The Baltimore County union., 1866-08-11
Tha Issue.

s No uncertainty should exist in the mind of
any voter as to the issue upon which he is TO
pass in the autumna election. Never were the
dividing lines between parties more plainly
marked than between ourselves and our oppo-
nents in the present campaign. Ifa single per-
son fails to comprehend the situation of affairs,
his ignorance is utterly inexcusable.
| The President assumes that the States lately in
rebellion, having ratified the Constitutional
amendment prohibiting slavery, are entitled to
immediate representation in Congress, and that
all that either branch of that body has to do is
to pass upon the qualifications of those who may
present themselves as representatives from such
States.
We, on the other hand maintain that those
States have forfeited all right to representation
by virtue of their rebellion, and can secure it
only upon compliance with such conditions as
the loyal people, in Congress assembled, see fit
to prescribe We deny that the President has
by virtue of his Office, any authority to recon-
struct the Union of the States, and that any at
tempt upon his part looking to this end is a
usurpation of the power which belongs only to
the legislative department of the government.
Congress, at its recent session, has embodied
in the form of amendments to the Constitution,
the terms upon which those States can secure a
representation. To accomplish this, sacrifice
of conflicting views was, of course, necessary
Probably no one in such a state of affairs, could
be perfectly satisfied with all the details of any
plan which could command the requisite two
thirds vote. The amendment before the people
for ratification or rejection exhibits the best that
could be secured
1t is the duty of every voter to make himself
familiar with the bearing of the proposed amend
ments and to exercise the privilege of suffrage
according to his conviction of right. No one
should allow himself to be prejudiced by outcries
which have been, and which will be- raised about
matters which entirely foreign to the real issue
involved.
Are the terms prescribed by Congress unjust :?
That is the gist of the whole controversy, upon
which each and every voter has an opportunity
of expressing his opinion,
Shall there be any safeguard against the re-
currence of rebellion If we forbear to insist up
on the halter doing its work, are we, therefore
precluded from taking any precautions against
treason? =? Have those lately in rebellion mani
tested any, the slightest, penitence for the course
they took If so, when and how Has there
been even graceful yielding to inscrutable des-
tiny? When were arrogance and defiance more
marked, whether we take as types the Jarboes
who figure in touraeys in the bailiwicks of Bow
iedom, in our own State, as Knights of the
" Lost Cause or the Stephenses who lecture a
government they strained every nerve to destroy
upon its duties toward the would-be destroyers
Their penitential confession is simply this -
We have done nothing wrong. We would
do the same again if we should have favorable
opportunity. If, however, there are any who
think we have done wrong, we are perfectly acil-
ling to be foryioen."
Those who are prepared to pronounce full alb
solution in view of such a confession, will, if
they have chance, vote against us at the en-
suing election.