with the so~called Con
fedt1at States OF America" OF have sent
money, or goods, or letters, or Information
to the enemy, or have advised any one 10
enter the rebel eer7lce, or any one who has
By any open deed or word declared his aihe-
sion to TIE cause Of the enemies of the United
States, OF bis desire Tor the triumph Of said
e1 emies'-all such persons shsn be forever
held ineligible to office and incompetent to
Totc at any election, unless restored By par-
don to the full rights of citiz:nehlp by two
thirds vote OF ali the members elected to the
houses Of Assembly.
It 1s made the duty Of officers Of registra.
tion and Judges of election to exclude oil
such persons IRON voting. The oath to be
administered contains the following precise
words: "Tbat have 'neyer expressed de-
FIRE fer the triumph Of said enemies over the
declines to take the cath is to be deharred
from voting; but the taking Of 1t Ia not TO be
received Oh conclusive evidence Of the right
to vote. The penalties OF pe-iury are in whit
Ing tor false swearing. Any one who has
br1bed or Offered to give money to another
to induce him, or By other influence to force
him to refuse to vote tor candidates for
electors for President and Vice President OF
the United Estates, is declared disfrancbised
and Ineligible to public office. The seyerest
penalties are attached to "colon1zlng' voters
from one district to another.
Finally, the Convention has allowed the
soldiers in the neld to vote on the adoption
coz rstitution is adopted, also Tor Presi-
dent at the approaching election
In November. The Opposition to grant
i1esthis privilege to our defenders is one Of
tie oldest and most unreasonable 'phenome-
pa Of the timts. The countrs ia II danger.
men to become soldiers, and thus perform
the Te'.. chest possible service for their
cou1t-5. I'd this service is to dfsfraucaise
ths N. We can send theu1 into the Jaws OF
1tatb. but cannot eeud them ballot-oox.
Map lard thinks otherwise.
The Site which gave birth to tbs Star
epargled Barner'' has confronted its cousti-
tuttcn to its and our gl1rious hymn Of
liberty. Heretofore the sacred anthem has
been sung at home oytr ths heads ofa hun.
1rcc tbousand men in chains. It blushed
through IL its glorious lines for the soil taat
gave It birth. Like the great prophets Of
the olcsn time, l: Wis without honor In its
less prophetic on that account To-day
the eenfus that. dic'ated it, aud the spirit
that liEes In 1t, rejoice over purified and
tIansfsured common wealth. All honor to
the men Of 1864, who, in the Convention ut
Annapolis, cast the destiny Of MARYLAND
with the free s!atesl Posteritg will bless
them; the wheat as 1t gro US thicker, the
corn as it grows hleher, The tobacco leaf as
it g1oTs longer and broader, In the regenera.
ted fields, Will endorse them; the cities aud
in enterprise, and in wealth, wil1 erect mon.
uments to them; md the increased popula-
tom from her coasts to her mountain tops,
gattesipg from every part Of the Union and
from every ehore Of the earth, doubling acd
trip>jbg Id tew years, Will write the history
and celebrate the honor Of the men Hho
could eay: g. Ont Of this nettle, danger, We
pluck this flower, safety"