The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1866-10-12
Radical Sincerity.

a bout eight years ago, Ex-Governor Francis
Thomas, the present candidate for Congress in
the Frederick district, had sold at the Jail door,
in Frederick city, fourteen negroes. Now it will
be recollected that Mr.. Thomas voted for negro
suffrage in the District of Columbia, during the
last session of Congress, and is now in favor of
it in the Southern States. He is also one of the
leading anti-savery negro-equality agitators of
the country, and pretends to think that slavery,
instead of fanatcism and an anxiety for political
power, was the cause of the late war between
the two sections of the country. What has
changed this mans mind so soon? He cannot
claim to have been ignorant Of the institution of
slavery, for all the time that he has been in
public life. He was for many years, while in
Congress, the great champion Of the rights of the
States and defender of their institutions and
being himself Shareholder defended the insti-
tuition of slavery, among other interests of the
States.
fit is true that Mr.. Thomas has actually found
out the sin of slavery within the last eight years,
it will strike one as singular, and almost unac-
countable, how man ofhis natural abilities and
opportunities could have remained SO long in ig-
norance on this subject, particularly when we
remember that for more than thirty-fve years this
question has been the chief subject of agitation in
and out Of Congress. But we suppose the change
in the Governors sentiments was brought about
after the fashion of many other changes of the
same sort which have taken place of late years in
Maryland. Having sold all his slaves, like many
other intensely loyal and pous citizens he had
no longer any personal interest in the institution,
and as it had answered such an excellent pur-
pose, and furnished such valuable food for flnati-
cism and corruption elsewhere, and insured
the election to Congress and other equally high
and lucrative positions of many men whose only
claim to political favor was that they We're
blatant and dishonest politicians, might and
would have been sufficient inducement to some
men to view all political measures from purely
personal and interested standpoint, and to ask
that 'the blessings of government" unlike 'tbe
dews of Heaven should only descend upon
them. If these causes have brought about the
change in the ex-Governor's mind, we ought not
perhaps to wonder at it, seeing that so many
Others have been affected in the same way and
from the same causes. 1t is to be regretted that
the standard ofpoltical morality has sunk so low
in this country, that many otherwise worthy
men have given themselves over to the disrepu-
BILE idea that "the end justifes the means'' in
all cases.
The Frederick Union, in speaking of this case,
says:
If negroes ought to have votes and be placed
on political equality with white men, why did
not Mr.. Thomas think of this eight years ago,
before his negroes were sold to the South, and
why did he consent 10 receive the $l3,257 for
which they sold, if these negroes were his EQUALS
and entitled to all the rights and privileges
which he now enjoys? 1t is strange he did not
think of this before. Mr. Thomas is now a radi-
cal candidate for Congress and claims votes be-
cause he is in favor of negro equality and negro
suffrage. a friend of ours sent US the following
paragraph clipped from Tile Examiner of the al
of November, 1852
High Price for &aues.--On Saturday, 3oth
ult., Mr.. L Vanfossen, Auctioneer, sold at the
Jail door in this city, on account of George
Smith, Esq, Trustee, the slaves of Ex-Governor
Francis Thomas, Mt the following exorbitant
Piieesl VIZ LOUISA, aBeu 10, lor > 400 Susan,
aged "a, and her infant child for 81, OlO Ellen
and infant 81, 1876; Maria, aged So for $3l2
Levi, aged 46 for $725 Henry, aged 40 for
$500; John aged % for 81, 0G5 Warner aged
26 for $l,23O: George aged 20 for ST, 425;
David aged IA for LILO; Albert aged 10 for
$500 Louisa aged 0 for $500; Mary aged for
$3.50. Whole amount of sales $l3,257. Most
ofthese slaves are destined to the South, which
accounts for their extraordinary market value"
Now we ask-can the conduct of Mr. Thomas
be justified in morals or religion2 He first sells
his own negroes for the most he could get-puts
the money in his pocket and then unites with
others in robbing slave owners of their property
and after this done turns around and saws in
effect, niger is as good as a white man and
ought to have vote White men-what do
you think of this? Can you swallow such
man? Honest men and Christians what do you
say? Can you endorse Mr.. Thomas? You
know you cannot. Then cast your votes for
VIM. P. Maulsby, who has always been consist
emit and stands for the Union and the Constitu.
ton as they came from the hands of our illustri-
Gus forefathers.