The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1867-08-03
Maryland's Petition to Congress.

The following Is the petition submitted 10
Congress. daring iis late session, from the Re
publieans Of Baltimore. The petition ls now being
circulated Throughout, the State for signatures,
and will be presented at the next session:
The petition ofthe undsrslsned ctirsns olhe Unltsd
states and OF the htaie Of Maryland, respectfully repre-
l. That csealn persons are nov met at Annapolis, In
~, STAT 70 s.asr 20 nns,ly mpsss wee The psogl.
Consiituion, who elected las well the Iegsia
lurc which called lhem BY the votes TseHs Ae had
rebellion aud otherwise aided and comioFed the enemies
efthe unlted states, and In violation Of the present
Constitution and laws Of this STATE whereby all such
persons were excluded from voting or holding onhcs
2 That said asscmhlagc At Annapolis 10 composed
eIeIay o such men As wsrs open and ns.osion. hsl
Rebels and their cause
]. That they have neg adopted . Consultation and
form Of Government which they intend 10 submit on
the--day of-next, 10 only PsvfieH " hs eifissas
Chis State excluding entlrsy iFOm any volcs 10 lts
adoption rejection some two hundred thousand cti
Ecns whose rights expressly and Intentionally Trfa
scd aud denied by said Constitution aud whose votes
they could be reeelved would determine IT, rejection
by an overwhelm,. .aaioFity.
That said prc's..ed form Of Government which the
said AssemhaEr intend thus 10 ioist upon the citizens
u this State, against the wishes of majority unTe
publican both In form aud substance that not only
denies 10 fourth part o. the whole numhrr ofctsens
their equal rights before the Law, but attempts by q
redistribution aud pervcrslan Of pupuar
10 give 70 those portions Of the state most infested hy
the friends OF The late wicked rrhrlOn grossly unfar
aud unequal influence aud vote In the legislature al
though such portions precisely those destitute
Of intelligence Of population, of means of education Of
taxable property. and available That Il 10 the
intention aud design of the parties concocting said
Constitution 10 make hostile 10 the Government
u the United States aud 10 exclude from voting and
from once under II all those citizens who uphold aud
aided the Government % the United States during the
rebellion.
That by reason of the action Of the Governor of chi.
State In appointing Registers of Voters. who openly
disregard and vlola,: the Registry law Of this State,
(which excludes all Rets aud their ahrttors from
tng there l. no Icacrable method cft 10 the citizens
81 this state, whose rights thus sncrhcri prevent
the fraudulent imposition upon them ofthls unTrpuhll
form Of government, unless the Congress of the
United states shall by appropriate legislation to
their relief That without such relief the loyal voters
and csH of this State will b. snhcre by the votes
Of .psc Reics and their alrtors twho 90 vote have
cot here from states lately 10 rehclilon, and where
under the Reconstructon acts they could not vote 10
unjust and unrepublican form % Governmen rxciu
ding from any the Government all thosc
citizens here who rnffanchised In the States
lately In rebellion That the condition of 10y n citizens
here l. therefore aud will h. than 10 this STATE
had bccn engaged In the late wicked FebsliOn and they
therefore pray thei the Congress % the United states
adopt such measures shall refuse 10 recognize
any fraudulent revolutionary change In the present
Constitution aud form u Government of this state
less they shall have proof such change has rn APP
proved aud ratified BY aajeriiv II all Tie cifis'as eC
"a STATE.