Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-01-08
MARYLAND.
Interesting Extract from the
Late Message OF Gov
ernOr swami.

| tempted to be forced upon Maryland had
already, under the operation of the mill
tary bill, seized upon ten of the South
ern States, and the untutored African,
hardly able to understand the meaning
or use of the ballot, led by itinerant ad-
venturers and fanatics, was charged with
the responsible duty of reorganizing
their governments, and at the same time
securing his own power and supremacy
in the future. How faithfully the work
has been performed, SO far as it has pro-
gressed may be inferred from the pres
ent degraded condition of our Southern
brethren. The picture is too revolving
to be viewed without emotion by every
true lover of free institutions. The
American people cannot fail, sooner or
later, to visit with censure and robuke
the revolutionary leaders who, in viola
ton of the plainest guarantees secured
by the Constitution, and the sacred trust
reposed in them, have brought so much
odium and discredt upon the country
The sad condition Of the Southern
States at this moment, under negro
domination, forced upon them by agents
of the Federal power, will present a
grave subject for future adjustment,
when the Constitution shall be once
more recognized as the supreme law of
the land. How far State Constitutions
thus formed will stand the test ofjudicial
scrutiny must be determined by the
proper tribunals, when calmer and wiser
council shall prevail, and our beloved
country relieved from the restraints
under which she is now suffering.
The Constitution provides that every
State shall be guaranteed republican
form Of government Among those who
sanctioned this fundamental principle
was the State Of Maryland. She was one
of the high contracting parties to this
contract, under which she has so happily
lived and prospered. The Federal Union,
as il came from the hands of the Con-
yention, was not absolute and unlimited
| in its powers. 1t was not intended to be
| independent of the will of the people, from
whom all its powers we're derived. The
! State &c MARYLAND never ~esid here e:-
tered into this compact if her act had
been construed as surrendering all power
into the hands of an irresponsible, con-
solidated oligarchy. Her State govern
ment was a subsistng institution al the
period of the adoption of the Federal
Constitution. 1t was isdorsed by the
men of 'S9 az republican in form. She
| fought her battles to perpetuate its fea-
lures. 1t has undergone no material
change since that could affect its repub-
lican character. No State, or combina-
ton of States, had any right to make
constitution for Maryland. This high
prerogative was left with her own people
when the Federal Union was established.
1t was among the reserved rights which
the people never designed to part with.
The assumption of this power by Con-
gress would have been the subsection of
the most sacred principle of republican
government, which the Radical party
profess to have so much at heart, and
would have ended in its decay and final
dissolution. Maryland is not more OBJ
noxious to censure than her sister States
in the exercise of her legitimate State
powers She has been charged with in
equality in the apportionment of her
representation, and with discrimination
against the negro. race In withholding
from them the right of suffrage, Do
these Justify the interference of Con-
press and the violent breaking up of her
government The right Of State to
regulate her domestic affairs, and to con-
troll the privilege of suffrage has never
been questioned until this new era. But
has the Federal government oonformed,
in all respects, to the required standard Z
Is her representation in the Senate Of the
United States equal2 Is her bill subject
ing ten States to military control, sus-
pending the writ of habeas corpus in
time Of, profound peace, and blotting
from existence every semblance OF civil
authority republican in principlef 7
Is the dsfranchisement of the white
race, and the transfer OF the
whole South to the control Of the ne
gro, virtually throwing the balance OF
power into his hands, and neutralizing
| by A minority of negro voters the great
States of the North republican in form
or principle2 But how is it with our sis
ter States2 Are they so perfect or free
from defects, so purely republican, as to
confne this movement to the few Border
States who have heretofore escaped the
fury of this ultra party? These schemes
of unbridled usurpation have reached
their point Of elimination. No party
can long survive such efforts to retain
power. The struggle for negro supre-
macy in this country must end In defeat
II would be lamentable, indeed, if, after
four wears of war and desolation, unsur-
psssed in the worlds history, the Ameri-
can people should find themselves en-
barked. at this most critical juncture, in
a fruitless strife to set aside the cousti-
tutional guarantees for which they have
been struggling, and even TO blot out the
existence of States in an effort TO throw
the balance of power in the future work
ing of our system into the hands Of the
African race.
The change which has been wrought
by the verdict Of the people IN the late
elections, certain TO be followed by more
overwhelming expressions Of the public
sentiment, will enable us to deal more
adyi,ediy hereafter with this negro issue,
and will point to enlarged educational
facilities. and the security of person and
nronrrtv. In lieu Of amalgamation aud
forced equality with the white race, as
,he ouly privileges which, in justice TO
themselves, as well as the peaceful work
ing Of our system, can be advantageOusly
conferred upon the negro race. So soon
as this principle is fairly recognized
there will be an end Of strife and discord,
and not before. The negro, no longer
sustained and pampered BY the Freed
mems Bureau, withdrawn from the ex-
citing field Of politics, and thrown upon
his owe resources, will glide naturally
into habits Of thrift and industry, aud
,hAwipiug out Of States BY the total sub
| - 81 .hair Local nnNernmeuis. ln the