The Baltimore County union., 1867-07-27
Communicated.
Tho Suffrage Question.

AfttAttYN .f4F HnFNiHfif.
In a former communication on this subject it
was shown that the NEGRO, under the Civil
Rights Bill, Is made citizen of the United
States, and becomes citizen Of Maryland by
virtue Of having his residence here, aud "a such
citizen ho IA a member of the body-p ilitc, call
cd the State.
rhst the aggregate Of citizens in the State
compose what Is technically aud legally known
n tho PEOPLE. in the political sense of that
term under our Republican system Of Govern
mcnt.
In addition 10 what has been advanced we
may refer tu the" Articles Of Confederation " of
l55s, to perceive that the terms frecmcn. Ia
habitauts. citizens aud people were used indis
criminately ami a equivalent The ith Art.
is IN these words; The better % secure aud
pcrpciuatc mutual friendship aud intercourse
among the people of the different states IN this
Union, the froc mta5taHfs Of each Of these
States shall be- entitled o. all prvii
cgrs aud immunitics of .frce citiscis ia the Sow
cra. statcs. and the people OF each State shall
have. Ac. And whvh wc turn "a the
Federal Constitution subsequently adopted. we
finl the provisions just quoted embodied in the
tccuud Section 0f the fourth Article of that ia
striturnt. in these words: "rhc Citizens nt each
state shall b, Untitled ,o an pririicges ati IN.
aUaifics of Citizens in the several siaics. " Il
tie terms free inhabitants and - free cit.
gems" mean the same Ia the Articles ufConied
GRAFTON, and are of the same import a. " the
People, which no one will deny. aud IL the
sninc provision precisely il taken from those
article. aud embodied In the Federal Constiiu
tipn as quoted. Il Is clear hiatt provision was
intended a. apply in the same parties. That il,
thr torn " citizens used ia the Constitution
must refer ip aud intend the same pariic, as
d" inhabitant- ~ the people.
Bat We iu not stop here The Constitution oi
Maryland was ordained priur tn the Articles ol
Confederation. i'sdl ani in IL We find the
sau.r Interchange Of equivalent cxprcssions.--
u .t- 1T section of the Bill 81 Rights u &, spil
" fhot all Government Of right originates ignm
'h' yc9yi,. Ia H. "a section II j. said that
/ " tlr grgyi. ct this State ought. Sc In IT.
3ri section IL Is said That the iykabi'anis Of
Maryland are entitled 60 tho common law 81
England aui the trial by jury" And the -
haliia~'s of Maryland are also entitled {" all
property. g.. Art. & at the Constitution sl'cak g.
20 thc g.gh' oi the inhabitants {" v"tc. A. Ia
these places quoted the term "inhahitnut.
mcana citizen, and Is Used "a. syn"nymou- with
AMI equivalent to " the People" in its tcchni
cal and political sense.
The citizens. therefore. ui the State wiih"u,
regard 10 Face Or color are the Peoplc aud
reprc-cnt aud cnbody the sovereignty And
as thc existing Constitution cannot hs' over
thrown and annullci without the consent "f q
majority "f " the People. "r the whole cun
muuity, follows that the cnlored rtixrns
forming ~ they do. part oi the aggregate mas.
of the community. have AN equal right w,il
other citizens 10 participate IL the determine
tfnu 90 the question. - The basis ni sur iiuiit
icai .y,i"ins said Washington Ia his farewell
aiires.. il the right of nc pc9pic {" make and
alter thcir Constitutions og Government: hu
90" t"nst 'uiion which n any time exists till
changed hy an explicit and authentic act uf III,
WHOLE PEOPLE is sacrcily obligatory up
nu all.
{ Citizens acting ~ ,hoir -oycrcisu ~ paci,y az,
3 politically "i-cc aud equal. III, sovereign
/ puwcr sequally divided among all.
/ Professor Dew. formerly Lecturer "u Law
SAYS: The fact j.. il Is always a most dclicat,
aud dangerous task for one set Of people 10 leg
I islatc inr another without any community ni
interest II j. sure to destroy the great princi
pie "i responsibility. aud in the cnd io las IA,
3 'c,nkcr interest 90 tic mercy of the stronger
/ n sn5r,rfs Nc rtrg tad for 'ch ch al GOscrMmcnf
urc e''d5i hcf dAd J,coaacs iHf0icrabic aud co,sf
! qUcHtiy agIit,f Nc fundamental natural rights o
mgH. whether prohibited by the Constitution
"r noi. Apply this t. the colored a. the '-cak
G. inter - and the white race rs the stronger
y % !. .saiciiinc. suggested that Govern
in"ni has reference uaiulyio 90 ,ofificai right
and rriv.ir-"- l"i - quot" rr1;. Dew again.
III" Sc! q: " Ili" great ahicrts ot Government !.
tl- projection "i yre4erfy: from the iays o
the Patriarch. down b. the present time. n,
str'. 't'- .t"g 'GW ua. l-"n tp iinl oui the mos
clAtl"h' u4ttc ui IlH. Getting property. fDfifi
rr Oh 'At- therefore. whry an wed. arr IN trutl
only incidental ,h"y are merely the machine
-. SO % -i'eak. uy whirh the higher ani NOR,
impoitHHt risi'. nf p-9pcrfg--and Il innv he al
icd '' ai lite ani liberty. are sccurcd to the
citi@ca. \ precious and desirable Ia the col
"rcd nsi' the white citizen, beyond all ques
t.uu.
il seems - follow. tina, in order to enjoy these
rights 81 - life. liberty and property the cit.
iz"n must partic pate or have a representation
I IN tl.r councils nf those who have political do
( ininiou IN the state. Z" I look upon the admin
i-traiinn of Justice says Lord Chancellor Hard
I wiclc.l as the principal and essential part oi
/ aA Government. The chief Office of Govern
mcni - 20 secure Ne the regular course Of isw
/ and justice " Why Because the right ui
ProFcrW Is enjoyed and secured To the citizen
/ through The medium of Courts Of Justice anl
/ "y thc officers oi The Law. and through these
I alone y, th"sr Court. IA Maryland depend
:nr h"if We! being their organization. juris.
Ia 'ian au'i power trcniurcc their inl smculs
sol II md er'ls, trf,y pp8H ne crsfiag c0asfifu
...'. !; tIIt Is ovcrthrown and annulied all
tLr tHiEi, 20! Justice in Maryland. with all
il"ir officers anl the machinery employed bv
in'n i'r TIA" work. tall among the general ~
in. Tn. cauH', Dee icuici.
T. say tina, Nrw Constitution will prnyi.i.
Other Courts ami ether Law officers. Is - mer,.
begging pi the qucsiion. aud i too Illogical and
absurd 10 be further noticed.
The true proposition j. that the ,rloic cos.s,H-
fiiy are cntiilc'f To- the enjoyment Of the exist.
ing Constitution. and IL is denied that frac
I t'fsA N NtAf can tNfu~f aside large
masses oi the people. and by less than a ma.
i"rity Of the entire body overthrow and annul
~ and set up different form of Government
'n is stead even although the one proposed be
'nT better in every respect
/ u IL - be presumed inT a moment. that the
iHig's II our cnUrt.--thc Court of Appeal. IN
'luicl would yield up their oiiices 10 other.
! under Constitution adopted at an election fsa,
called from whica the entire body ai co!oroi
1 citizens w re- excluded 70 be binding nus,
/ uni ,he election be fa.r anil cqaai-must il not
/ ryprcscnt the voice Of the whole community
/ ~ what pr"coss will tine newly elected Judges
I 9. in=!aaee. 8, !nta aaices 'wha -:!l :ssgs
/ The mandamus ior him Whotry the question
and enforce the writ Il seems 10 tue that the
only mode wouli be To- revive the old English
law Of wager aud battle. a law which ncy
er had existence IN this State. II force be met
by force, there would be- a revolution.
| cndeavo7cd Ia show ia my former coInmu
nicaiion that the colorcd citizen must be par
| " Ia the NEW COMPACT in order to be bound
by ~ that his allegiance upon every principle
81 law aud common sense rests upon the fac
of his being such party. In addition Ia what
/ was there said aud relied ON. ! beg 10 add ths
authority "f Chancellor Kent. who says In hi,
Commcntai ies, speaking of the allegiance ol
pcFspns who wcre in tls country ut the tims
/ % tie adoption NJ the Federal Constitution
"whcn an old Gpyerument L. dissolved aud q
/ u - one lnrfaol, al thc writers agree" said
4
of 'Le adopted Government who have not free
| IS ssscntea e. 10. & fr,c dSscaf Ia the New
Government q here declared hy Kent. quoting
chicf Juftirc Mexican. ~ be- Indispensable. Il
IL beyond question thai no man. white or black
| can be- considered "a. owing ailegiauc. 10 the
State aud subject in the obligations Il citizen
without his asscn'. expressly or implicitly
given.
Again. Il was declared by the Legislator,
oi harylsnd nearly century ago. "that ir
/ ciprocal. A" tscc Act of IT75.l Does the degre,
or kind II Allegiance due from white aud black
differ Who viii say so' How can any citi
cen owing aud yielding allegiance 10 his Stats
be said n enjoy eqagf protection for hat - ~,
kiHd gfPro'eeiioa ,eAick aiiaehss 70 allegiance.
under Government which proposes 10 exclude
| him from any voice Ia tho selection of lhnss
wh1 are to make the laws for him 10 execute
them when madc--to constrUe aud enforce
them. aud a. nhudicnte all questions arising