Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1885-01-16

PIC. -Atteuliou Was Ut tHe Satue tltnc calf
ed to the fact that no action had ever been
taken by the Legislature looking to a car
rying out of this provision of the constitu-
ton and it was urged that some action
ought to be taken in the matter by the
next Legislature.
| We are sorry to observe that our breth-
rem of the State press have not thus far,
given the matter that attention and con-
sideration which it seems to US to deserve.
We did not enter upon the discussion of
this question without mature considera-
ton and conference with abe and expert
enced lawyers, and We do no. propose to
abandon it as long as there is any hope Of
| finding a remedy for the wrong. We hope
our contempol aries ofthe press, and especi-
ally of these tide-water counties, where
the wrong worked the greatest injury will
see the propriety of cooperating in an
agitation of this matter in such way as
to bring it prominently to the attention
of the next Legislature.
The reason that no action has ever been
taken by the Legislature in thi. matter
will probably be found in the fact that al
most continuously since the adoption Of
the present constitution the white people
of the Underwater counties. who are most
interested in such action. have not had
any representation 10 the General Assem-
bly,. There is no reason, however, that
this should be made q party question, or
indeed race question. A provision could
be, aud in our Judgment ought to be made
in the resolution providing for asking this
compensation of the Federal government,
that in the distribution of it the freedmen
themselves should receive an equitable
share. 1t was great wrong to m,ny of
these people to turn them out upon the
world, penniless and wi bout protection.
To such as were young and hearty this in
justice was not so apparent, but to such
as were intirm, or superannustei, The de-
privation of the protection and support
which their masters owed them was
wrong to them as great as WAS the depri-
walton OF the master Of his constitutional
property in the service OF his younger and
athletic slaves. Such = pIA.isinn, while
equitable and just, would secure the unit
ed exertion Of the Southern Maryland de-
legation in the Assembly toward a com
pliance with this clause of the cons itu-
ton.
Indeed there is no reason TO believe that
if the proper status of this matter had been
heretofore called to the attention Of the
delegates that have represented these coun-
ties in the Legislature, that the matter
would have been allowed 10 slumber as it
has. We have been re iably informed that
DR.. VIM. R. Wilmer. when a candidate for
Congress in this district four years ago,
on the Republican ticket in opposition to
Gen. Chapman, pledged himself to use his
best efforts in Congress to secure compen-
sation for the emaucipated slaves; and
he made the point in his canvass that, a.
he would be identified with the Republi-
can administration, his efforts in that be-
half would he more potent and effica"ious
than would any efforts that Gen. Chapman
might make. Now here is the recent in
dorsement of high Republican au' hority
of the end we are now advocating, and We
have no doubt that now when DR.. Winner
and other fair minded Republicans are
made aware that the proper channel thro'
which this question should be presented
to Congress Is not the individual exertion
of one member of Congress, but the joint
resolution OF the General Assembly Of the
State, that their cooperation in the me as
ure may be confidently relied on.
We are aware that some Democrats in
the State are averse to a present agitation
Of this matter, on the ground that it will
have a tendency TO embarrass the new
Democratic administration at Washington
After careful consideration we confess that
we cannot see the full force of this objec-
ton. Such claim, coming from the loyal
State of Maryland, if it be found to be
meritorious. could not be brought within
the odium of'paying Southern war claims
The only embarrassment that could result
lies in the fact that the people Of Maryland
have so long, under Republican admins
trations, allowed this claim to slumber
and now for the first time, W hen the Dem
ocrats have gotten in power, have awoke
to realization Of the justice Of their
claim. This it must be admitted is u,for-
tunate, but this inaction can be explained
A Republican administration has never adj
Indicated the claim adversely and there is
no reason to suppose, il the measure re-
ceives the support Of Republicans rs we'll
as Democrats in the Safe Legislature that
it would not find sufficient recognition
among Republicans in Congress to divest
it of a partisan character.
But whatever might be said upon this
point. there seems to be an unavoidable
duty incumbent on the next Legislature
to bring this matter to the attention of the
Federal Congress in the man ner they were
commanded to do by the constitution of
1867 Only one more Legis' ature will in
tervene before another constitutional con-
vention will probably assemble, and it is
of the highest importance that the people
of the State, when they again assemble to
remodel their organic law, should know
how far the Federal government has re-
cognized their decision oftwenty years ago,
that slavery in Maryland was abolished,
not by the people of the State, but by "the
policy and authority Of the United Stafes.'''