The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-07-14
THE Speech of Gov. Swami.


Most of our readers have doubles perused the
speech of Gov. Swami, delivered in Monument
Square on Thursday evening June 18th, and we
are sure that there are but few that have not found
much in it to censure, great deal to be amused
at and more still to cause feelings of regret and
modification, whilst they have been able 10 dis
cover but little that can meet with their hearty
approval. II is nothing more or less than re-
hash OF the speeches recently made by the Hon.
Montgomery Blair on National subjects with the
single difference that Mr.. Blair has openly given
in his adherence to the Democratic party. whilst
Gov Swami still protests that he is the embod
ment of the Union party OF Maryland, and the
antagonist OF the Copperheads Negro equali-
ty'' is the great text of the speech. Almost eve
ry paragraph is weighed down with ii, and every
sentence rounded with this bugbear to Brighten
and deceive the weak and timid. According to
the arrangements set forth by the Governor on
this subject the white man of Maryland is TO lie
overwhelmed and dstanced by the negro, and
compelled to touch. his hat to the black man, if
the latter should be granted, in the language Of
President Lincoln an equal chance in the race
OF lite.b We pity any white man whoenteftainsA
such fear, and we are mortified and chagrined
to meet such utterances from the man who has
been chosen Governor by the Unconditional I'm
ION party OF Maryland. AS to negro suffrage
those whom the Governor terms 9. Radicals y
clared their views on this subject too emphat
cally to be misunderstood or misrepresented, and
here the Ex-Governor is fighting a phantom that
seems to brood over him like nightmare. If he
could only be depended upon to stand by his
pledge TO rigidly and faithfully enforce the regis
| try law, and keep Rebels from voting he need
have no fear of being jostled at the ballot box
! by the negro.
! We do not propose further to analyze or re-
view the points of this remarkable speech, except
! a few words relative to that portion of it which
relates to the Registry law. The Governor SAYS
" AS the Executive ofthe State, shall do my
! duty in executing that as well as all other laws
upon your statue book; but shall take care, so
far as my influence extends that the Registration
I act is not made the instrument of degradation TO
our people in the hands Of yindictive and radical
agents lapplauseb to force negro suffrage and
negro equality upon us. Loud cheerng.l |
shall see that it is fairly, mpartialy and Justly
administered, by the appointment Of men or I'M
doubted Union antecedentts and upquestioned
loyalty, in the spirit ia which it was enacted
, by the Legislature, and not of intolerance
and oppression of which, I1regret to say, there
has been to much in thepastp Loud cheering
If this last sentence means anything ii is d.
rect imputation on themapner which his prede-
cessor, Governor Bradford enforced the law
that under his administration ii was made on act
ofintolerance and oppression Now, we believe
that Governor Bradford did all in his power 10
enforce the laws faithfully and impartially, and
that it was enforced except in those counties of
the State where he was deeieYedin the character
OF the Registers recommended to him for APP
pointment by those who are at present the chos-
en- friends, advisers and counsellors of Governor
Swami. In Montgomery, Prince Georges, Wof-
cestor, Somerset, st. Mary's and other counties,
Rebels were registered by thousands, snf-
iicent to elect members TO Congress and members
OF the Legislature, of as strong Rebel ,pfoclvties
as could be found in Richmond or Charleston
This certainly was not the intention ofG0vernor
Bradford Ex-Governor Swami thought that be
had been elected by acts of intolerance md op-
preston, he should have declined 10 accept the
position, instead Of at this late day hurting a IL
bellous charge against men who stand as high
in the community for all the characteristics Of
honesty and political virtue as he does himself
On the contrary, he emphatically declared in his
first Annual Message that those whom the Regis
try law effected g had no right to complain of the
hardships of a lar Whjch Mey hare hensse5oes de-
iiberately provoked v
In short we firmly believe that Governor
Swami intends to appoint Registers who will
throw open the ballot box to nearly all who are
legally and rightfully excluded by the Constitu-
in Benjamin Harris district will be the model
from which the Governor will select his appoint
ees for Baltimore and the balance of the State
We have no more faith in his = glittering gener-
alities and the Union men of the State may
well at once accept the issue and prepare to meet
il as best they may.-BQttimore american.