Maryland free press., 1867-03-21
.sgBarnlano 4rsr press.
, ANDREW C. BoTD, Editor.
v,sr HAaERsToM'M, ND.
Thursday, March Fl, 1857.
The Convention B,i,.


HnJ The Convention B,n.
SE- We noticed in our last t.le passage OF
;th bill calling Convention to reform the
CONSTITUTION Of tic State. This bill ,ss-
cd tho House of Delegates by more than H
1tvo-ti'irds majority some weeks since. and
rn Saturday, March 9Th. it passed the Sen
ate Dys votc of IL yeas to'7 nays. r. G
chair Lieut.. Gov. Cox) decided that the
bill was lost. tso-thirds OF the mem bcrs
elect MT having votei thereto, AMI read
in support of his decision this provision of
the C,nstitution: "Whonevcr two-thirls
of The members elect to cich branch IF the
General Assembly shall think it necessary
to call a convention to revise. anl amend
thi. Constitution" &c. Mr. E,cle appeal
cd frolnithe decision Of tho chair. an it
wa. revGsed by a vote OIL to I. Mr.
1Ienklc day or Two afterwards moved a
reconsideration oftae bill which WAS car
ricl when it was lai aside Informally
lt has boon inc, intimatel by spm,. that
this is the last We shall hca. OF the Con-
v,ntian bill. in the present Legislature
Although the period for the adjournment
OF that boy israriily approaching, with
out any furth cr action having been taken
tp'p this BILL set W. are bath to believe
thu a Legislature which began its work
sd well, intended to Glish its ll5prs BY such
II lame anI impotent concl lsion as the de-
feat of the Conventions bill The people
demand iss passage at the hands of the
Legislature, their servants, aud shoull
thclr corruption or c,warlice cause it's de.
feat now, the PRESENT Legislature had far
better never have assem- Jlel What tia,
body has done, since its meeting in j anu
airy, is all very we'll in its way, as intro
ductory to. an preparatory f,r the great
measure of the call ola Cmventinn: but
without Convention, nil that the Lngis
laturc has dlne, amounts in practical i'm
portance to inst nothing IL. ali, cxcep, u
useless expenditure of til, rcs)lrees of H.,
State, n violation of all the pledges, cx-
press an | implied, under which the mem
hers o: the Legislature were elected to the
positions which tn y nov ill, an a dis
graceful AMI contemplate exhibition #
their own Pusillam my or corruption.
"r both. 1t is true tha. they have passed
III, Eafrancisemans bill; but what avsils
it to res o'c 10 our la ely disiran :his2d ci.i-
,eas th1 right to vote al h,lioai %, VII il
sll opportunity for the 5cxcrv;se OF those
rights is taken away from them, and thea
uaPrinciplel anl corrupt oppressors fill
nearly every Office in tho State AMI are
how laughing in their sleeves at the dss-
i.rdly linidity Of those who they think
.Arn about to btat retreat at tie very M
.'nent when victory is within th.ir grasp
ave capnpt believe that tlissL2gisisture
will stulIify and disgrace itself by
any such course; and in the name of the
outraged and insultcI masses Of MARYLAND
we demand Of .opr s,paseyS that they re-
dress ou. crying wrongs. AMI vim lica.e
fsem 'rtccs from the slanlerous inspirations
that h,ys.b zen thrown ont ag,;nst them
Ivy tn, wretches wlo have been fattcniug
of of til, p'ieo of taair own in;q,ty.--
They can only do this by the passag, Of
the bill hr calling u C,nvun.i,a, AMI this
We would urge upon them forthwith t. 4 =.
Let them no longer daily AMI hesitate, bat
m 'rch up b,ldly an .lik. men, t. tho par
frmAnee of that which twu-thirds Of the
people of Maryland d ;manl at their han Is.
lest they b, REX 'uel am ing the nun er
At those Tat ke,? tn ylrl of promise
to our car, an | break it to or hope"
Astn the rawlings an threats of the
,,knavis.l aud fanatical crew who nov hold
possession of the Offices which OF right be.
'"ng to, and shoul be tie free sift Of the
ne"nlc of the; State, We shnnll pass them
BY like the lille wind. Tloy hive oh
tanned these positions, by frall and op.
preston, and every moment that they COZ
time in the enjoyment of their ill:gottch
sp"ilS. adds an additional weight to The fet-
tiers of the people whom they have robbed |
ani outraged. Let them rave, and let
them vapor and threaten. let them hold
another Convention if they please all let
them appeal to Congress for ratfi,a-
ton ct Whatever cnormities they may ar.
tempt to pcrpctrate! We believe that
desperate aud final struggle between Con-
servatism AMI Republican institutions on
the ons s.d,, and Rsdic ,lism an Anarchy !
on the other, is as sure to take pl,ce
upon this c,ntincns as til, san shines in
fhe heavep'! 1t is only aqlcstipn OF time.
and if the struggl, must Gme. WHY. the !
sooner tho otter. We cannot peer be-
hind the dark veil, AM predict with Ger !
tainty the future, bat W, believe an know
that God is just, and that sooner or latc-
crime is punished and virtue rewarded, and
are therefore hopeful AMI confident as to
the final result. One thing is very GER
tain, we shall never gain strength by tim
idity and inacton, Hercules could not
overcome the Il:rnacan hydra until he
stranglcd the monster in his b I'D and fear
full grasp. Let us learn lesson from tn
teachings of classic antiquity, anl be rea ly
to play the part Of Hercules when the os-
easlon and opportunity are offered.
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