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

But, my fellow-citizens. the constitution
now under consideration is not as conser-
vative of State Rights as the abominable
one of 1864, so far as this subject is con-
cerned The article in the one of 1864,
boldly declared slavery abolished as an
act of the State, but the one of 1867, in
order to save itself from the charge OF
frankness, has used expressions which in
my opinion have most dangerous ten
dency. Let US readit.
Art. 24.-,'That slavery shall not be re-estab-
lished in this State, bm haring been abolished
der the policy and authority q The Uuled States.
compensation in consideration thereofis due from
the [ nited States"
Now, this is new idea; by reference
to the debates of tie convention OF 1864,
some of which | have quoted, the demo
Gratis were extremely incensed that that
convention had abolished slCnery, but al
ter rejecting for three years they have
discovered, that it has been abolished by
authority of the United States. | deny
the correctness of This statement The
United States did take from US and kept
from us many of our slaves for their own
use and for every one they took they owe
Us fair compensation, and if the Govern
ment Of the United States is honest they
will pay US for our private property thus
taken in accordance with the constitution
which they have sworn to support. How
ever, they did not take all and those who
were left US were taken from US by the
article in the constitution of 1864, abol
I<eing slavery, and hese the State Of
- Ao~u kly bound in hon
or and by honesty to pay US fair COM
pensation; but unfortunately if this con-
stisution is adopted we may whistle for ev
cry dollar we shall ever get from her
When it is thus declared as IN this article,
that .slayerv is abolished under the az
thority Of the United States, We mean by
the word, thus used, that the United
States have passed some law or amend
ment of their constitution by which they
claimed that slavery was abolished IN Ma
ryland The word authority must have
such a technical meaning and will be 50
construed. All know the Democrats of
this State did before the late convention
met, declare that the amendment Of the
constitution of the United States abolish
ing slavery, had no binding effect in Ma
ryland az law, but now among the many
and rapid changes which have in so short
a time taken place IN our ranks, the abo-
lition of slavery by this amendment Of the
constitution OF the United States has been
considered authoritative by the members
of our late convention and they have 50
declared in what they wish you to adopt
as the organic law four State. In, view
of the condition of affairs this in my opin-
ion is a mischievious declaration and ad
mission and will do as much 10 clsarm
MARYLAND in Ter resistance to the oppres-
siye encroachment of her enemies az al
most any scheme they themselves can con-
coct. Let US read the amendment of the
constitution Of the United States to which
| allude
Art - Sec. l. Neither slavery nor involun-
tary servitude, except punishment for crime
whereof the party shall have been duly convc-
ted, shall exist within the United States or any
place subject to their jurisdiction.
Sec. ,. Congress shall have power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation.
This last two much unobserved section
becomes important in this situation of af
fairs. This is the mother of the negro
Civil Rights bill passed by Congress. 1t
is under this section, that they claim the
power of not only passing such measure
as that, but also any other bill which in
their discretion Congress may think ap
propriate legislation for enforcing the first
section The power conferred is politi-
cal power and in my poor opinion ls with
out any check except the mere discretion
of Congress How far that discretion may
carry them YOU are AZ capable of forming
an opinion as | am, but don't think they
will stop with. even the Civil Rights bill
az odious az it is to US. 1t appears to me
that the article in the constitution now before
of the United States, to abolish slavery in
our State, comedies every power that
flows from both sections Of the article of
the Constitution of the United States re-
terrcd to, and certainly gives color By our
action to the claims of the Radicals If
this is 50, then our noble old platform is
demolished by our own act, if this consti-
tuition shall be adopted and by our own
concession, may be not Intentionally, but
most indiscreetly made. we hand over our
firm, upright and patriotic Judge Daniel r.
Magruder, of Calvert, to the mercy OF his
and our enemies. Shall such a man
be thus deserted and exposed in order that
dangerous quibb}e may be inserted in
our constitution. No. Reject the quib-
bic and put yourselves face to face to your
enemies upon your old ground with a
franhness becoming the gallant sons of
Maryland and stand in defence of your no.
bic Judge. 1t is parallel case to that
of the Bishops of England who threw
themselves in tho breach in order to res
cue the liberties of England from the
grasp of the fool-tyrant James the Sec
ond. Their judges, the tools of the mon
arch, were willing, if they dared, to hand
them over to the power Of their mercil IS
tyrant, but the indignant trowns ana stern
murmurs of the people were seen and
heard. | imagine | can almost hear the
simple but pregnant song of the hardy
sons of Cornwall, as it echoed and re-ech
oed from the depths and chambers oftheir
mines
"a nd shall T-elawpev Sia ard chsU T-eIaVney