The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-05-25
The Cecil Wing.
ELKTON, MAY rs, 1867.
Representation.


Amongst the proceedings of the Conven.
ton, now sitting at Annapolis, the following
order was offered by Mr.. Hayden, which was
adopted:
Mr Hayden offered an order that the Committee on
the Basis of Representation In the Houses of the Sen
eral Assembly and pportionment inquire into the sub
jact OF making the whole people of the State the basis
Of representation in the House of Delegates and aDpor
tioning representatives on said basis.
This is right as far as it goes. There are
$50, 900 colored persons in Maryland. Does
Mr.. Hayden intend to represent them in the
Legislature and still deny them the right to
participate in electing the delegates that are
intended to represent them? If so, this is
an attempt to establish the old slavery re.
CINE again. The means by which the slave
power managed to control legislation former
ly, and Cypress the whites byvotng for, and
representing in the General Assembly, the
colored people who had no part in the choice
Of the men sent to Annapolis to represent
them. By this system of legislation the lit
tie borough counties Of southern Maryland,
where the slave lords resided, were enabled
to control the whole power of the State to
the ruin, in great measure, Of its most
important interests By this system Of class
legislature, in which class of aristocrats
voted for, and represented the colored popu,
lation, every other interest was made sub
scrvient to the slave interest; and enter
prise, mechanical and manufacturing, driven
from the State by the jealousy Of the slave
power. The slave power is now abolished,
but its proselytes and representatives still
live, and having learned nothing from the
lessons of the great rebellion, are about to
try the project of reinstating the old order
of things when those ex-slave lords held
sway in Maryland, as in the other southern
States, and owned the chattels which they
telgned to represent The attempt is now
being made by the old rebel party, which
Andy johnson, and his man Friday. Swami.
succeeded by treachery. in restorying to
power, to turn back the State from the adj.
vanced position where the Union men had
placed her, into the old ruts, deep worn bv
the machinery of slavery. Among the most
potent auXilaries in this work is the repre-.
sentation of the great body of the colored
people of the State by the bitterest enemies
that the government ever had-the rebels of
the southern counties. The time for repre-.
senting colored men and denying them the
right of choosing their representatives has,
to nse common expression, played out
The secessionists of Maryland are not again
to hold sway in the State by representing
that class to rivet whose chains tighter they
aided to turn the country upside down.
Henceforth the oolored men Of Maryland.
as of every other Of the Southern States.
shall assist in choosing the men who repre-
sent them in Legislative assemblies. The fiat
has gone forth. Such is the policy of the
great Republican national party, and hand.
tol OF traitors, restored to power by trcach.
cry, might as well attempt to stem the tide
Of public opinion, as n rush the turbld cur
rent Of the Mississippi.