The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-01-19

Now, sir, why was that? That was de-
parture from the fathers in one respect to-
ward freedom, but in the other toward sla-
very. They enfranchised the white man
they riyctcd more tightly the shackles Of the
black man. twas done because meanwhile
cotton, as they believed, had become king.
1t was done because the invention Of Whit
ncy and others had enabled the cottnn-grow-
ers to manipulate their product SO success.
fully as TO make it with. slave labor the most
profitable staple of the continent and slave.
az. negro cni:ure, thcncefarth became as
much business as cotton culture and even
Maryland and Virginia, from their former
condition Of active hastilits to slavery, as
evinced by the sentiments Of their represent
ativcs in the Convention which formed the
Constitution Of the United States in 1877,
became from that day forth the active prop
agandists Of slavery.
From this Now standpoint It may have
been necessary, if slavery rather than free
dom was to be preserved, to e>elude the
black man, whether free or slave, from the
ballot-box, and they did so. Avarice is in
satiable, and those who profted by slavery,
not satisfied with their present gains, began
TO throw around it the protection of the
State laws. In 1886 they provided by al
amendment uf the CONSTITUTIONS
"Ihat the relation OF master and slave in this State
shall not be abolished unless bill SO to abolish the
shall la passed. by unanimous vote Of the
bers Of each branch Of the General Assembly aud shall
be rullislr7 TT least three months before cleo
ton Of delegates, and shall 10 confirmed hy unan
vote ot tho members OF each branch Of the Cio
cral Assembly al the next regular constitutional session
after such election, then wt!ont full compen
aton to the master for tho property Of which he shall
thereby be dcprlYgd'
Th; was declaration to the people OF
Maryland; slavery shall lie continuous. PER
petual; it shall lie the absorbing interest
within the limits OF the State: aud no mat.
ter what may be the convictions Of the PEG.
pie in regard to it, or What may lie the man
ilest interest Of the majority. You shall not
abolish it without unanimous vote OF 10th
Houses Of two consecutive LegisatHres--an
absolute impossibiIity as ricn arc constituted.
Thus justice, blind and robbed Of her scales.
Wa: forced to weld her sword in the interest
Of her enemies.
But that is not all. In the constitution of
1871: article three, ,oction forty.thrce, they
imposed an absolute prohibition upon all
legislative action for The abolition OF slavery,
in these words;
"The Legislature shalt not pas any law ab,',hne
the relation Of OF slave, Rs now exist, in tuts
Stat"
finalr. they went so far as 20 say that no
siavcnold"r, no matter what might be ais
view OF duty Or propricty, should be allowed
to manumit his slaves; and after having
built up al! these legal Notifications around
their pet interest they actually aided to or.
game rebellion and civil war againa. this
great Government, in order tbat they might
witness the agothcosis OF their grand idea
and construct upon the ruins Of free insti-
tutons a. Government with its foundation
based upon the cornerstone OF slavery. -
After that came the deiuge, and the men
who fought to ohliterato ali sentiments Of
liberty from the human heart were themselves
swept out OF place, and many Of them for
their ;mpious rashncss paid The penalty with
their lives, / believe, sir. The hand Of God
was guiding the whole movement.
Once admitted that slavery and property
qualifications are forever abolished, and
there cur be no reason assigned Why .'evcry
man laying~common interest With and an
attachment 10 the community ought not to
be RENTED. according to The Bill of Rights
Of 1875. TO the right of suffrage.
The time has come when every man, dc.
ciared to he citizen Of the United States
of proper age and having the qualifications
applicable to Other citacus, must, II we IN.
tend to stand upon republican form of
government, be allowed to express his polit,
ical sentiments through the baiiot-box.
Now, Sir, come to the question pro
pounded by the other Senator from Wiseon
sin, Mr.. Doo|itilel lie made the point
upon my friend from Vermont that the peo-
pie Of = State might restrict the exercise %
the RIGHT Of suffrage. | admit il; but as,
scrt that it must be by ell the people; and
now, that slavery is abolished, black citizens
are part Of the people; and if there is a
State within this Uhion with q constitution
adopted by a majority Of only part Of its
people, contend it IS not republican in
form. The white citizens OF a.State have
no right thus to exclude the black citizens Of
a State from the exercise of political power
any more than the black citizens have to
exclude the while; and when a State is iii
that position, it is the duty of Congress, as
much as anything can be its duty, to see that
that State has a republican form Of govern
mont, Not only does this duty apply to
States which are under the ban of rebellion,
but to all States. The Consultation says that
"thc United States shall guaranty to every
State in this Union q, republican form Of
governments" and hence, If by the force of
events, O. by any combination of circum.
stances, any Stale is in this. Union without
having given at some time OF its history
either in the formation and adoption Of its
constitution or subsequently, to every cit-
zen having the common qualifications, q
right to speak with regard to its form of gov.
crnmout, pronounce it to be anti-republi
can.
do not mean to say that every woman
or every child or every criminal must vote.
IT, o.o ,,ugt la oort,,,, ,by;o,,c r,,I.. ..n,.o,>