The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-10-27

found it convenient to forget all about re-
publican institutions when they came to
regulate Maryland, for they knew that
under that form of government not a man
of them would remain in office after the
bayonets which placed him there were
withdrawn. So they have deliberately
disiranchised over twenty thousand cti-
zeus of Baltimore. Nor does the party
which has effected this gigantic usurpa-
ton number anything like ten thousand.
A considerable proportion Of the register
ed voters consist Of men who have, for
more than four years, been earnest and
consistent opponents of the whole course
of the Federal Government If tlfese
were stricken from the list, there JFouid
probably remain somewhere abnW seven
thousand persons who have supported the
policy of the Administrator, And even
among these "loyul' voters there are many
who have, ever since the war began, loud
ly professed in public the most tervent at.
tachmcnt to the Federal cause, while in
private they avowed their sympathy for
the South and expressed hops for its
success. Who of US cannot name them
by the score !
1t is very certain that what has been
known as the Union party in Baltimore
did not, at any time comprise more than
fourth of our voting population
But ever since the bcgil ming Of the struggle
it has asserted that it represented the ma
jori;y of our people, and, backed by the
Federal authorities it assumed on that
theory to rule the State. BY its own
Vaccinations it has brought about the ex-
posture of its weakness, and it has now
not even the shallowest pretense on which
to base its claim to govern the people of
Baltimore. We shall persume, therefore,
that it is willing and ready to abandon
the attempt to maintain itself in pow + by
means which disfranchise and outrage
near y three.fourths of our voting popula-
ton. Such a test as citizen is now SUBJ
jected to before he can acquire the right
Of suffrage would be grossly unjust and
odious at any time; but under present
circumstances the Registration act is
monstrous and disgraceful. We shall
further presume that if the act is not
shortly repealed by the minority who
made it, way will be found to abrogato
it by the oppressed and DISTINGUISHED ma
jority who suffer from it. At this present
time they are powcrless to assert their
rights, but if they fail to do so when the
opportune moment arrives, they will de-
serve whatever humiliation can be infic-
ted on them by the now dominant party.
We say frankly, that we do not believe
that so great proportion of our people
intend to submit tamley to the yoke which
it is proposed to fasten on them for one
hour longer than they are compelled by
stronger power to bear it. A republican
form of government will assuredly be re-
established, whenever the President shall
declare that it is no longer his purpose to
assist in governing this State. 1t can
DO re.established before that time, and
much more easily and quietly, by the
party which set up our present institutions,
and we trust it will see, before the Legis-
lature meets in January, that justice,
wisdom and policy all concur in demand
ing that it should make our citizens
speedy restoration of the rights of which
they are now deprived.