Evening star., 1867-04-10
MARYLAND

MARYLAND votes to-day upon the question
whether or not 10 hold a State Con yention ID
the end Of repeating the features of her Consti-
tution OF 1854, adopted by loyal votes In order
TO guard against the Yernicious influence OF
the poI ton Of her people openly or secretly
afiIiating with the rebellion. Delegates 20 the
proposed Convention are also to be voted for,
TO act IN case the majority Of the votes cast are
in favor Of the measure. This is, of course.
the work Of the States recent Legislature
which was largely in strong sympathy with
the rebellion. To make sure of their work
they enfranchIsed not only all the avowed reb-
els at heart who had not courage. to risk their
CaTCSs, with arms in their hands but aI,o
every Marylan who left the State. took up
arms against the Union and participated in the
slaughter of its defenders, &c. The votes OF
these two classes, added to those OF the States
wesk-kneed Unionists who lack brain and
nerve necessary TO enable them to live up 10
nePla'n requirements OF the times. will doubt
less show an apparent MAJORITY for the
scheme, IN view of the fact that a large
msJorty of MaryIand's white staauch
Cniosists wash their hands of the whole
thIng because II is palpabIy unlawful
~ called (and, therefore. reyolutionaryD and
will rot vote; while the colored UnIonists are
one and all deprived of the right 70 vote on
the question. Few outside Of Maryland Will
be found who do not hold that her loyal blacks
are far better entitled TO the right TO vote in
such case, than her open and active stay-at
home sympahiZers with the rebellion; TO saw
nothing Ot her returned rebel soldiers, who by
the by, are 20 be placed In all the ofRces of the
States new militia, If the proposed changes in
Its constitution be cOnsummated. If submitted
70 vote. even OF the whites OF the STATE onIy
ve believe the proposed new constitution will
be rejected as the influences that will suraIv
prevail In the convention will be more thor
ougbly retroactive and more deyotedIy A.
tached 10 The dead earcase OF slavery, than any
20 be found at this late day in any other Stats
OF the Union, Kentucky not excepted. They
will endeavor to make provision for the futurs
payment OF all losses of slaves in that STATE bv
taxatlen Of the labor of its people in time 10
come and they VIII insist upon reInjecting
into the States organic law every provision OF
her former constitutions sdiscrimlnating ng against
her laboring whites in favor of her smal,
class OF late Shareholders and their depend. :.
ehts, and also every provision that was de-
signed 10 keep her colOred population in utter
ignorance and in the enjoyment of no more
rights and privileges OF citizenship than the
horses, dogs and cattle. There are numerous
reasons why this iniquitous and unjust effort
10 re-eIslaye both white and black labor IN
Maryland-for it is neither more nor less
cannot succeed. Among them stands fsrth
prominently the fact that the action of the
Legislature providing for the convention il
glaringly revolutionary; while the conclusions
OF the convention will deny 10 the States col.
ored citizens their right of entire political and
legal cO-equality. For these two good and
suftcIent causes these conclusions will be ig
ANONYMOUSLY set aside by Congress when the
time arrives for that body TO pronounce on the
character OF the instrument this retroactive
convention may work out. Marylans prom
erty- -helders, taxpayers and business men ara
10 be the ultimate only losers by this insane
attempt 10 tie The State for a quarter of a CEN
tury TO the cause of secession and the late re-
osliion. and - keep her under the control OF
ner late siaveholding class, who to day are by
no means as competent to advance her perma.
nent interests as are her black population, who
are evincing energy, industry, and a dispe.
sItien 10 improve in every desirable way, tast
should put 10 shame those who having former
ly owned them '-by the grace Of God" now
SEEK through this proposed convention, to
keep them, in slavery in all things but in