The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1866-02-23

ioiANA5r coi SSit-ASoPOSb 90 duu our
responsibility as faithful custodians Of
public morality, if we failed 10 inveigh
against such series of malicious and vi.
cious eHactments, besides mourning the
charge of participation in their guilt
We would not nauseate our patrons or
weary ourselves with the list of hurtTul
measures that now disfgure and defile
our statute law, and therefore, we have
and shall devote ourselves only to
a transient comment. If they have a
respectable and conscientious defender in
the State, we would invite that human Gu.
riosily to inform us OF one good, Just or
useful measure enacted during that uufor-
tunate session. Even a resolution endors.
ing the conservative policy of President
Johnson, i'll his earnest effort to conciliate
the nation, would have failed had not the
minority given their votes with a number
who, from very shame, were induced to
vote for it, The voice of the State IN
convention assembled, which the prom Of
ings OF a cringing and timid spirit in the
presence Of superiors forbade them to sti-
file, was received, but UNDECIDED, and the
popular demand treated with insult by an
emissary from the land of agrarian fanati-
cism and sordid passions. Negro equali.
ty-lhc most obnoxious and degrading
suggestion to our population that could
possibly be invoked to insult their intel
gence and degrade their social relations
found spasmodic ohshoots from the same
into!erant source. and was only held back
blythe terrors which they too well knew
it would invite. The militia bill intended
to grind the State beneath the heel of an
arbitrary and INSCRIPTIONS military des-
poiism, was onl y defeated for the want of
time. The finances of the State have
been injured instead of benefited, either
by the bunglings Of ignorance, the pecu-
laIlons OF dishonesty or the new burdens
invented and dashed upon the shoulders
of unrepesrented and misrepresentetE tax-
payers. The. ght of franchise, which the
vast majority of our people respectfully
and properly demanded, was sealed I'm its
illegal and oppressive restrictions, ithat
the positions ursurped in the dark hours
of confusion should be confirmed 10 the
hands of the reckless, unprincipled and
avaricious few who grasp at the lie of
liberty and revel IN disgraceful debauch-
cry OF power All that could benefit and
advance the welfare and happiness of the
State fell to the ground, while even the
commouest sense Of decencv was power
less. to restrain the pEnmpting of their Gu
pidity ; and we find them, in the face of
constitutional prohibition that no extra
compensation shall be granted or allowed, |
evade the organic law by voting them
selves fifty dollars, worth of postage
stamps apiece, in the addition to the com-
pensation stipulated by that Instrument.
Judging from he spirit and temper that
actuated them during their,AtAg, we are
left without a doubt but thasN buld have
appropriated themselves a"cd6nlry seat
apiece had they possessed the courage to
further eXasperale the people they have
wronged.
1t is with blush of shame that we are
10 chronicle so disgraceful
chapter in the history of our beloved
State. 1t has taught a.-salutary lesson,I
however, by its warning, and inculcated
a wisdom by its grievous infiction that
will stimulate our careless people in the
future to spurn the insinuations of design
ing demagogues and trample upon the
pretentious claims of willy political trick
ers. 1t makes up the counts of that fear
full and repulsive Indictment upon which
this domineering faction of political hyp-
ocrtes will in the future be arraigned be-
fore the memorable bar of public opinion,
where ignorance will be no excuse for
faithlessness, party zeal no justification
for lawlessness, and from whence the ac-
tors in this State tragedy will pay the pen
atty of those ursurpers who have gone
before them in the bitter depths'of an in
famous obscurity. We rejoice that the
session is ended, and that opportunity
was not offered to fasten upon the State
A darker and more devouring plague-spot,
and trust that of the two evils we will not
be accused of exaggeration if we prefer
visitation of the cholera to another such
gathering. If Divine wrath for our sins
must come upon us, let it fall in suffering
and not in shame.