Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-03-26
i)ortG obaccoGimes
PORT TOBACCO:
Friday Morning. March 26, 1885
Compensation for Slave Property.

Mr.. CAN'T, of Calvert county, repub-
licen member of the House, has made the
only movement which has thus far been
made in the Legislature towards carrying
out the plain requirement of the present
constitution, that the Legislature shall
adopt proper measures to obtain from the
General Government compensation for
slave property taken away in this State
during the civil war and distribute the
same eqitably among the persons entitled.
Mr.. CAN'T introduced in the House, some
weeks ago, joint resolution calling on
ourrrepresentatives in Congress TO take the
proper steps looking to that end, but the
resolution has thus far been allowed to lie
upon tie table without action, a2d the
session is now so far advanced that there
is little probability of any action being
taken upon so importent a subject.
We think it is to be much regretted
that the session has been allowed to pass
without action being taken in matter of
such vital Importance to large number
of the people of the State, which action
has been so plainly required 10y the con-
s.:tution of the State When members
of the Legislature have exhibited so much
regard for the letter of the constitution as
to feel bound in conscience to an exact
compliance with the provisions for call
Of constitutional convention, it is ditti-
cult to see how they can so complacently
reconcile themselves to an entire disregard
to the not less mandatory provisions OF
the same instrument upon a question
which so directly and so gravely concerns
the material interests Of a large number
of the people of this State, and in which
Maryland has everything to gam and
nothing te lose.
Impressed with the magnitude Of the
question, as it affects the. people of this
county upon whom he burden of the great
wrong SO heavily fell, we have spared no
efforts, personally and through the medium
ofour columns to direct the attention OF the
present Legislature to such grave con-
sideralion of it as its Importance deserves.
At our earnest solicitation some Of the
more prominent members, including our
own Senator, Mr.. Edelen, undertook the
investigation of the question with a view
of fixing in their own minds what the
action of the General Government upon
the question would probably be. This re-
suited in the mater being referred to the
present Attorney General, MIR. Roberts, for
his opinion OF what would be the opinion
of the Supreme Court, and to know whether
he could give these gentlemen any excuse
to their constituents for not taking any &C
ton in the matter Mr.. Roberts, We learn
after considering the points raised by the
TINES, replied by complimenting the
TINES, but at the same time expressing
his belief that the 14th amendment would
be construed to be bar to the claim.
As an offset to this opinion of Mr. Ro-
berts, it may be proper for us to state that
the late Richard I. Merrick, an old prac-
titioner before the Supreme Court and a
constitu ional lawyer of national reputa-
ton, after a consideration of the same
points as raised by the TINES, expressed
the opinion that the matter would presen
grave question fer the consideration of
the Supreme Court, and that in his opin
4 L. ~.
following the logic of the slaughter house
cases, to avoid such construction of the
4th section OF the 14:h amendment as to
exclude the loyal border STATES from its
operation That Mr. Merrick entertained |
and expressed this opinion We have abun-
dant proof; and that Gen. B. F. Butler
entertained similar opinion is evidenced
by his recent letter to Mr.. Reeder, of st.
Mary's county, which has been going the
rounds of the Southern Maryland press
With the opinion of these two eminent
lawyer favorable to the validity of the
claim, the adverse opinion of Mr.. Roberts
will furnish poor excuse for members OF
the Legislature to give to their constitu-
en's who have been so gravely wronged
by their inaction.
There is another ground upon which
members of the Legislature express reluct
ance TO engage in the agitation of this
question, and that IS the inexpediency
from party standpoint of present agi-
tation OF the subject o. compensation tor
slaves. Some members are said to be
morbidly sensitive upon that point and
this is the ground which the cons tuition
al doubt is in many cases, perhaps, logged
in to cover. Now we believe the TIMES
has as much real consideration tor the true
interests of the Democratic party as any
member of the Legislature and would as
reluctantly do anything to injure it. But
we really fail to see that any serious in
jury could result to the Democratic party
of the country by the Legislature of Mary
land complying with the plain mandate
of the State constitution, especially when
the resolution embsdying such action
originates with Republican member and
is supported Gas We have assurance it
would beg by the Republicans of the Le-
gislature.
When the matter is presented in Con-
gress, if it shall be the opinion Of the
Democrats of that body tina. its present
consideration would be detrimental to the |
interests of the party in the country, then
it could be allowed to sleep in the pigeon
holes of committee room until some fu-
ture more suspicious time for its consid-
Grafton. However that might be, the mi
tial step would have been taken and the
Legislature wsuld have discharged its