The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1867-04-05

city of Baltimore, their stronghold, was safe
enough the military were there. But the vo-
tiers of the cOunties-the conservative part oil the
communty-mieht see the partisan nature and
aims Of this new-formed Constitution and hence
they might reject it. Hence the haste, and
hence the borrowed and er post .tdcto oath they
entwined around it. They thought it nothing
strange, under Radical rule, to reach forth and
take a part of the new instrument they bad
made--lke the baker with his yeast and in
corporate it into their own, t. tighten it, in
order that it could be better ratified and adopt
! ed. Can child breathe and be baptized before
it is horn2 This new-made Constitution was
not in existence before its ratification. 1t was
without vtality-a mere piece of blank paper
The Constitution made in 1851 guaranteed to
every white male citizen the right Of suffrage:
EVERY free white male person of 81 years of
age or upwards, who shall have been one year
preceding the election resident of the State,
and six months resident of the city or any coun-
ty shall be entitled to vote in all elections here
after to be held"
What was the result? Although this legiti.
mate and illegal oath was brought to bear, every
county in the State, except four, gave decided
majority against it, and it was only adopted, MS
all recollect, by the small majority of 375 votes,
and those were made up of the soldiers vote -
The vote of the State cast in favor of its adop-
about $4,000. The vote of he State at the
Presidential lection in the year 1860 was 81
BOZ. Thus, by less tn IN one-third of the voters
of the State of Maryland was this Constitution
adopted. 1t will thus be seen by what craft,
and by VIII n small vote the minority Radical
Constitution of this State was adopted, when
there was fully fair majority of20. 600 votes in
the State opposed to it. This has been in accor-
dance with the spirit and prOgressiyruess of the
fines aS has hpan fully iE,oA q, t,, ,;,
of BALTIMORE small minority ruling large
maj ority.
This Constitution thus unfairly and Mt an i'm
proper time made and adopted, what were some
OF It's chief aims and purposes The most promi-
nent of which seemed to be to ingratiate the
State Radical party into the good favor of the
National Executive; TO cothe themselves with
power, and to enthrone their party there. Hence
the haste to abolish from the State all vestiges OF
slavery, which the issue Of the war would have
soon wiped out, and left no trace of uniaithful-
ness in behalf of our State towards part of her
citizens who alike expected justice and protec.
ton. The elective franchise, guarded closely
by the abuse of the registry law, was another OF
the chosen means engrafted thereon to keep them.
selves in power.
All recolect those guardians ofloyalty 1.-THE old
cloak now worn threadbare) and of the sacred
rights of the people the outer door to the ballot
| IVA the MINUS III WlllCn Iflli pow
er was placed their idea of oaths. Not the acts
or words of voter alone were enquired of-not
the oath that Radical ingenuity had studiously
devised and placed in their hands; but they
went still farther into the Radical code Omni-
scient-like, they looked beyond human laws into
the heart of man, and set up their notions be.
yond any rule of evidence ever heard of in the
Courts, as the requirements of the law. 1t you
but desired the gold that lay upon the tables OF
the bank, it was gross felony. If you wished
that peace should once more be restored thai
was dsloyalty May they ever be remembered
by the people of Hartford as samples of the fana-
tic times.
Thus was the Radical Constitution of 1864
conceived, framed and adopted; and thus was
Radicalism seemingly enthroned The majority
OF the people-the conservative part of the State
-bellere it was framed at an improper time,
adopted by very snail minority, sud made
by improper men and contains PARTISAN and
improper provisions
he war Las passed over, the clash of arms
has ceased, and the sober second thought of the
people demand that the fundamental laws Of
their Stale be framed in time of peace, in cool
deliberation, and by those who can divest them
selves, in great degree, of partisan feelings,
and command the respect of her citizens, look
ing to tho welfare and prosperity of all, and to
the dignity and honor Of their time-honored
State. CONSERVATIVE.