Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1867-09-05

led, which the Registrars controlled has
been prevented by any conscientious scru-
pies from swallowing the iron clad, and
none whom | a. yet have heard OF have re-
fused o.take or hold Office because the
Constitution of 1864, and the laws made
in pursuance thereof. required them to
swallow it, It might have been that there
we're no Southern eympathizers here, but
rather think, that the Southern svmpa
thizers cared not the snsp OF my hnser
for this little impeachment which the Re-
publicans, thinking We would respect
forced oaths more than they ever did VOL
untarv ones, had thrown IN their way
In this they were right. can never be
brought to believe that these forced oaths
had any binding effect whatever. The oath
that.a robber hight force me to take that
| would not tell who robbed me, | would
be bound to break. And if there is any
insult to God because of such oaths belEg
taken, he that makes the oath and not he
who takes it, IS responsible for that in
suit, and will have to repent for it or-be
danned-so that, notwithstanding all the
schemes, the democratic party have nearly
all the Offices as they deserve, and the
Republicans will all be damned, as they
deserve, for trying to concoct their wicked
schemesto' prevent them from getting
them.
But this is not the only opening they
left US for thwarting their wicked designs.
The poor devils thought they w. i'm
press the world with the idea -
mense liberality by declaring n
stitution that our citizenship
stored by an act of the General assembly
passed by vote of two thirds of all the
members elected to each House, thinking,
of course, that that event would not take
place for many, many years. But man
proposes and God disposes and He pointed
out man in their own ranks who agreed
to serve us to T. They may call hun
Benedict Arnold and Judas Iscariot, but
we have nothing to do with that but We
have a great deal to do with the constant
accumulation of rewards upon him and
which may keep him from having time to
follow the example of Judas and-go
hang.
However that may be, the necessary
vote war obtained in the General Assem-
bly, and the law was passed which remov-
ed every obstacle to the voter, so that All
white men here may now be called tetlo,r-
citizens.
Then the object of calling the late con-
vention was, so far as these oaths are con-
concerned, rather that it might scrub out
the stains, than sweep off the republican
filth for practically that had already been
done by the action of the General Assem-
blv: Another object in calling that con-
vention was that it might promptly and
alphabetically denounce and renounce the
provisions of the constitution Of 1864,
which declared that the Legislature should
not compensate the masters for the slaves
which they took from them by the article
abolishing slavery; in other words, that
they would remove the brand of robbery
which the Republicans had fixed upon the
fair fame of Maryland. Hope had almost
ripened into certainty that this would be
done when it was ascertained that demo-
Gratis were in an overwhelming majority
in the convention. 1t is true that the act
of the Legislature calling the convention
provided that no such compensation should
be granted, but surely no one really
believed that the convention was any more
bound bv such a direction from the Leg
islature than if it had directed, them to-
put in the constitution an article provid
ING there should hereafter be 10 trial by
Jury. 1t was a perfect absurdltH SO
that We had the strongest reason for be-
lieyinc that the democrats IN the conven
ton of 1867 would act in this matter as
I have stated The grounds for these
reasons were found in the denunclatlon by
democrats of the infamous measure allu-
ded to and especially by the stirling demo-
Gratis who were members OF tho conven-
ton of 1864. l will read you the warm
and ardent expressions of some of Thorn
on this subject.
Mr.. Chambcrs-"I regard this constitution as
a most unwarrantabe seizure of property, &c,
and | vote against It's adoption.
Mr. Jpo, w Mitchcll-''l Shall vote against
This constitution because it affects my own coun-
ty by the abolition of slavery in perhaps great
er degree than any other county IN the State
And even had agreed ta the necessity of a pro-
vision of that sort, never could have voted for
il hen il refused compensation 20 the holders OF
that property who have been ruined by this
measure. You havenot only refused that COM
pensation. but YOU have put into Your organic
law a provision prohi hitlng the Legislature from
hereafter making any such compensation
Mr. Berry of Prince GcorgeS-'AS to the
question Of compensation | take il for granted
that there is not a man within the sound Of my
voice entitled to a seat upon this floor, who BY
his vote would take any property Of mine OF any
other citizen Of the State without just COM
rensation. because if he can take my negroes be
can take my purse.
These gentlemen no doubt will vote
against the adoption Of this constitution
if they shall find in it the clause 80 much
reprobated bv them. have now, however,
to refer to the decided and formal declar-
atoms of the gentleman who sits near me
and whom | regret to find 50 warm an ad
vocate for the adoption of the constitution
now before us
Mr.. Dent-"I shall vote against this consti-
tuition lof 1861 for the following reasons
First and second are on other points.
Thirt-Bccause by this constitution citizens
Of the State nave been unjustls deprived OF mil
lions Of dollars worth Of property by the aboli-
ton ot slavery and no compensation 10 the own
srs has been provided; and not only So but the
Legislature is expressly prohibited from provId-
ing compensation hereafter.