Maryland free press., 1867-03-21
JAMESTOWN, ND.
Thursday, March I'll, 1857.
The Convention Ain


II We noticed in our last the uassapa ot
III bill calling Convention to reform the
Constitution of the State This bill pass.
ed the House of Delegates by more than s
.tSo-thirds majority some wccks since. and
on Saturday, March 9th, it passed the Sen.
ate by a vote of 10 yeas to nays. T.. Z
chair { Lieut.. Gov. Cox decided that the
bill was lost, two-thirds of the members
elect not having vote.l therefor, and read
in support Of his decision this provision of
the Constitution; "Wheneyer tyo-thirds
of The members elect tn each branch of the
General assembly shall think it necessary
to call conyention to revise, AMI amend
this Constitution" &C. Mr.. E4rle appeal
ed from the decision Of the chair, an it
was reversed BY vote ofll to {. Mr..
Aenkle day or TWO afterwards moved a
reconsideration of the b II which was car.
,riei, when it was lail aside Informally.
1t has been ince intimatei by soma, that
.this is the last we shall hear of the Con-
.,FcntiQn bill, in the present Legislature.
Although the period for the adjournm en- t
of that bo1y is rapidly approaching, with
out any further action having been taken
ppm this bill, yet we arc loath to believe
Ias a Legislature which began its work
30 well, intended to faish its labors by such
n lame and impotent conclusion as the de-
feat of the Convention bill. The people
demand its passage at the hands of the
Legislature. their servants, and should
their corruption or c1war'lice cause its ls-
feat now, the pres mt Legislature had far
better never have assembled What TIA
body has done, since its meeting in Janu-
ary, is all very. we'll in its way as intro
ductory to, and preparatory for the great
Measure of the call of a C ,nven.ion: but
without Convention, all that the Legis
lature has done. amounts in practical i'm
'portance to just nothing at all, EXCEPT a
useless expenditure of the resources of he
g. State, violation of all the pied res, cx-
press anl implied, under which the mem
hers of the Legislature were elected to the
! positions which they Row fill, al dis
graceful and contemplate exhibition Of
their own pasillanimity or corruption.
or both. 1t is true that they have passed
tbs acknowledgements bill: bat what avais
it to res Q 10 oar Ia ely di,franvhiscd citi-
xens the ri ght to vote all hold OIL -, when
all opportunity for the exercise of those
rights is taken away from them, aud the;I
anprincipiel ana corrupt op2rassors fir
nearly every Office in :he State. anl arc
now laughing in their sleeves at the dss-
tardly timiiity of those who they think
IRE about to beat retreat at t. e very M
maut when victory is within their grasp?
Ye cannot be;ieye that .tkts'Lagislsture
yswill. .stultifys and disgrace itself by
any such course; and in the name of the
outraged. and insaltcd masses Of MARYLAND
we demand of our Senators that they re-
dress ow crying wrongs, AMI vim lica C
fhsnssetces from the Sian lerous i'm u.atiors
that haveab,en thrown out against .them
by the wretehes who have been fattening
off of the price of their own in:qaity
They can only do this By the passage Of
the bill for calling Convention, anli this
We would urge upon them forthwith to 10.
Let them no longer daily AMI hesitate, but
m ,rch up boldly AMI like n,sn, to tho per-
.f,rmance of that which two-thrds Of the
people of Maryland demand a. tn .ir hands.
lest they be rock >nel among the num- or
IT those That keep the w9rl OF promise
% Our ear, AMI break it to oar hope"
Asto the rawlings AMI threats Of the
knavis!l and fanatcal crew who nov bold
possession of the Offices which of right be
long to, AMI shoul be tie free gift Of the
neople of the State. we shrald pass them
by like the idle wind. Tacy have OBJ
tlined these positions, by frall 'anl OPP
preston, and every moment that they con-
tinue in the enjoyment of their i'll gotten
;spoils; adds an additional weight to the fet-
tiers of the people whom they have robbed
aud outrag "a. Let them rave, and let
tbem vapor and threaten! let them hold
another Convention if they please AMI let
.them' appeal to Congress for ratif;a-
ton OF whatever enormities they may az
tempt to parpetratc! We believe that a
desperate and final struggle between Con
Seryatism and Republican Institutions on
the one SIDE, and Radio ,lism an Anarchy !
on the other, is as sure to take place |
upon this continent az tn, SIN shines in |
the heavens! 1t is only question OF time,
and if the struggle must c,me, why, the |
sooner the better! We cannot peer b.
hind the dark veil, and predict with GER
tainty the future, bat W. believe al know
that God is just, and that sooner or later
crime is punished aud virtue rewarded and |
are therefore hopeful and confident as to
the final result. Que thing is very GER
tain, we shall never gain strength by tim
idity and inaction. Hercules could net
overcome the Lernaean hydra until he
etrangled the monster in his bold and fear
full grasp. Let us learn a lesson from the
teachings Of classic antiquity, and be ready
10 play the part Of Hercules wheristhc o.
easiOn and opportunity are Offered.