Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-08
A VOICE FOR CANCELLATION FROM MAS
SACHUSETTS.


are some points in it so needful to be consid- |
cred by all who hope for safe and speedy re-
construction of the Union, that we propose to |
call the attention of the people of Maryland to
them. Holding to the common sense view
adopted by the President in his treatment OF
the disloyal States, he is for recognizing and
giving them their old position in the Union by
the aid of such instrumentalities as are to be
most readily found; and expecting not too
much from them in the outset, involved as the
greater portion of the citizens South were in
the endeavor to overthrow the Government,
he would yet trust them; encourage them with
the hope and expectation of finally seeing them
determined and cordial supporters of the
Union.
After duly congratulating the people of this
State upon the part Massachusetts had acted
IN sustaining the General Government against
its assailants, and with just pride enumerating
some of the sacrifices made, he begins the
discussion of the present situation of affairs
by assuming that the States in revolt never
were out of the Union-insisting that a State
in rebellion" does not cease to be State.
"lf,' he says, ''they had conquered the Union
"they might have become independent, or
whatever else it might have been stipulated
"they should become by the terms of an ult
"mate treaty of peace. But being conquered,
they failed in becoming independent, and
"they failed in accomplishing any thing but
their own conquest. They 'cere still States
though belligerents, conquered"
After laying down the conditions upon
which the States in question should be read
mitted to all the privileges of the Union, not
acceding to which, the Government should
consider them as still in Estate Of war," he
says
"We are DESTROYS of their reorganization,
and to end the use of the war power. But
. | am confident we cannot re-organize politi
zeal society with any proper security II. TN
less we let in the people TO cooperation,
"and not merely 0n arbitrarily selected par
- ton Of them. 2. Unless ce gjyc those ,nho
:. are By their intelligence and character, the
"natnrol leaders Of The people, and orho s're.
"y ,cW lead them dy-and.by, an opportunity
''to lead them Ro,r."
The Governor goes on to say that he Is
aware that ''t has been q favorite dogma in
''many quarters, No rrjcl voters But it
sis impossible in certain States to have ann
"voting by white men, if only loyal men, !,
Sc, those who continued so during the re-
"bellion, are permitted to vote 3 St
The true question is, now, not of pest dis
'loydlty, bit Of present loyal purpose
He goes on to show that we mast not dc.
ceive ourselves as to the suppo5tiou that any
considerable portion Of the Southern people
were Unionists, and that where there were
Union men, they were not, III a general way
''the positive men. They were with very few
exceptions not the leading minds, the cou-
''rageous men, the impressive and powerful
characters, they were not the young and ac-
Give men. And when the decisive hour
came, they went to the WALL ''Ail
''honor to the loyal few But do not re
gard the distinction between loyal and dis
'!loyal persons of the white race, residing in
''the South, during the rebellion, as being for
''present purposes, practical dishnction.--
1t 10 even doubtful whether the compare
lively loyaf fAw, with certain prominent and
honorable exception can we'll be d;scr;n,
VIC nave maIutaIHeu nIrntts :,
Will vindlcate Its prerogatives down there, and
that 1t Is idle to suppose that in the new CON
dltion of things at the South it will be crowded
upon one side by mediocritv. Governor An.
drew takes the obvious ground that s.tbey
whose courage, talents and will entitle them
Ito lead, will lead" and he SAYS further, per-
tlnently and significantly: II ONLY know tbot
I'VE ought to demand, and to secure, the co.
operation of the strongest and ablest minds
"and the natural leaders of opinion in thp
South. # IRE cannot gGin their support of
'the Just measures needfM for the work Of,
SAFE reorganization, reorganization ,cW be
'deSus'0e and fuHof danger ," He adds:
"Hhy not try them They are the most
hopeful subjects to deal with in the very
mature of the case They have the brain
land the experience, and the education, to
"enable them to understand the exigencies of
the present situation. They have the
courage, as well as the skill, to lead the
people IN the direction their judgments
point, III spite Of their own and the ponulsr
prejudice. Weaker men, those of less ev-
''perience, who have less hold on the public
confidence, are comparatively powerless.''
We have not space-nor is it our purpose
to give anything like an outline or review Of
this elaborate and carefully considered adj
dress but only to notice those points particu.
larry, which deal with the necessity of speedy
and thorough reorganization ofthe South. Gov
ernor Andrew goes Of course for making the
freedmen voters; the cardinal principle he laws
down, and which he supports with all the abil
lty OF which he is master, being-''The main.
tenance Of equality betrcen. free citizens con-
8 corning Grill RIGHTS and the distribution of
PRIVILEGES according to capacity and desert,
ana not according to the accidents of BIRTH,
In pursuing further his conclusions and
wishes TO trust the South, he is very emnbatic
and far in advance of those of his State btb.
erto considered as acting with him: and with
a quotation from his speech when near its
close, we shall conclude this sketch of some |
of its salient points, He said:
Il am satisfied that the mass of thinking
men at the South accept the present condi- |
''tlon of things in good faith; and | am also |
satisfied that with the support of . firm
''policy from the President and Congress, in
laid of the efforts of their good faith, and with |
1.-THE help of a concliatory and generous dispo-
'siton on the part of the North-especiallv
with those States most identified with the
'plan of emancipation-the measures needed
TOR permanent and universal welfare can
surely be obtained. There ought now to be
"a c'gorons prosecution Of the 7oeace-iust as
vigorous as our recent prosecution of the
war We ought to extend our hands with
cordial good will to meet the proffered hands
''of the South; demanding no attitude of hu-
initiation from any; inficting no acts of hu.
initiation upon any; respecting the feelings of
'the conquered-no the question
''of right and wrong, between the parties bel.
'hgerent Weought by all the means and in
''strumentalities of peace, and by all the
thrifty methods of industry; by all the recrea.
''tive agencies of education and religion, to
'help rebuild the waste places, and restore
order, society, prosperity
Bearing in mind, now, that he who utters
'hese sentiments is willing to make the leaders