Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-04
CHANGES THAT MUST INEVITABLY
TARE PLACE.

IL n sort OF close corporation, excluding from
Ii in a sort of Procruslean fashion ali not long
enough or short enough for their standard
that the attempt must be a failure: and that if
they want to achieve success against the old
enemies of the Union, that they will have to
conceds something TO liberal ideas and the
advance that has been made blythe President, ;
policy toward true reconstruction.
The assumption virtually made of late. in
the old fashion, that some Of the truest men
IN the Union ranks-true when the storms of
civil war ragged the loudest-must be expected
to give way to those who could have the as
Surance to say-'stand on one side for am
hoher than thou has been signallv exploded;
their strength is not what they counted upon;
and they have found that they cannot afford
TO divide the Union party here with any hope
of success for the future. At least, we must
presume that men in their senses and with
half glance must see this and if they do
not, others do. And So taking counsel of
prudence, and abating unfounded preten-
Sions it is TO be hoped, that on second
thoughts they will adopt q wiser policy: and
for the future, instead of casting about to see
what means are possible or necessary to mo-
noPolze the management, and rule out the
moderate Union men of the land who cannot
60 for the yagaries Of Sumner and Stevens,
that they will join hands in support of the
Government, and in insisting that the conflict
betwixt the sections should indeed be ended.
And if we arc to act cordially and earnestly
together in this thing, we must, in Maryland
consider fearlessly the critical position in
which the Union party has been placed by the
action of certain gentlemen who have Of late
assumed to take upon themselves tho man
agement Of its affairs. Whilst they were de-
termined-as it seems--to concede nothing to
the advent Of peace; nothing TO the great
changes that have been going on. insisting
that measures provided for g time of war
should be clung too after the war is at an end,
all this has had the effect of weakening their
prestige and contracting their sphere of action;
whilst the immediate and injurious result is
seen in a partially divided political household,
the asSumptonlsts unable, for The time, to
sustain themselves, or to give any valuable
support to the Government.
And whatever room there has been, until
now, TO manwuyrc between the Presidents
policy and the crude and uncertain projects of
the radical leaders in Congress, to whom that
body has surrendered itself for the past four
or i've months, late events have so shaped the
necessities Of the case, that choice of policy
and of measures has at last become necessary
for all. The issue has been made; made
plainly; Enthusiastically. The aggressive policy
OF Congress upon the President, the move
ment within two days past inaugurated by Mr.
Wade, IN the Senate, to express, anew, dis
trust OF him, and to limit his power, have
brought matters to something like d crisis;
and thenceforward, those who elect to stand
by Wade and his set will be compelled to
abide by the verdict sure to be given by the
people, whilst the President himself will lust
rs surely know who are his opponents and
who his friends.
In view Of all this, whilst it is plain that in
Maryland there are numbers who will not 90
with the President, circumstances prove that
they are too .teC 10 constitute the Union qGrfy
OF the State. To make the party effective as
against those who have by their conduct during
the war forfeited the confidence of the Govern
ment and Of its defenders, the organization
must adopt the liberal policy needful and in.
cldent to the changed condition of public af
fairs. Instead Of taking measures and indul-
glng IN expressions to keep alive discord, they
must, whilst holding a firm front toward the
old enemies of the Union, give some chance
Tor the repentant; must make some concessions
towards the numbers misled, and who would
now, could they have chance. prove in good
ialth supporters Of the Government
And in doing this, there is not the slightest
occasion TO put loyalty at a discount, or to
make treason respectable. The State having
been saved by loyal men from the awful yisi-
tations which for want of loyalty fell upop
Virginia and the States south of us, there is
no occasion to surrender one lot or title of
the credit due those who have thus been its
preservers. The President fails not upon all
suitable occasions to vindicate his own noble
position, and the action of the true men of the
nation who went along with him; and until
men do something to compromise indeed their
character as true Unionists, what warrant
have the Pharisees of the hour to arraion
them to intimate that because thew desire
that reconciliation provided for by the return
OF peace, they are ready to betray great cause?
And now it is for all who love their country.
who wish to see peace reign throughout its
wide borders, who desire to see our unity H.
lustrated in the eyes Of all nations, to consent
to cut short the remains of this civil war, this
still bitter strife. The Government has demon
'trated its power, if ever any government on
earth on similar occasion has done II; and
with President who has the courage and the |
1eslre to entrust the people with their own
destlfles Just so fast and no faster as thew |
manifest their willingness to accept the situa.
lon, why should these wretched and costly |
chickering's be prolonged; why should years |
elapse to see us still partially dismembered;
o the weakening of ties, betwixt States and !
communities, which should be strengthened |
" all the means within our power?
The hitherto assumed leaders of public sem
lment IN this State, must thus recognize the |
acts as they are; and must cease to stand off |
the endangering permanently of the Union
organization so potent for the safety of the
commonwealth throughout the war. Attempt
ng to ostracise others, to read them out of
ne Union party as not up to the demands Of
he tunes, they must look TO themselves; must
econslder conclusions so unwise, if they would
etaln position at all. And in doing this,
here IS little or no time to lose. The fall
lecuon has to be prepared for, and certain
entlemen must consider seriously and finally
neither they can either coerce undu!y their
Id associates. or on the other hand whether
} succeed at all they can do without them
IS matters stand, the position of things Is
lost forced and unnatural. A meagre minor
y of the community and under "a popular
overnment, too, need not long expect TO re-
IN power without concessions to suit altered
mes and circumstances; and if they cannot
re this, and still persist in the foolish en-
eayor, it is not difficult to see that the power
ey for the present WELD and desire to re-
IN, must pass to the wiser and more liberal
those depended upon by the people to guide
G deStinieS of O great and free commonwealth | ,