The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-08-11
Tho Issue.

No uncertainty should exist in the mind Of
any voter Ne TO the issue upon which he Is 10
pass in the au,umnal election. Never were the
dividing lines between parties more plainly
marked than between ourselves aud our oppo-
nen's IN the present campaign. liza single per-
sou fails 10 comprehend the situation NJ affairs.
his ignorance is utterly inexcusable.
The President assumes that the States lately in
rebellion, having ratified the Constitutional
amendment prohibiting slavery are entitled TO
immediate representation in Congress, and that
all that either branch OF that body has to do is
to pass upon the qualifications Of those who may
present. themselves n Representatives from such
State.
We, ON the other hand, maintain that those
States have forfeited all right To representation
by virtue OF their rebellion. and can secure il
only upon compliance with such conditions as
the loyal people, in Congress assembled, see ii
to prescribe. We deny that the President has
by virtue Of his Office, any authority To recon.
siruci the Union Of the States. aud that any at
tempt upon his part looking to this end Is
usurpa,ion of,he power which belongs only TO
the legislative department OF the government.
Congress, at IT, recent session, has embodied
In the form of amendments To the Constitution,
the terms upon which those States can secure
representation. To accomplish this, a sacrifice
ofeonfiic,ing views was, of course, necessary
Probably no one, in such state Of affairs. could
be Perfectly satisfied with all the details Of anv
plan which could command the requisite two
thirds vote. The amendment, before the pcoplc
for ratification or rejection exhibits the best that
could be secured
II Is the duty OF ever, voter To make himself
familiar with the bearing of the proposed amend.
menis and To exercise the privilege of suffrage
according 10 his conviction Of right. No one
should allow himself to be prcjudiced by ou,erirs
which have been, and which will be, RAISED about
matters which are entirely foreign to tue real issue
involved.
Are the terms prescribed by Congress unjust /?
That is the gis, Of the whole controversy. upon
which each and every voter has an opportunity
OF expressing his opinion
Shall there be any safeguard agains, the re-
cnrrencc Of rebellion II we iorbear to insis, ul.
on the halter doing IL work, are We. therefore.
precluded from taking any precautions against
treason Have those lately in rebellion mani
tested any, hs 'ighf,'s, peni,cucc for the course
they took II 50, when aud how , Has there
been even graceful yielding To inscru,ablc des.
tiny? When were ARROGANCE and defiance more
marked. whether We lake u types the Jarbors
who figure in ionraeys in the bailiwicks OF Bow
ie'lom. IN our own State. ms knights III the
IS Lost cause. or the Stcphcnsc- who lecture a
governmen; they strained every nerve to destroy
upon its duties toward the would-be des,roycrS
Their peniienial confession is simply this -
" We have done nothing wrong. We would
10 the same again il We should have a favorable
opportunity. II, however. here arr m, who
think we have done wrong We are y..,'seiiu -..j.
h'.y 10 be- yyorwr'n.
Those who are prepared ~ pronounce full ah-
solution in view OF >Bch - confession. will II
the, have a chancc vote agans, NJ At 'he en-
suing election