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Unconditional Union Convention

Summary

The Unconditional Union state convention, including the bulk of the anti-emancipation Conservatives, called for immediate, uncompensated emancipation in MD, rejected "perpetuation of slavery under the guise of an apprentice system" and supported Lincoln's re-nomination.

Transcript

Unconditional Union Convention.
The Unconditional Union State Convention, assembled in Baltimore on the 22d of February, has given a conclusion and unanimous expression of loyal sentiment upon several subjects, about which there scarcely existed a doubt before, but which needed his endorsement to clear away the equivocation and mistrust that designing politicians were industriously fostering. Representing not only those who were previously known as Unconditional Union men, but also the bulk of those hitherto rallying as “Conservatives” and who had supported the anti-Emancipation candidate for Comptroller at the late election, the Convention came up to its work with a unanimity and straight forwardness of utterance, that leaves no room to doubt about the views and purposes of the great majority of the people of this State. The resolution in favor of Immediate Emancipation is substantially the same as passed at the County Convention in this city on the 20th ultimo. It declares for Immediate, Unconditional, Universal Emancipation, and as far as concerns Maryland, rejects State Compensation and the perpetuation of Slavery under the guise of an Apprentice system. The progress of opinion here has passed the stage of pecuniary calculation; it is based on principle, and is resolved to iradicate[sic] the germ of discord between the States, the great social, political and moral wrong that has been the reproach of the Republic and the foul stigma on our boasted civilization. Those of the Convention, who had been “Conservatives,” testified their sincere approval of the Unconditional Union platform, by making the resolution unanimous. The endorsement of the Administration, and enthusiastic re-nomination of President Lincoln was also a significant proof of the popular sentiment, but it was, as a cotemporary aptly remarks, as endorsement of “Abraham Lincoln, as he speaks for himself,” not as he has been spoken for; it was for Abraham Lincoln, the proclaimer of Emancipation, the Defender of the Union, the true hearted patriot and faithful President. Those Conservatives and the Copperhead allies, - who still cling to the “skeleton” of slavery, hoped that the springing of the Presidential question, would breed dissension in the Convention. They were flatly disappointed. They assumed the existence of a factious opposition to the President and imagined, that by rallying as his champions and mounting the Emancipation “horse, without caring who put the saddle on,” they could obtain control of the Convention. In this, too, they were foiled. But it is a curious phase of political duplicity and imprudence, that the recent revilers and enemies of the President and his policy should have suddenly claimed to be his “true” friends, and sought to cast doubt and suspicion upon those, who had been his consistent adherents and supporters throughout, and by their firmness and unconditional loyalty had at length forced his enemies in Maryland to abandon their open hostility and defamation. Among the masses, lately composing the two wings of the Union party, there is now a perfect accord and consolidation upon the Unconditional Union platform of the 16th of June. The politicians of the Conservative wing, who refused to harmonize them and again refused to confer, after the Conservative State Committee had acquiesced in the Unconditional Union call for the Convention, are still watching an opportunity to defeat Emancipation, and make the Constitutional Convention a nullity. Their foot-prints are discernible in the fractures of the Convention bill, which give traitors access to the ballot-box, but disfranchise patriot citizens, who have taken up arms in defence of the Union and Liberty: in their horror of oaths of allegiance and military interference at the polls; and in the shameless overture of affiliation, just made by the Annapolis Gazette to the “democrats,” or copperheads, of the disloyal counties. That such an alliance has been, or will be perfe