The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-07-28
UNION STATE CONVENTION.
ADDRESS OF THE STATE EXEC
UTIVE COMMITTEE.

TO the Unconditional Union Voters of the State
of Maryland
TN announcing the call of your State Central
| Il Committee for State Convention and Con-
gressional District Conventions, to make nomi-
nations preparatory to the election in Novem-
| bernext the State Executive Committee desire to
say few words to impress upon you the i'm
portance of the canvass upon which we are
about to enter.
The country has Just emerged from war for
the suppression of a wicked rebellion, which
aimed at the national life, and which, if success
full, must have resulted in the destruction of
the Government and the complete disintegra-
ton of the Union. That war was a successful
one, but its success was purchased by the sac
rifce of the lives of half million of our loyal
citizens, the destruction of an immense amount
of property, and the accumulation of a national
debt of three thousand millions of dollars, with
its inevitable burdens.
The prize we contended for, national unity
of life, is worth all the cost; but if that prize
is not made sure, then indeed have we spent
the blood and treasure of the nation in vain.-
That precious sacrifice will have been 0aSted,
and after signal victory by our gallant army
we must lose the fruits of victory, while we
cannot escape the cost.
Fellow citizens, it is for you and for the 10y
al men of the other States of the Union to de-
termine at the ensuing elections whether that
great victory in the cause of the nation is to be
barren one, or whether its results are to be
made sure and permanent. Those elections
will determine whether the National Govern
ment shall be in the hands of its friends or its
enemies-of those who have stood by It In the
hour of its peril, or of combination oil It's dead
ly enemies with those who in that hour, had
not an arm to raise in it's defence.
In whose hands will it be most secure
Recent developments have made so plain that
even the blind may see it, that systematic
plan has been organized to reestablish the old
combination between the Southern leaders and
a certain party at the North, by which the
country had been so long governed previous to
the election of Mr. Lincoln, and under whose
auspices it was led to the very brink of rebel
lion, and the agents of that rebellion armed
from the arsenals of the government; and
when the people drove this combination from
power, its Southern leaders became the active
instrument of rebellion, while their friend at
the North, protesting loyalty, used their in
luence to paralyze the arm the Government.
The issue is now to be made, whether this
combination shall be restored to power with
increased facilities for getting up another re-
bellion- after few years rest, or whether the
great party which has carried the country sue
cessful through the war shall continue to gov
ern it until the Union and its institutions are
sufficiently consolidated and strengthened to
be secure from the Vaccinations of traitors.
We cannot doubt the result of an issue so
made the loyal men of the country will not
tamely yield what has cost so much. But we
are most earnestly DESTROYS that the Union men
of Maryland should not mistake the real ques-
tons involved, or be led astray by side issues,
upon matters not before us for decision.
When the Convention of the 9th of June as
sembled, the scheme to hand you over into the
hands of this combination was not so distinct
ly developed. Those who called that Conven-
ton saw the inevitable drift of their associates
in the late Central Committee, and were COM
PEELED to take action to save the Union party of
theState from betrayal by those whom it had en-
trusted with power. Many of our fellow citi-
zens thought the action premature and were
unwilling to believe that their trusted agents
should so abuse the confidence reposed them.
There is now no room for mistake or donbt.-
Mr.. Purnell and his Committee, who still claim
to be your representatives, have openly invited
their followers who send delegates to the Con-
vention in Philadelphia, which is tobe compos-
ed in part of Rebels who have, as yet profess
ed no repentance, and where the grand scheme
of combination is to be consummated and put
in active organization.
We rejoice that these gentlemen have openly
taken their position. There is now no room for
deception.
We urge you therefore, fellow citizens, to or
ganize for the contest. You have a willy and
determined adversary to deal with, and every
thing that you hold dear is at stake You gave
of your richest treasure to secure the late victo
ry of arms-you will not now, through supine-
ness, yield what you have won at such cost.
ROBERT M. PROUD, Chairman.
SAMUEI, NJ EVANS. Secretary.