The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-02-01

request, read by Judge William Nj.
Merrick, of Howard county.
The.committee recommend the adop-
tion of the following:
Res9lved, That the following address
be adopted As expressive Of the sebti-
ments Wick are therein contained,
THE Address.
Fl b tie Bsople Of lHa,ylaaaA Fellow
Citizens: The present constitution of
Maryland was adopted at season cs-
peeially upsuited for that calm dclibera-
ton upon fundamental rights which is
essential to secure exact justice to the
citizens of free State Established
during the cxcitements of great civil
war, it did not escape the influences of
passion which then clouded mems per-
eeptions ofright and duty. The franz
efsof hadtheirthoughts
directed more 10 those considerations Of
expediency which the cxigencies Of the
time forced upon their attention, than
upon those principles Of political right
which are cardinal and inuputable in
States, the Organization Of which is de,
sigued for the enlargement Of human
happiness through a Jealous adherence
to the maxims ofpolitical liberty,
Taking counsel from the instincts of
selfpreservation, t.d forgetting that the
provisions of the Instrument they were
framing might endure beyond the occa-
sion which then ehgrossed thcir. solici-
tude, the convention cngraited upon the
organic law Of the State certain new
conditions for the the elective franchise,
before unk nown to thepcoplc, the effect
Of which has been to stigniatizc and 10
debar from the rightto vote and to hold
Office in the state large majority of
its citizens. The ayowal Of opinions
and sympathics no less than an actual
participation in the resistance which the
Southern States were making to the
Federal authority was declared by the
convention to be cause Of forfeiture Of
llpoliticol rights and privileges, and
the sufficient warrant for excluding for
all time to come the born freemcn Of
Maryland from participation in the hon
ors or ia the government Of his native
State. And these disabilities were not
merely made applicable 70 the future
utterance of opinion aud sentiment or
Subsequent resistance 10 the Federal
authority, but by the retroactive power
of the constitution were extended to the
past as well as applied to future occur
rences. . The brand Of shame and iguo-
minymas thus applied 10 the majority of
the citizens Of the State for causes TO
which neither the organic nor the ordi-
nary law had attached any penal con-
sequences. These provisions Of the
constitution were not only direct VIC.
latlon Of that hailowed principle Of jus.
tice cnsraitci upon our Declaration of
Rights. and expressed IN the Federal
constitution, which declares that retro.
spcctisc laws furnishing acts committed
bcioretI existence OF such laws, aud
by them only declared criminal, are not
only an oppression, unjust aud iueom.
patlble with liberty; but in theirpracti.
cal operation thcyarc utterly subyoriyc
ofthc Inherent right Of l6e people 10
participate in the Legislature as the
best security Of liberty and the loun.
dation Of all free government
The people Of the State have flt With
all the keen anguish Of o proud and
high-spiritcd race, the humiliation to
whicha portion Of their fellow citizens
in the hour Of passion and misguided
zeal have subjected them They have
borne in patience the injustice OF their
fellows, content 10 wait until such time
as calm reflection aud restored peace
should give an opportunity tothosc who
have done them wrong to repair the in
jury. That time has now arrived the
law ofarms has yielded to the civil pow
cr. The federal authority is no longer
threatened from without nor opposed
from within The nationaltcrritory The
hcnrts and minds Of are occupied
with sentiments Of concord
I I miI I'm, una tne s'oa i'llousa' 'no,'
v, "'o ava m",r ,a,?,] Oge' a'taJg9 u, ''''',lI'
w. a't ,r "4 ,. ~ '"eI eH"'' 70 ~.
,%o St ,ag 'r'Fg rl O gl.' "Isg?Il among
the cn~ p g. u" ,L T ""'1,. L",;.
points TO the restoration Of every civil
- nIa ,t ,i,n,I ~, ''s, ~ ,a',',''
Tho I,t ,'' HI 81 a. '"y ''5gs pro- go
h "o 'i ;n,.; piJo ~, s.luiS'2 iney nave
, r,s" :" j i'e " oacG ~ s'ii.e "a '''' w IN
trSti ' a"a 20 y, ~, paI,,g,pa,g ~ lnI admins
F;,'" a' ,; ~ Wv @,eIn'ncut '' 'nG nal.o"
: I've m!'ii9h y OF PFoglc inc tutlrc Tree