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

IO'''A7 'hNAlhClhCS SIIOllp cIOu9u " lHdhc VI
1t sort Of close corporation, excluding from
II in sort Of Procrusean 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
concede something to liberal ideas and the
advance that has been made by the Presidents
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-lnust be exnocted
to give way to those who could have the as
Surance to say-''stand on one side for am
hoher than thou, has been signav exploded:
their strength is not what they counted upon;
and they have found that they cannot afford
10 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 unfoundcd preGen-
Slons, it is TO be hoped, that on second
thoughts they will adopt wiser policy; and
for the future, instead of casting about to see
what means are possible or necessary to mo-
nopohze the management, and rule out the
moderate Union men of the land who cannot
60 for the vagaries 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.
agcment 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 time Of war |
should be chung 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 Il partially divided political household, |
the asSunptionlsts 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 mannuvrc 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 live months, late events have so shaped the |
necessities Of the case, that choice of policy
and OF measures has at last become necessary |
Tor 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 thencetOrward, 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
as surely know who are his opponents and
who his friends.
In view Of all this, whilst ii is plain that in
Maryland there are numbers who will not 20
with the President, circumstances prove that
they are too .te1c TO constitute The Union parfy
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, thew
must, whilst holding a firm front toward the
ola 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 rood |
1alth supporters Of the Government.
And in doing this, there is not the slightest
occasion to put loyalty at discount, or to
make treason respectable. The State having
been saved by loyal men from the awful yisi- | l
tations which for want of loyalty fell upon i
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 arraign
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.
VINO wish to see peace reign throughout its
VIDE borders, who desire to see our unity IL
Illustrated 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 :
strated Its power, If ever any government on |
earth on similar occasion has done it; and |
with President who has the courage and the
desire to entrust the people with their own
oestlhles Just so fast and no faster as they 4
manifest their willingness to accept the situa.
ton, why should these wretched and costly >,
chickering's be prolonged why should years "
eapse to see US still partially dsmembered;
to the weakening of ties, betwixt States and
communities, which should be strengthened
BY all the means within our power?
The hitherto assumed leaders of public son. :,
lment IN this State, must thus recognize the
acts as they are; and must cease to stand off
o the endangering permanently of the Union
organization so potent for the safety of the
commonwealth throughout the war Attempt.
h9 10 ostraclse others, to read them out of
ne omon party as not up to the demands of
lie uineS' they must look to themselves: must /
conclusions so unwise, if they would
retain position at all. And in doing this
here IS little or no time to lose. The fall
election has TO be prepared for, and certai,
gentlemen must consider seriously and finally Ar
whether they can either coerce undu!v Their
Id associates. or on the other hand whether
o succeed at all they can do without them is,
rs matters stand, the position of things * raj
most forced and unnatural. A meagre minor feE
y of the community and under popular tn
overnmeni, too, need not long expect to re- M
ain power without concessions to suit altered
mes and circumstances; and if they cannot ,,.,
ee this, and still persist in the foolish en-. G
eayor, it is not difficult to see that the power -
ley for the present WELD and desire to re-
Tin, must pass to the wiser and more liberal
those depended upon by the people to guide
lie destinieS of great and free commonwealth ton