The Democratic advocate., 1867-03-07
TnE CONVENTION hill.

tug exactiy why, tnat the proJeet oi
holdinga Constitutional Convention this
year, was Of doubtful policy. In the
light Of changing events we begin to
see dearly that il may be advisable to
defer il for the present. The Radicals
ut their late State Convention have at
last clearly indicated their line Of policy,
They intend to insist, when the qnes-
ton is referred 10 the people, thar their
colored allies shall yote--claiming that
it let's in every body because il is move
outside Of the regular authority Of the
Constitution -asaa asaa .;hls=s should the votes
Of their allies not be allowed, they will
aipeal to Congress 10 interfere, under
that clause Of the U. S. Constitution
which autherises Congress 70 guarantee
to each State a Rspsblscqa Government
(. We know well, from the recent course
Of that body, that they do not consider
any State Government Republican which
does not allow the right Of suffrage to
men Of all eolars, particularly black
They have determined to apply that
rule to alEths SO called Rebel States
under the pretcnce Of power acquired
BY the war and we have had strong
indications that they would bc glad to
have any pretext to treat in the same
way the State Of Maryland, which they
regard, since il passed into Conservative
hands, as a somirebel State, u not
really worse than any Of the original
Rebel States.
We know that It may be considered
eouardiy to defer State action in this
matter because Of any danger to be ap-
pretended from outside Radical inter
ference; but il is not on that ground
alone we base our argument for delay.
We believe that the Radicals ardently
desire that we should take this step, in
this the hour Of their hoasted power,
in order that they may embrace the
only opportunity that may ever be given
them to apply external force to intro
duce negro suffrage into Maryland.--
This chance Il may be our true interest
not to give them. The present Consti-
tuition Of Maryland, which was forced
on us BY the Radicals Of the State, be-
fore they had progressed far enough to
desire Negro suffrage, tonfnes the right
Of suffrage 70 BAie men, aud If we
choose to remain satisfied with it they
have no right 70 complain on that ac-
count
We are aot The only parties interest
cd in this matter This question of
Negro saFrage aud equality is the great
question oFtho hSS .whkh oveF rides
llosIss= 4ssss.sss> Il - sppsoss,,s.:aas
certain as fate, and Ike Negro Slavery
must be met and decided, Its adyo-
Gates control the party in power in the
only Congress We have, and they are
bent on taking advantage Of the circum-
stances ofthe hour to force il on the
whole country, as they did emancipa-
tion during the war Every State is
interested, and at this moment they are
forcing it on all the Seeded States
They win find it very different ques-
tion TO deal with from that of emanci-
patton, being one in which the natural
prejudices of white men are against
them Emancipation could not have
been so thoroughly attained either, had
not the patriotic feelings Of tho people
been reused in defence Of the Union,
and had not the South hopeicssly pro-
tracted the war to the bitter end What
we want is that the people should have
chance to decide this question in peace
at the ballot box. We have every con
fidence that such decision viii be right.
The only danger is, that BY precipitatc
action civil war may again ensue before
the people have time to see clearly whose
fault ID is, and military necessity be
once more urged; this time in favor Of
thepolitical equality oftheir negro allies.
We assume that this moyo in Mary
land is likely 70 lead 70 civil war, be-
cause we are satisfied that Congress is
only waiting for . chance to reduce this
State to Radical rule once more, for
which there is no earthly hope short Of
the negro vote; and because we believe
that the people Of this State will resist
any such usurpatioa on the part of Con-
gress. If than, there is danger Of such
dreadful consequences il becomes US to
consider how our action may afect our
friends elsewhere. There il no doubt
a grand army hhs been recently organ
lied iu the North 70 stand BY Congress
in any emergency, whist our ftiends
Sha~, 40 <.l-< ~.-...---- L /.