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332 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Feb. 5, tached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and is well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same." And this is the foundation principle of rep- resentative republics: the governing power is vested in those who have, or are supposed to have, an attachment, to the State and its institutions. Upon that principle the framers of our Constitution wisely acted. They withheld, the privilege of suffrage only from those who had forfeited the right—who had demonstrated, not only that they were not attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, but that they were inimical to those principles; and who had "engaged in armed hostil- ity to the United States," or had aided or adhered to the armed enemies of their native land. It is denied to such, not as a punishment, but because the safety of the State requires it. It can be restored to them when they shall evince a re- spect for law and the rights of their fellow-citizens,; and some appreciation of the spirit of republican institutions—the right of the majority to rule. Till they have shown themselves qualified to exercise the rights of freemen, and competent to discharge their duties as good citizens, this Convention respectfully submits that they should be content to live Trader the protection which equal law affords to them in common with the faithful and loyal, and not. presume, with disloyal and unhallowed hands, to guide the ship which is freighted with the destinies of re- publican liberty. The Convention, through its committee, and. in behalf of the patriotic and loyal people of Baltimore, indignantly re- pudiates the insolent and impudent, assumption that trators and the aiders and abettors of treason constitute a majority of the people of that city, or of our State; and they submit that, having; managed public affairs advantageously and hon- orably during the last four trying years in face of all the obstacles which treason could present, they are competent to conduct them still, till the great reforms which they have inaugurated shall be firmly and forever established, and till those who are seeking to retake the rights which they once abjured shall show some attachment to the country, its insti- tutions; its precious memories and its glorious hopes. The Convention respectfully submits the following resolu- tions as expressive of the sentiments of the loyal people of Baltimore, and they are confident they will meet with a. hearty response from the whole State: Resolved, That the rebellion consisted of traitors in the South and in sympathy at the North, and that the loyal men |
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Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1866
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