since saw was approaching, the young people
now advancing to mature years will honor
and bless our memories for ridding our State
of the slave-labor system.
Now, Mr. President, I had this thing fixed
just exactly so I would submit it properly,
I did not think it was the manner—I did not
care about the manner—it was the matter. I
cared about. I just offer this as a platform
of my own.
And here I want to make a little explana-
tion. Mr. President, there has been a great
deal said about Massachusetts upon this floor
during the session of this Convention and the
last Legislature, concerning the wrongs that
she has committed. Well, she may have com-
mitted a great many faults for aught I know,
but the question arises, whether we have not
committed some wrongs also, in the State of
Maryland? Well, sir, I make the assertion
that we have, and to prove it to your satis-
faction is the transaction of April, 1861;
and by the record you will find that the sol-
diers of Massachusetts were murdered on the
soil of Maryland, who were peaceably march-
ing to the front to keep this inhuman war
from our doors.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's. In Balti-
more city.
Mr. BARRON. Yes; that is in Maryland,
I believe. And I would ask you, Mr. Presi-
dent, when in your life's history before was
it denied to the soldiers of the United States
to tread any portion of her soil? But, Mr.
President, there has never been one of the
soldiers of Maryland murdered upon the soil
of Massachusetts during this rebellion, and
if either should complain, it should be Mas-
sachusetts.
Mr. President, I love Massachusetts, be-
cause under' her soil in Springfield a portion
of my ancestry are buried. I love her, be-
cause upon her soil a Warren fell, and a por-
tion of my ancestry fought with him. And
I also love her, because she has a Bunker
Hill. And I love her for her democratic in-
stitution of free education.
Now, the gentleman from Anne Arundel
(Mr. Henkle) said here the other day. that
he was a native of Maryland, that he was
born upon the soil. Well, all I have to say
is, that I do not think the soil brought forth
a very wonderful crop that time.
Mr. BILLINGSLEY. I rise to a point of
order,
Mr. BARRON, Go ahead, and state your
point of order. [Laughter,]
The PRESIDENT. The gentleman from Bal-
timore city (Mr. Barron) can proceed.
Mr. BARRON. Well, I have not come in
here with one of those speeches, that, like the
things children play with, you can fold up
and put in your pocket, and then take out
and string out as long as your arm.
Mr. President, I love Maryland, for under
her soil rest the bones of my father and my |
mother. Now it may be that this is a wrong
expression; it may be that according to the
fashions of the day, I ought to have said my
pa and ma. [Laughter.] But, howsoever,
I prefer the former, as it is what I was used
to. And I love Maryland, sir, because upon
her soil the issue of my loins were born, and
a portion of them are buried. And I love
her, sir, for her city that has plenty of monu-
ments. Mr. President, because within her
BORDER=0s I first learned to ask the Lord for my
daily bread. I love her, because she has
been to me a father and a mother since I was
six years old. And now, Mr. President, there
are gentlemen upon this floor who say there
is a desire on our side of the House to hu-
miliate Maryland, Why, I would just as
soon humiliate my own household. Why,
sir, I would just as soon suck my mother's
milk, and whip her afterward for giving me
the nourishment that I could not have done
without when I was a child. Nay, more; I
would rather take my first-born and sacrifice
it upon the altar of Maryland, than to ever
humiliate her by any act of mine.
Now, Mr. President, I am confident that
it does not make much difference to me, so
far as slavery is concerned, for in a very few
years, or months, or days, I may be in that
land where the Master of us all suffers neither
treason or rebellion to exist at any time or
under any circumstances. I do not know
whether I shall live to see the fruit of the
orchard I am trying this day to plant—
whether it shall be good or bad. But 1
want to see Maryland a free State I do not
want to see her a free State, and have any
persons injured by it. I do not want to make
the city of Baltimore pay out of the forty
millions of dollars—that I believe is what
gentlemen say their slaves are worth—two-
thirds of that sum.
I did intend to say more. But I think
I have said just about as much as I need say
for the present. I have a few notes here, but
as long as the gentleman from Anne Arundel
(Mr. Henkle) is not now in his seat, I will
not reply to him. But I had intended to
pinch him a little.
Now, Mr. President, I have said about all
I wish to say upon this question at this time.
But, sir, I have a few words to offer to my
Divine Master in prayer, and I will say it
right here: that the Lord of hosts may so
regulate the course of events that wherever
man, independent of color, shall be compelled
to labor for his daily bread, he shall have
pay for his labor and universal freedom,'
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE obtained the floor.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's, moved that
the Convention do now take a recess until 8
o'clock this evening.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. I have no choice. I
wish to offer a few observations to the Con-
vention before this article is passed over. I |
