Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1866-08-02
The state Convention.

N5-The State Convention of the friends Of
President johnson met in Baltimore on Wcdnes.
day of last week. Every county in the State ex-
cept Prince Georges was represented. Col. Pur-
nell, the Chairman of the State Central Commit
fee called the Convention to order, and addressed
them as follows; i 80 ID 5
! The trust which the Union party of MARYLAND
| committed to my hands two years ago to-day re-
turns to You. Whether the duties of that respon-
sible trust have been discharged well or I'M il a
question not for me but for others to decide and
although am by no means indifferent to tina,
decision, yet it does not concern me half so muel
as the consciousness, which possess of an earn.
est, fearless and faithful endeayor in the cause OF
truth and right, ....' IA ,.,...,,-- .,,.,l. ~
| Never have | for o moment forgotten that VIC
were pledged by our sacred honor. in tie pres
tnce OF God aud our fellows, to preserve and re-
store the Union of these States, and have striy-
en- to be true to that great object and for itssake
have defed, and do still defy the shafts of SLAM
der, OF malice and persecution, whether they pro-
coed from an open or covert foe.
| 1t has not troubled me that some who were moi
of us have gone out from US If they are satisfied.
we are more than content-we rejoice and are
thankful. If there be any more such-if any thai
| are doubling, or half-hearted remain-tbe door
is open, Wen speed their parting. If there be any
among us who either love or hate mere party
names more than they regard principle and the
true interests OF the country, let them seek more
appropriate place. We wish no membranes in
| this contest. . .,..a. s.
Such was the view which the Union State Gen.
| trail Committee took when the attempt was made
to drag it in the train of those who seek to per-
4 petrate partisan domination at the expense of the
constitutional rights of the people. A party which
theoretically declares against the right of seces-
sion, and yet whose daily practice admits it :
which goes for universal negro suffrage in the
House of Representatives and smothers the bill
in the Senate which admits the right OF the States
to regulate suffrage, and yet proposes to punish
them If they will not regulate it according to the
views OF Congress which enacts tariff law in
| the House and kills i. in the Senate which in
this State supports John L. Thomas who votes
against negro suffrage, and Francis Thomas. who
votes for it; which in one breath declares the
registry law of this State to be the shbboleth OF
loyalty, and in the next openly and impudently
advises the judges of election to disregard it as
! OF no binding force whatever. ,....o- .-l
| Such is the party of proud profession and pitt
full practice with which we have to contend. We
shall Triumph. And yet gentlemen, / warn you
| they will, under the circumstances, make des-
perate struggle.
| We must brush away the cobwebs ofprejudce,
we must bury in the grave of the past past differ
ences; we must unite, We must harmonize we
must arouse to sense of the mighty issues of the
present. We must be active vigilant and bold, and
doing thus il shall be known throughout the
world and for all cine that we have been true to
our high trust, and that the noble patriot An
drew johnson has not in vain barred his breast in
| defense of constitutional freedom. 4 49,
! On motion of the Hon. Montgomery Blair, the
Hon. ]. N. Frazier was unanimously elected
president of the convention 49,,
| REMARKS OF Mr., FRAZIER.
Mr.. Frazier expressed his high sense of the
honor conferred upon him. lie was proud to
greet the representatives of the State in this
convention. Many years have gone by since
such convention had assembled in this State
convention which represented the talent, intel
lect and Statesnanship of Maryland To preside
over such body was an honor he was moi insen-
| sible to. .Y.t. .|. Vi ia. D,,i = !,
Efforts had been made to divide the party that
has been in power since the commencement of
| the war, but they were here, under the call of
the regular Union committee, to yindicate the
party that knows only the country, and the whole
countryside party that recognizes every State
in this broad Union, and believes that this Cow
eminent was made for white men not that party
who would degrade their race in order to perpet-
uate their political power. Mr. Frazier spoke In
vindication of the chief magistrate ofthe nation,
and denounced the action of the Radical majori-
ty in Congress. He believed the Radicals would
not gtye up their power until it was forcibly
wrested from then0 bS tho people. N M .9i :
|, Wopropose, now TO appeal To the people, and
| ne knew that the people will sustain the Presi-
DENT 0ur, policy is known from one end of the
country to the other, while the radicals presented
different policy in relation to negro suffrage to
suit the views of different sections and different
people. Negro suffrage was the sentiment of the
boilers from the State Central Committee, and
negro suffrage was what the Radicals sought to
force upon the people of the country TO sustain
themselves in power, &c. i,lsrtatl N b ~ 81
boz, Mr.. Crisfield, chairman of Tho comr;ttaa on