The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1867-04-05
For the Ayis ! htelligencer.
The Constitutional Convention,

AS the present Legislature, by a two-thirds
vote of each House, has called upon the voters
OF the State on the 10th of this month to decide,
in their calm judgment, "For or against Con-
vention," to alter and frame anew their present
Constitution and form Of government, it may
not be amss for the people of this county to re-
view, in brief, its recent history--when ana how
the present Constitution was made and adopted
by whom il was conceived and mnde-and
what were some of the chief designs and ppr-
poses Of il, adoption at such time?
There are times when the affairs of State
like those of men, are governed by high political
Standardization partisan feeling runs high
and calm and sober judgment seems to swerve
TO partisan ends; but the cool and second sober
thought Of the people have mostly guided the
political pendulum, and brought it back to Vi
brate in Its usual course 10 what seemed fair and
right. But there has been new order of things
not only high political excitement, but the heav-
ngs of mighty struggle-a protracted civil
war-military rule-martal law-and follow
ing kind of chimera pro9ressiOeness, and in the
very midst of all these were the people of this
State called upon to frame and make anew their
present Constitution. 1t WAS conceived in the
fall election Of 1868. The State Of Maryland, or
part of it, was at that time under martial law
and all under military rule. A violent partisan
General Schenck Ia notable parsonage, with his
provost marshal, Fish, still more SOY was placed
in command and undertook, as we all recollect,
to control the State elections. He was law
maker Judge of the elections and police detective.
The polls were under the entire control of the
military, and on the Eastern Shore of the State,
although not under martial law, we all remem-
Der 1.-The yellow ticket" By that alone voter
could pass, or as expressed by the then Govern
or OF the State, "run the gauntlet of sabres and
carhnes, that guarded the entrance to the
polls"
In this way were most of the members of the
Legislature of the session Of 1858 and "a elected
There was a decided Radical majority, and it
was this body that conceived the idea of calling
(while they had the power) a State Convention,
to alter and frame anew our Constitution. 1t
was accordingly enacted, and provision made
that on the heels OF their adjournment, on the
9th day Of April, that the voice or sense of the
people should be taken on the call of a Conver-
ton. 1t was decided on that day by the radical
voters and military rule, that ma ority of the
voters of this State were in favor of Conven-
ton, and the chosen members were at the same
time elected. In the city of Baltimore, the vote
was "A mere farce. There, where Radicalism had
garrisoned ITSELF the vote taken was 5000 for
Convention aDd 76 against it. Thus were the
trainers of the present Constitution placed in
power, and clothed with authority to alter the
fundamental law of our State. And who were
they? We speak of the majority of them. -
Were they those who could digest themselves of
high-wrought partisan feelings-the wise and
learned-the native-born citizen of our State,
who had been reared in our midst, and learned
to cherish, and knew best what was for the in-
terest and harmony of her people? No, no.
But the naturalized fanatic from other States,
and the radicalzed politcian--splnters Of the
bar, without OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES record since, as
sd ,1,nn Of tba T1niop Too, o,,J
elsewhere more fully shows who they were
men who fawned with the military to creep into
power-then to disfrancbise their fellow man to
keep in power, and now seek 10 grant the cleo
tive franchise to another race, to uphold ther
power.
Thus when the State was under martial law
when invasion threatened it, and more than that,
took place at several points near by and when
the crisis OF the war was not yet determined,
was this Radical Convention convened Mt Anna
polls, on the 9th day of April, 1864. Was this
II fit time for any State to attempt TO frame or
change her Constitution-to alter her fundamen-
tai LAVISH For any Convention or body OF men,
even if stoics to deliberate calmly and dispas-
sionately? 1t was utterly impossible. The
clash of arms and political excitement was the
order of the day.
On the 18th of July, while the members of
this Convention were holding their daily sts-
sions, the city of Baltimore was threatened with
invasion, the citizens called TO arms and panic
spread throughout the State. And did this panic
reach the Conventioniss Did it in any man
ner disturb their calm deberations2 Yes, it
was then their tried loyalty and patriotism gave
way. When quorum was sought, it WAS re-
ported that only their scattered baggage could
be found at the depots; and the goods and chat
tells of some were hurredly sent, and marked
even without initials simply EASTWARD" On
the 9Th of September, after their fright, and
session of four months and better, this deliberate
body came to close. The ereat work was
done. And the 18th and 18th of the next
month, October, the voters of Maryland were
called upon (although there was general State
election to take place as soon as on the 7th of
the next monthly to ratfy or reject it. Here
arose in the minds of the Conyentionisls diff