Year: 1864




Both Houses Of the Legislature Of Maryland we're duly
organized on Tburday a.t Hon. THOMAS H. KEMP.
OF Caroline county is the Speaker Of the House Of Dele
gates, and Hon JOHN g. SELLMAH, Of Anne Arundel
county. President Of the Senate. 0#s
Ex-Governor THOMAS II. Hicks has been nom mated
by tho Union Legislative to gu the vacancy 10 the
United States Senate which he fills by the appoint
meDt Of tho Governor Mr.. Fowler, the present Stale
Treasurer nominated for reelection to that Office
and II. p. Jordan was chosen for reelection State
Librarian. 4.


The message Of the Hon. A. w BRADFORD, Governor
Of the Stat6 was laid before both Houses OF The Legsa
tnre on Thur sday. 1t is long document, giving full
and very favorable exposition OF the financial and otter
affairs Of the State The Governor advocates the calling
Of State Convention for the amendment Of tho COnsu
ton and expresses himself in favor Of the gradual abo
tion Of slavery the State We have space only 10 insert
what he saysn reference TO The recent military operations
in Maryland


THE ENLIsTMENr OF SLAVES. 4


feel it to be my duty to call to your attention to sub
ect which for tune past has greatly agitated aud
alarmed the people In several Of the counties of State
aud caused many complaints and appeals to for inter-
position by Of the best and most faithful Of c
zens About four months since recruiting officers for the
rst time made their appearance among the slave popua
the State. with the avowed purpose of enstpg in
the military all colored persons Of the required
aud condition VINO would present themselves. No
ders from the headquarters OF the army authorizing such
proceeding had been made kuown and rules ss-sled
xst establishing any certain course OF proceeding
The recruiting officer exercisrd apparently arbitrary
discretion stripping and leaving others
untouched taking frequently the slaves Of whose
loyalty had been questioned, 10 when
these themselves absen in tho army navy
struggling against the aud leaving those Of others
whose want OF loyalty equally notorious They FREE
uenty took not only such fit for the service but
many others who were entirely unfit, aud who when
brought the rend another part of the State
were turned adr. aud in most Lost both to the Gu
vernment and their owners rs ~ s..


complained Of these proceedings to The President Of
the United States, and informed that orders upon
the subject had then been gvsn and that il under
consideration After the lapse month, the practice
st continuing order relating to it yet appearing and
a0nnued complaints from loyal owners still reaching me,
Addressed written commun alton To the President re-
monstratng against The practice aud invoking bis inter
position This led 10 another conference with him and the
Secretary of War, the result Of which, thought
the suspensi, Of the practice until an opportunity cud
offered 10 the to voluntarily offer their slaves to
the Government at certain rate Of compensation and
meet by that its supposed necesstes But the
suspension did not take place. and the practice still CONT
cruitiug officers. Hl..,.r a+


You will readily perceive the gist OF the objection which
loyal citizens made to these proceedings IL not
much that they object to coored troops for they ready
and willing every be bis color what II may
is subject military duty arrayed against this rebellion
II s that they to the surrender Of the property
any extent that may be to strengthen the
Of the Government in the conflict n which il engaged
They admit that when proper emergency exists, II it
csnnOt be otherwise met their property may be impressed
for that purpose; but il such emergency th
claim not only that they shall be paid for property sezed
without delay impressment shall
be- 80 guarded embrace all alike, and to avoid the
wanton useless removal OF It, and that such proceed
ngs shall not be conducted according TO the arbitrary wh
Of every subaern who, by carrying OF those evidently
unfit for proves that the of the army
10 frequently the least of bis considerations.


IL persons subject, within the provisions Of
the Of Congress- to military duty these acts have
cribed the mode Of enforcing that duty they should be
then enrolled and drafted hers are but they have not
enrolled simply because they have not been made
subject TO that duty reference tn the conncript law will
show II then they subject to eexure, II 10 only
property and 10 NEE emergency aud then their seizure
their enlistment should be by the arbitrary process
noticed, but governed by such fixed rule Would
make all alike subject to the burden and allow no dis
crimDson either between individuals loyal States.


know not that you possess any power in the premises
but feel bound TO s the subject before you With slate
ment Of the have fet it 10 be NY duty to pursue
and that you may be more fully possessed thereof here
with transmit copy OF my letter TO the President the
subject to which have referred.


One Of the conditions upon which mpensaon has been
promised IN the OF slaves enlisted IN the
hat deed of manumiss0n shall be executed pre-
lmnsry tn its payment To rbable the owner 10 comply
with that condition recommend the immediate repeal of
the AID Of the 66fh article Of the code which pro
hIbits such man0nssion.


MILITARY IsTERFEREEcE WITH ELECTIONS. n





avail myse Of this to advert certain event
connected with recent election which deserve your
most serious consideration. 1t would be much more
agreeable 10 avoid oil ausion to them l cannot,
however So nty with my 81 what due
to the rights and honor OF the State b the Office which
by the favor Of its citizens Loccapy oI may with sim
cerity addto the Of the Union itself my opinion.
30 intimately blended with the Of the law and Con-
stuton that any outrage inflicted, and especially n ts
same upon thom, necessarily to some extent recoils
upon it. aa


few days before that election military order was
issued from the army headquarters at BALTIMORE which IN
comma Of the military authority. the lsss pre-
pared for any such order from the fact that though 10
frequent personal communication with the military
horities Of the department. had received
OF sach proceeding any supposed n-cessty
for it, In that part Of the State against which the
ment seemed 10 be psrtcaary directed (the Fact
ern shore there would 10 have been lose necessity
as there certainly less sembance of authority than
eisewbers for whilst martial law had been proclaimed
had been repealed up to tho day II election upon the
Eastern Shore il had bsen proclaimed at all
You will be furnished with copy Of this order and II
not necessary further to rece Than state gene
raj terms It be executed by the military aided
BY the provost msrshals They to arrest voters
whom they might consder disloya IN approaching hang
inQ about polls prescribed form Of oath furnsh-
ed without taking which one, IL challenged could
vote and the several commanding ocers were charged
TO report to headquarters any Judge Of election who sboud
refuse to administer that oath to aid in carrying out
that order The President modified the first part of the
order on The Monday preceding the election but that
modification seemed to receive no attention from those
entrusted with it execution and wee n some instances
q. A