The Democratic advocate., 1866-02-01
To THE LEGISLATURE.
Every county Represented.

| MEMORIALS TO THE LEGISLATURE
Every county Represented
The convention of delegates from al
the counties of the State and the cit,
Of Baltimore, elected in pursuance Of
tho recommendation Of the conservative
members of the Legislature, assembled
at the Temperance Temple on thu
Gath at noon, for the purpose of taking
measures looking TO the repeal of the
present DISTINGUISHING State registry law
and for the restoration ofpolitical right
to the majority of the people. There
was full attendance, constituting an
imposing assembly The convention
was called to order by George w. Her.
ring, ESQ, of Baltimore city, on whose
motion Geo. NJ. Gill, Esq, was selected
AZ temporary chairman, and Mr.. Robert
u. Morrison. Of Baltimore, appointed
secretary. On motion Of Mr.. j ohm l..
Smith, Of Baltimore, a committee Of ten
was appointed to examine the credcn-
tials OF members Tho chair appointed
the following gentlemen as said com
mittee, viz: John l.. Smith, j. T.
Mason, George Schley, d, McMasters,
o. Bowie. Judge W VI. Mcrrick, Il.
II. Alvey, General Anthony kimmell,
s. r Johns. aud John b. Boyle. The
credentials were then handed 70 the
committee, aud the members retired .--
Mr.. Smith. chairman Of the committee,
subsequently reported delegations pres
cnt from every county and the city Of
Baltimore
On motion. committee from each
delegation was appointed to select per
mancnt officers Of the convention, and
also to recommend rules OF order for the
regulation Of the body Arlcr short
recess. the committee reported the rules
of order Of tho House of Delegates Of
MARYLAND, and recommended the follow
ing gentlemen Or permanent officers
Prcsidcnt--llon Montgomery Blair,
Of Montgomery county.
Nicc.prr.idcnts-Col. Jas Wallace,
Of Dorchester; Hon. John Wcthcrcd, Of
Baltimore county; Geo. NJ. Gil, Esq,
Of Baltimore city, J Odcn Bowie, Of
Prince Georges, aud George Schley,
Esq, Of Washington.
Milton y Kidd Of Cecil;
WIN. II. Nelson, of Baltimore city, and
Thos l.. Williams. of Prince Georges.
The report OF the committee waa adop-
ted by acclamation, aud the gentlemen
named took their places on the platform.
REMARKS og MR BLAIR.
On tak ing the chair, the Hon Mont
somcry Blair returned thanks for the
honor conferred ou him in the selection
oi himself o.. the presiding officer lie
said it w5, indeed rare honor to be
called upon 70 preside over soimPortant
q convention as the one now assembled.
aud the honor was 20 totally unexpected
on his part that he was scarcely able to
do more than rrturn his thanks. lie
regarded the present as ono Of the great
occasions Of the age--au occasion when
people were called together to consider
Of measures 10 preserve for themselves
and lof posteri,y their dearest rights.
The country had just passed through
q terrible rebellion successfully, aud wo
we're stiIl lcit united people II was
bat natural that after the late severe
strife there should be some bitterness
but il was not the character
of the American mind 10 indulge in bad
feeling irom generation to generation
The rebellion was over, aud now, no
matter what the feeling Of the masses
OF the people had bccn--no matter what
errors of Judgment had been committed,
now was the time TO reconcile all differ.
ences, to forget the past, and 10 look
forward toa bright future. During all
the late troubles amidall The crowds he
had addressed, he had never looked
upon more intelligent faces, more manly
and honest countenances than lac now
saw before him--mcn who had filled
high positions in their native State, and
in the councils Of the nation; and yet
these men were to be prescribed, were to
be debarred from having any vote or
in a government which he
was sure they loved as heartily as he
did
The great fight, heremarked, was now
over the Union had been preserved IN
all lis integrity, and however men may
have honestly differed, the time had
come when the past should be forgotten
and all become friends. But the ques-
ton was not merely matter OF feeling
II was question Of principle. Presi,
dent johnson had said that we must
trust the people with their own govern
ment, and this was the doctrine OF the
sneaker, f5rwheh we can no longer trust
the people with their own government,
government was ended
President johnson had said this even OF
he late rebellious Southern States, and
& il was to be so with them, how much
more should it be SO with Maryland, a
State that, however much the feelings
If her people had been with the South,
lad never been in rebellion; and yet,
lere in our own State, more than one
lalf Of her starlwart population had
,een precluded from taking any part
whatever in the affairs of government.
Mr.. Blair remarked that it was con-
,eded on all hands that the trouble was
'ver, and yet we find men stirring up |
he embers Of contention merely to keep |
themselves and their party in power
The great desire of the radicals was to
.eep possession of power until they |