The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-05-12
AnnRmaa
TO the Loyal Registered Voters of
the State of MARYLAND.

| Agk4DM00
TO the Loyal Registered Voters OF
the State of Maryland.
The undersigned, members of the Executive
Committee Of the State Central Committee of the
| Unconditional Union men of Maryland, deem II
our duty to direct the especial attention of the
loyal men ofMaryland to the recent proceedings
of this committee, at netting held in Baltimore
on the first day of this month.
These proceedings indicate clearly that there
is q very material difference of opinion in the
COMMITTEE on vital and essential principles oil
public policy.
The State Central Committee was organized by
the Convention that nominated Governor Swami
for election as the first Governor of the Free
State of Maryland. At that time there was no
difference ofopinion in this Central Committee
as to the policy of carrying into effect that clause
in the Constitution of the State intended to de-
prive Rebels and Rebel sympathizers of an oppor-
tunity TO control the political destnes OF Mary
land. All of the members of the Committee ia
vored the election of Delegates to the Legislature
| favorable to the enactment of a Registry law
which would give practical effect to this declared
| object of the Constitution. 1t now appears tnat
| a majority of the Executive Committee have so
far changed their views upon this subject as TO
| refuse to sustain resolution In favor OF tnat
law, and deprecating either its repeal or modlll-
| cation. Whatever eXplauallOu may NC given "
| show that this vote was not a test OF the sentl-
mens of the Committee, is neutralized by the sig
nificant fact that on the same occasion a vacan-
| CIV in the Committee was filled by the appoint
| ment of gentleman who had recently partlcl-
pated in the proceedings of meeting in compa-
nv with known sympathizers with the rebellion
| and men whom that law excluded from suffrage,
at which it was proposed to organize neao par
| tn to support the policy of the President, "Usth-
| nd
| further fact that the power of filling all vancan-
cies was committed to thechairman of the Com
mttee; who some months ago, at Democratic
Meeting, took decided ground against the law
as it now stands
Not only in the State Central Committee but
outside Oft we regret to say that there are evil
evidences of some change of opinion in men here
tofore deemed true and trusty to the great Irln-
| ciples for the furtherance of which the Union
party of Maryland was organized. Every MEM
Der of the Committee processes to be hostile to
any measure which may have tendency to
place disloyal men in power in the National or
State Government 1t is not difficult however,
to discover that there are differences OF opinion
as to what constitutes that loyalty which would
make voter or representative asafe depositary
of political power at this critical juncture OF pub
lie affairs. We believe thata strict and riged adj
herence to the Registry law of Maryland is we'll
we utterly repudiate the-idea that, either as vo-
tiers or representatives, men are to be treated or
trusted as loyal who were recently in rebellion
or who affording aid and comfort to Rebels, now
claim to be loyal because they can show that
their crimes have been mercifully pardoned, and
impudently demand political privileges under
our restored Union equal in all respects to those
granted by our constitution and laws National
and State) to the fearless and faithful men who
HI r. loI1 a.
ment which traitors and their aiders and abettors
were struggling to overthrow. Under these cir
cumstances, although minority of the Execu-
tive Committee, we feel authorized to invite the
loyal Union men to meet in their several coun-
ties and in the city of Baltimore, and select del
egates to State Convention to be assembled at
an early day, to reorganize our party preparato-
ry to the approaching State elections; and we
hope at such primary meetings the people them
selves will signify distinctly and unequivocally
their principles and purposes, and that the State
Convention will organize Central Committee in
harmony with the popular wishes on all open
questions, State and National, which at our ap-
preaching elections are to be decided. The Union
men of Tennessee have just gone through des-
perate struggle to maintain law similar to our
own. Another struggle is now going on in West
Virginia, where the returned Rebel soldiers and
their sympathizing conservative friends are stri-
ving'to do what the Democratic party and the So
called conservatives of this State invite you to
initiate. The Unionists of Kentucky in an evil
hour needed the same mad counsels that would
now delude you and repealed their expatriation
laws. The consequence has been total crush
ing out of Union sentiment wherever the Rebel
element has had a chance to measure its strength
the displacement of true Union men, and the
elevation of Rebels or sympathizers in their
stead
We all know that the Democratic party in Ma
ryland is organized and actively engaged in ag
itation, with view TO the repeal of our Registry
law. We know that their purposes in that re-
spect are countenanced by men who claim to be
of the loyal Union party. We know that the
Democrat party of the United States is organized
and agitating DANGEROUSLY for a restoration to
power in the General Government of traitors who
have no evidence of loyalty but Presidential
pardon; and we find in this state of affairs abun-
dant reason for appealing earnestly and respect
fully to the loyal Union men of Maryland to
meet FORTHWITH and ORGANIZE, that We may hold
fast to the glorious Government which has been,
under Providence, restored by our brave soldiers
in the field, and not be again endangered by
failure OF the people to guard against attempts at
its overthrow through the medium of our cleo
tons.
Impressed with these convictions, and feeling
that we are giving expression to the wishes and
desires of all loyal men in the State, we request
all Unconditional Union men, who are registered
voters, and such soldiers and sailors as have re-
turned home since the Registry law has been in
operation, to meet in primary meeting and to Sc
lect such number of delegates from each county
and the city Of Baltimore as they are entitled to
by usage-to meet in the city of Baltimore on
Wednesday the sixth day of June next.
JOHN L. THOMAS, JR.,
ROBERT NJ. Proud,
VIM. p KIMBALL,
SAMUEL M. EVANS,
Members of the State Executive Committee of
the Unconditional Union Party.