The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-11-08
The MARYLAND Lesson.

1t is not to be disguised that the country
has within a week hung trembling on the
verge OF disturbances which might easily
have broadened into civil war. When last
sunday, with the eyes OF the nation upon
him, Governor Swami hustled up to Washing
ton, and the Attorney General of the United
States was summoned from the very church,
to attend Cabinet meeting called in all
haste, it needed but spark of encourage
ment to fire the magazine Of a..gy feeling in
Baltimore and produce an explosion that
would have been long remembered Messre.
Young and Valiant, before their arrest, were
organizing the roughs of Baltimore for an as
sault upon the commissioners appointed by
the Legislature. SIX thousand muskets. sejz-
ed by the authorities, prove the extent and
character of the conspiracy. Had the Pres;-
dent ielt as secure and strong as he felt in
the last days OF July, who doubts that his au-
thority would have been as unscrupulously
used in Maryland as it was in Louisiana |?
He has seen the Northern people face to face
since that time. He has seen the elections
going steadily against him. He has heard a.
low murmur, as of coming tempest. single
voices, more and more numerous, demanding
his impeachment, and he has learned to walk
more circumspectly. M [.
The GOODNESS and skill with which ou,
friends in Maryland defended their cJnstitu-
tienal rights, deserve the highest praise
From beginning to end, they made not sin
gle false step. Had they gone to Annapolis,
they would have been arrested and detained:
but they refused to go. Their counsel appear
ed nevertheless, and fully exposed the weak
ness OF the evidence brought against them.
BY denying the Governors jurisdiction, they
raised question at the start which could on
ly be decided by the courts. When the Gov
ernor's appointees made the foolish blunder
OF preparing fol violence, they were arrested;
when they foolishly refused to give bail, they
were imprisoned No management could
have been better; and yet, strong as was the
position of the comm issloners, amply as the
efficiency Of the police force has been vindi-
Gated, clearly as 1T has been shown that the
elections have been conducted under their d.
rection in full accordance with the laws as
interpreted by the Attorney General of the
State, it is after all true that their success is
due not so much to the undenabe Justice of
their course as to the energetic protest of an
angry and watchfG North against their VIC
lent removal. m n1 +
I'VE come here to succeed" said Mr.. La
trobe at Annapolis, with surprising impudence
land we hope to succeed. We represent the
fourteen thousand disfranch. sed registered
citizens of Baltimore, and their interests are
too important to be put in jeopardy by un-
necessary delay" DISTINGUISHED HOW? Dis
franchised by the Safe constitution for par
ticipation in the guilt of the rebellion; dis
franchised In consequence of their own acts
registered without right and challenged by
the judges of election in pursuance OF their
duty. The man who presented tie petition
ior the removal of the Commissioners conf S.
ca ina ne was not legally qualified to vote.
Anu YET, IN TINS detestable attempt to over
ride the laws, over six thousand muslets wora
collected in Baltimore, and Montgomery Rl,;r
inhis speech at Laurel Hill, took eround ono,,
ly in favor of revolution, if necessary Mr.
Blair did not pretend to criticise the admin
tration of the law, but proclaimed as his oh
ject the overthrow of the law itself. -
Who does not see, that this state of tb;ncs
is fraught with danger? From Missouri. We
near complaints of evasion of the registry
law and illegal voting by wholesale. In
tennessee there is prospect of serious
trouble. 30 long as our friends allow them
selves TO remain in minority in these States.
they will have nc peace The d;sfrano,,;sod
justly acknowledgements will str;,a 80
make its weight felt at the polls. When 49,
Union men OF the South call to their aid t,,o
reinforcement which awaits their call. wbon
they confer upon all loyal citizens of their
severa! States, without distinction of color
the same political rights which they claim for
themselves, then at last their position will be
impregnable; then the electoral franchise will
De, as it should be, within reach of every man
untainted with crime; then the disfranchised
reDels WIZ be minority, instead of majority
anu VIII no longer have any motive to continue
a hopeless struggle. Nay, the great mass of
them may without danger be restored ~ t,,a;,
former estate, and after their sbarn .,,;.;o-,
may yet become good citizens. That -
matter to be left to the loyal citi, ems 30 49,