Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-01-12
Message of Gov Swami, of Mary
land. EfHi

submitted his Message 10 the extra session
OF the Maryland Legislature to-day. At
ter expressing gratitude to Almighty God
for the protecting arm that has been ex-
tended over the State during the rebellion,
and for the overwhelming triumph of free
principles in the conflict which has SO re-
Gently terminated in the restoration Of
peace, speaking of the finances Of the State,
he gives the reason of the call of the pres
ent extra session. The finances of the
State, under the extraordinary demands
growing out CT the rebellion, and the fail
ure to make our credit available under the
provisions of the late bounty act, upon
terms satisfactory to the Treasury, impose
the duty of calling you together in adj
vance of the time for the regular meeting
OF the General Assembly. The Governor
congratulates the people upon the health
full condition of the State Treasury. He
says at the close of the fiscal year 1864. her
sinking fund had increased to such an eX-
tent as to justify large reduction of the
taxes and her Treasury contained more
than million of surplus over and above
her legitimate wants. 1t may be gratifying
to the people of the State that the whole
increase of the permanent debt, referable
TO the expenditures of the war, owing to
the healthy condition in which the Treasu-
ry was found and the aid furnished by taxa
| ton does not exceed, up to this time,
$500,000, and our claim on the General Gov
ernment, should the war debt of the States
be assumed by Congress, measure not un-
| likely to be reported during its present ses-
sion, will amount to five million dollars and
upwards. Referring to the bounty bonds
of the State, the Governor give the cause
for the failure to procure the four millions
appropriated tor bounties by the issue OF
. hn1nfu honda anul1 no rIly ha avq
have been expected that in competition
with Government and other securities Of
tering stronger temptation as to soundness,
at much more favorable rates of interest
than the bonds of the State of Maryland,
could be thrown upon the market unless at
great disadvantage. | would recommend
that the bounty act be so amended as to ex-
empt the bonds from both State, county and
municipal taxation, before another attempt
is made to offer them in the market.
The Governor sustains the justice and
constitutionality of the State registry law
in reference to the disfranchisement of a
portion Of the citizens of the State. He
says it has been alleged that the dominant
party who now control the State represent
only minor part of the aggregate popula-
tion. Small, however, as the minority may
be, it cannot be denied that it IS the fair lie.
gitimate representation of whatever there
Is of loyalty among our people. They are
the men to whom you are indebted for the
safety of your State, and without whose
uncomprOmiSing devotion to the Unior
MARYLAND would have been handed over Il
indiscriminate destruction, In reply tt
those who urge repeal of the law, he says
do not feel authorized to recommend
reputation by the Legislature of the or
ganic law of your State, by any radica
modification of the terms of the registra
tion law.
The Governor next discusses at length
the subject of Federal relations, reeonstruc
ton and negro suffrage. He approved tin
reconstruction policy Of President j JohnsOn
who has adopted some plan of rcconstruc
tion.
Referring to the suffrage question, h
saws: With the Southern and Middle
States, and perhaps other States, this issu
of negro suffrage is subject of the creates
Importance. Massachusetts, with her min
or ten thousand negroes, in an aggregat,
population of 100000 souls; Maine, wit
her six hundred, in an aggregate of NOR
than 100000 souls; Vermont, with he
seven hundred, in an aggregate of NOR
than 100000; New Hampshire, with he
five hundred, in an aggregate of more tha
100000, and the other free States standing
in the same numerical relation, woul
hardly claim to approach this issue from
common stand point even with our Ow
State. The loyal men of the South, admit
ted to be so limited in numbers, stand in n
relation which would justify, even if tn
power were expressed under the Con, titu
tion, the forcible surrender of their coun
try into the hands of the African race.
have adverted to the cause of universe
emancipation in Maryland and throughou
the country, because L believe it to be
measure of duty as well as of urgent Stat
necessity, but / could not justify myself
the people of Maryland, if should Civ
cOuntenanCe to the effort now making b
some impulsive men, no doubt sincere an
/ honest in their convictions, to confer uni
versal suffrage upon the negro race.
cordially accept the views of Presiden
johnson, in reference to the only practicabl
mode of djustment between the conflictin
interests. am willing to do the colore
race full justice, if they prefer to re
main with us on terms not incon
sistent with our claim to exclusive con
troll in the Government of the State. al
willing to try the experiment withou
prejudice, and to the fullest extent, but
am at liberty to withhold opinions whic
were foreshadowed by MY taking the oat
OF Office under your new Constitution
/ whose provisions denied the right of sui
frage to the negro, that his manifest desti
ny assigns sooner or later not as the re
suit of legislative compliance, but of hi
own voluntary motion, to some more con
! genial locality, where his distinctive char
acteristics will furnish no barrier to his en-
Il iOvment ot sorial and nolitical rights