Year: 1867

1HE LAND INCUhdDLEc'


For some time past an ex-Rebel Democratic
Convention has held session in Maryland for
the purpose of revising the State Constitu-
ton. The good that it has done IS
not enough to excite the Christian
world to Thanksgiving and gentlemen who
have been accustomed to speculate upon the
flesh and blood of q class of their present
fellow citizens need not be morbdly exercised
We did expect that the assembled Philistinism
of Maryland would at least have sense
enough to admit that Slavery is dead, ana that
colored people are entitled to the benefits OF the
law, and thus content themselves with
Bunsbyish recognition of matters beyond dis
pute. The fact that Slavery has been swept
away must nave rested on Mount Ararat
so little vitality does the patrlarchal INSTITUTION
possess at the present day. Yet the re-ahnouhce-
ment of this fact before the congregated IN
yeteracy at Annapolis must we grant, have peen
provoking. Here, perhaps, were hundreds
of men who had owned slaves, every
one Eof whom left his master
without pay or apology, and fought for the
Union. These bereaved man-sellers deem
that they have right reason once more to pub
licly snifle over the loss of the money value
of that lost part of their riches which
has legs. We have no notion that
the Government will at any time find
itself able to set the bad example OF
unduly cOmpensating those owners who made
Slavery serve secession, and who, OF course
reaped nothing whatever from emancipation.
The idea of paying a lot of petriiied gentlemen
for accepting at this twelfth hour the truth OF
thedecaogue does seem preposterous Equally
absurd would it be to give bounty to the
perfdy which triumphs over the loyal men OF
Maryland, to pay to Swami Democrats SO many
hundred dollars per head for black Radi-
cal voters We cannot acqulesce IN
the doctrine that one party IN
the State of Maryland owns the other, and we
are sure that the minor party is in no way
willing to make compensation for the fact of
its existence. II will do no such rash act, but
will rather turn the tables and demand that the
late masters and owners shall make payment Tor
the uncompensated terms of service OF their
slaves The Government has no money to
spend on the equalization of bounties to slave
holders; it will exhaust itself i'll paying our
soldiers.


The substitute which the Maryland Demo
Gratis have adopted for the originally proposed
statement in the Bill of Rights that Slavery
"shall not be permitted in this State" Is as
follows: Slavery shall not be reestablished IN
"this State; but having been abolished under
"the policy and authority of the United States,
compensation in consideration thereof Is
"due from the United States Around
this avement clings the manifold moldiness
of a hopeless Conservatism. Slavery being SO
widely laid out, how shall we attempt to COM
pensate it's owners for making war upon us
with the institution itself We confess that we
do not know how to begin and where to end; but
perhaps Secretary McCulloch can calculate tor
Ms the exact cost of the practical operation OF
the substituted clause of the Bill of Rights.
Mr.. Charles O'Conor is supposed to have ex-
pressed the opinion to a hard but reputable fossil
that Emancipation having been an illegal
act. nothing but Slavery restored or its market
price in place thereof, could satisfy offended
Justice and outraged savehOlding. Mr.. OCon0r
and those who believe with him are welcome
TO cherish this dclusion for the remainder
of their days. They may again dare the
fate Of Sharkey, and bring their case
to the Supreme Court but if they are vain
enough To believe that the Government will
adjudicate itself back into Slavery, they
have made their purses out of their ears.