The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-03

ourred in Calvert, Anne Arundel, and other
counties. The Civil Rights bill passed by |
Congress stopped this practice to some extent;
but MARYLAND Judges and iuTies refuse in many
cases to enforce that law. Many local laws |
of a similar character to the State Apprentice |
law exist and are enforced. For instance,
in several counties negroes are not !
permitted to deal in merchandise unless recon-
mended by a certain number of white free
holders; and if white man, in some places,
employs a oolored clerk, he is liable to fine
of $50. In one county negroes are not per-
mttea to hold public meetings, except on
days fixed by their late masters. Negroes
convicted Of crime may be sold into slavery
for term of years. These and other laws of
like character disgrace the statute-book of
Maryland, and the new Constitution does not
hold out so far as we have seen, any prospect
of improvement. The fact that it leaves the
Legislature at liberty to take away at any time
from the negroes the right to the witness box,
and that it authorizes an appeal to Congress
for compensation for slaves, is very strong
evidence in support of the charge that the
Democratic party in Maryland would re-estab-
lish slavery in its worst form tomorrow, if it
had the power and courage.
But the Maryland Democrats hold on to
the shadow of slavery, and grasp after its sub
stance with an eagerness and nervousness
which are the sure signs of weakness and final
failure. The Convention has given the people
only until September 18th to examine the new
Constitution. They have ordered an election
in Baltimore on October 49, with the design,
it is said, of getting immediate possession of
the local government. This gain would aid in
carrying out the proposed revolution in other
departments. The short duration of the can
vass, lasting only thirty days (from August
II to September lS) the fact that the Demo
Gratis are certain to carry the State, and the
haste to complete the subsequent changes
among oficeholders, show that the ruling
party is afraid of Congress coming to the
rescue of the Union men of the State. The
returned Rebels of Maryland are hurrying to
the capture of the local government of their
native State with the same speed that Lee'e
army rushed towards LynchbuTg. Will Con-
gress intercept this attempt to take up a new
defensive position, as Grant intercepted Lee
That is the leading question at present before
the people of Maryland.
! The Michigan Constitutional Convention has
/ not shown any sign of being afraid either of
its own people or of the general Government.
! They closed their labors on August %, and
they have given the public until the first Mon
! day in April, 1868, to examine their work.
| This is political campaign of seven months
to one month in Maryland. The new Michigan
! Constitution will be adopted at leisure and
will be permanent, while Maryland will adopt
it's new Constitution in haste, and will repent
at leisure.
The new Michigan Constitution establishes
impartial manhood suffrage. 1t makes no allu-
sion to color. 1t admits to the ballot-box all
the males in the State over twenty one, who
are citizens of the United States, who have
been residents in this country two years and a
half, and have declared their intentions, and
who have resided in the State three months,
and in the ward or district ten days preceding
the election. 1t excludes only women and
idiots and insane persons. 1t admits paupers,
prisoners, and all colOred men, whether negroes
or Indians or any other nationality, possessing
the qualifications already stated; and this sec
tion takes effect with the Constitution on July
l, 1868. The same impartiality and liberality
which are exhibited in the article regarding
the elective franchise peryade the whole docu-
ment. The Bill of Rights begins with the
declaration that all political power is inherent
in the people, and this spirit runs through
| every section. The interests of the people
the whole peOple-are the first and last sub
jects of consideration. The article which
forms the termination of the body of the
Constitution is on exemptions from taxation
1t secures to every resident in the State per
sonal property to the amount of $500, and 6
homestead not exceeding forty acres anC
worth not more than $500, free from SALE
/ for debt. Even the poor man who does no
! own farm is protected in the possession o
3 the house in which he lives. Widows ar,
4 guaranteed their husbands homesteads dur
s ing the minority of their children. All womeI
g are protected in the exclusive possession ant
5 use of their own property. The whole frame
work of State and local governments is con
y structed so that the people have full an
d immediate control over their servants. TIL
!, Constitution is, in short, an expansion
d of the declaration that all men ar
/ created equal and have inalienable rights
10 "among which are life, liberty, and the pul
c suit of happiness" 1t contains no clauses, lik
II that of Maryland, calculated to repel imm
e grants, or to prevent the increase of wealth
or to diminish the sum of public happiness
Even the prohibitory liquor clause may /
i regarded as a voluntary State temperanC
pledge, which is submitted to the people as
separate question, and which, if taken, is I
u be kept only so long as it is considered to
j. for the general welfare. 1t is, at least, a
g. earnest If not wise attempt to Danish, as far
practicable, poverty and crime from the Stat
- And however Objectionable prohibition ma
IN be in itself, or however unsuitable it may
b, for many States, it is certainly less question
il able than the downward path of MarylaI
:, towards slavery, rebellion, and all 9th,
" crimes.
at Judging from the new Constitutions no
le before the people of Michigan and of Mar.
4 land, ''the irrepressible conflict betwee
al liberty and slavery still continues. 1t is NJ
d. possible for two States, with Constitution
ct conflicting in so many important points,
remain permanently connected together undt
ts one general Government. One of the tW
re must change its Constitution within fe
IT. years, either voluntarily or under duress.