The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-01-14

worse graded, dangerously bridged, and gen.
orally unsafe and uncomfortable. Good roads
ere .he avc::;.c :;cles OF commercial AM,
agricultural wealth, and as we live in an age
of progress and improvement, if we do not
keep pace with other States in all that tends
to our own advancement, we will make no
progress towards its attainment.
l would impress this matter upon your
serious attention, and as the present system
we have is so radically defective as to re-
quire an entirely new one, | would urge that
if such nIot possibly be perfected at this
session, you will at least refer it to a commits
sion of experienced and interested gentlemen
who shall prepare and submit plan to the
next General Assembly. But few matters OF
greater importance to the material interests
and enhanced assessment OF the State can
claim your consideration, and the best that
can be done should be promptly done by
you
In regard to the Fifteenth Amendment TO
be submitted to this Legislature for ratilica-
ton or rejection, the following remarks among
others occur:
1t becomes the duty of the respective En-
ecntives of the several States where that
amendment has not yet been acted on, to call
special attention to this grave subject. In
no State more than in Maryland is this duty
more imperative. The object of the fifteenth
amendment is to raise the black man to a
full political level with the white man. 1t
originated with party, and was devised as
q partisan measure of public policy. Does
the negro forget that in the sovereign Consti-
tutional Cony enton of 1867, in Maryland,
those disabilities of his race which the con.
vention of 1864 bad passed over in cold me-
lect were removed, and the right of the col
ored man to testify in the courts sanctioned
by the former convention? And that the
'black CODE" as it was styled, was repealed
by democratic legislation in this State in
other party had failed to do? The present
constitution of Maryland, for which we are
indebted to the democratic party has forever
prohibited slavery in the State, and that, too,
i'll face of the significant fact that the consti-
tuition of 1864 framed and ratified by the ne
gros friends, had failed to proclaim the same
constitutional guaranty to the African race.
II the negro seeks his political amelioration
through the sole instrumcntality of one party,
he should guard well the approaches to ali
assallabe points initiating against his claims,
for he may be sure that by the very condi-
tons of hissapplication all otter parties will
be more jealous in the examination of his
civil credentials.
The broad ground ofthe right of each State
to judge of the qualifications of its voters is
then asserted, which ofcourse will secure the
defeat of the obnoxious amendment
In conclusion the Governor desires to i'm
press upon the Legislature great caution in
entailing additional burthcns upon the poo.
pie" in regard to appropriations. These are
but few of the more prominent matters dis
cussed in the message, which is characterized
by the careful detail with which every sub.
jcct touched upon is investigated and venti-
lated Altogether it shows that the affairs of
the State, in the hands of the present execu-
tive have received a practical and pains-tak-
inginvcstigation that will go far to point the
way to all the needed legislation, and tighten
the labors of the representatives of the people
to no small extent.
Whether all the suggestions made shall be
adopted or not, the majority of such of them
as concern the State at large should, and
doubtless will, receive the early attention of
the Legislature.