The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-12-17
FROM HON. HENRY w. ARCHER

BEL AIR, 9Th December, 1875.
Jas. 4. L. Mcclure, Esq, Secretary Of Mt
Erecutice Committee Of the Democratic Par.
ty Of MARYLAND:
MY DEAR SIR: am in receipt of yours of the
S0th November inviting me 10 be present at q
meeting of the party at the Maryland Institute,
on the evening of Wednesday, the Sth of the
month, and have been in hopes that l might be
able to attend and confer with my fellow Demo
Gratis in person. But finding it impossible for
me to do so, take this opportunity to say to
them through you, that think the occasion
requires the earnest consideration of those who
control the organization Of the Democratic par
ty of the State, and haye its interest especially
in charge.
The result of the recent election for Governor
and other State officers has been highly crafty
ing to our people in this section of the State.
Whatever may have been our personal prefer
ences for other aspirants, VIC have recognized
Governor Carroll and his associates upon our
State ticket as the legitimate and duly nomi-
mated candidates of the party, and as gentlemen
Of high and unblemished character, in all res
poets worthy of and entitled to our confidence
and support and being assured that they have
received the sutfrages OF Il large majority OF the
legal voters of the State, we claim for them, and
for the Democratic party whom they represent,
the fruits of the victory they have achieved; and
we expect of the Executive Committee that no
proper efforts will be spared to defeat all at
tempts that may be made TO rob us of our vic
tory.
So far MS we are concerned, aud 50 far as our
knowledge extends, the late election was tui rly
conducted. There may have been some irrcgu-
larities, which are incident TO all elections, and
some illegal voting on both sides, in both town
and country, which probably is unavoidable UNI
der the most perfect system; but we arc not dis.
posed 10 accept without many grains of allow.
unce, the &c pdrte and probably greatly eXagger-
ated statements of interested adyersaries, and
will require strict and legal proof befoie We can
give them credeDce, or condemn and punish the
parties, accused as they would certainly deserve
10 be punished if the charges were true We can
not, however, suppose it possible that such a
state of facts can be shown TO exist, as would
justify the counting out of the entire vote of
Baltimore city, and the practical disfranchise-
ment of all her citizens, comprising as they do,
SO largea proportion of the population OF the
State.
But as grave charges have been made, it would
not, in my judgment, be proper for the Demo
cratic party to interpose any obstacle to full
and fair investigation. Its claim to popular
support rests not only upon the soundness of
its principles, but upon ts honesty in the prac-
tical application Of them The Democratic par
ty is the great party of reform and good govern.
ment 1t has the honor oil having heretofore
redeemed our State from the thraldom of Know
nothingism and Black Republcanism, by both
of which our people were successfully Cypress
ed, and has recently achieved victory over the
| combined remnants OIL DOln these nOtoTlOub par
| ties, from whose success Gf they had succeeded)
there was reason TO apprehend renewal of all
| the wrongs and outrages from which the Demo.
cratic party has rescued the people of Maryland
And now while our party stands pledged to in
vestigate and correct the many and great abuses
which have made the Republican party of the
| Union infamous, it cannot afford, and believe
is not disposed to ignore any abuses that may
| be found to exist nearer home.
| cannot doubt that full and fair investiga
| ton will show, not only that our candidates are
free from all completely in the alleged miscon-
duct of others, but that they have received Q
majority of the legal votes, and have been, as
the official returns show, fairly elected. Sucl
an investigation may serve, moreover, to poin'
out the required reforms and amendments IL
our registry and election laws, which we all de
sire, but can only hope to obtain through Tho
the Democratic party. Lei the attention OF ou
leading men be directed earnestly, not only tc
the punishment of those who may have violat
ed existing laws, but to the attainment of sucl
reforms, as experience has shown to be needful
and the future of our party will be bright ant
glorious, as its history in the past.
With my regards to yourself, and your fellow
members of the Committee, am
Yours, truly, HENRY w. ARCHER.