The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-25
State Convention i'm Baltimore 10 Initiate Mea-
sures for the Repeal of the Registry Law.
from the Baltimore Gazette

from the Baltimore Gazette
The State Convention, representing that
overwhelming and influential proportion VI
the citizens of Maryland who are opposed TO
the present registration law, assemblies here
to-day. 1t is certainly the most important
political convention that mas met mere ioI
very many years. The universal desire "htcl
has been expressed throughout the state LOT
the calling of such 4 convention, ana the heaIll,
ness with which the people have responded
to the invitation 10 appoint representatives W
it, prove that they are fully alive 10 the gravity
of the question at issue Nor conlu ,nes T tSa
love of liberty and the spirit OF independence
that has distinguished them for generations
They find themselves day in pontlcai vas
salage TO a small minority, which, alded py an
armed force from without, has usurped the
power and Government OF the State. ihey
are not permitted to approach the Dailot-poA :
they are precluded from holding ONCE tney
are denied all participation In our leSlSlatlNe
and municipal councils. They are coolly told
that they must submit TO be taxed at the
pleasure of their rulers that they mus repent
Of having differed in opinion with the little
oligarchy which governs them. lhey are
assured that when they shall have repudlated
the principles they have honestly entertained
all their lives, and shall approach the minority
with humble expressions OF affection ana
respect, the latter Will, perhaps, condescend 10
make white freedmen of them. We cannot
believe that the people Of this State intend 10
suffer themselves TO be thus dealt with iheS
inherited the same rights as those VINO desiS-
nate themselves rs loyal" citizens. They
hold in contempt and derision the idea that
they have forfeited the privileges they have
been used to enjoy under 4 republican form OF
government because they differed from others
concerning the causes of the war and the con-
stitutional powers or true policy of the Fede
raj Government. They know that the asseV-
GRAFTON that men committed treason when
they criticised and condemned the course OF
the Administration is altogether preposterous
and false. They are convinced that those VINO
thought themselves justified in advocating the
registration law during the war can only now
desire to kept in force for the petty and out
rageous purpose of perpetuating their own
power. They see that all those principles OF
civil liberty which were won for us In series
of revolutions, and only after the lapse OF
centuries, are to be deliber .tely sacrlhced,
and that free government IS TO be denied
10 the vast majority c. the people OF
the State, merely that the ends OF small
political party may be accomplished. We can
not think that we err i'll supposing that the
citizens of Maryland intend 10 claim and to
recover their rights of citizenship. How they
design to set about it we do not, rs yet, know
But they are wronged and DISTINGUISHED, and
they have been taught from childhood TO
regard with mingled scorn and pity the people
of other lands who have submitted tamely TO
tyranny and oppression. They are not, we
think, degenerate sons of the men who gave
us free institutions, and their demands must
be met by something more than the complacent
assurances of Governor Swami and the Baltl-
more american, that they intend 10 govern us
in their own way. A strong and high spirited
people claim rights unjustly withheld from
them, and they are determined TO be heard.