Surratt Courier

[L Verge]

(07-18-2016 07:09 PM)Gene C Wrote:  In this month's Courier, there is "A Clarification" regarding "the county-by-county vote of Marylanders regarding the state constitution of 1864 that abolished slavery in the state."

Looking over the numbers, I had some questions???

........................ For (new constitution) .....................Against
State Totals ........27,541 ..................................... 29,536
Soldier Vote.........2,633 ........................................ 263
Grand Total ........30,174 ........................................ 29,799

According to the 1860 census, the total urban population for Baltimore was 212,000

In Baltimore City the vote was 9,779 for and 2,053 against
In Baltimore County the vote was 2,001 for and 1,869 against

Baltimore was considered a southern city with an attempt to assassinate Lincoln on his way to Washington.
The mayor was very pro southern. The city was considered a hot bed for secessionist activity.

So why did the vote for a new state constitution that abolished slavery win in a landslide vote in an area supposedly full of confederate sympathizers? If not for the "for" vote of Baltimore, the new state constitution would not have passed.

I'm sure that others on this forum have better answers than I on this, Gene, but off the top of my head, I can think of several things:

1. Citizens of Baltimore had gone through very strict martial law for three years and knew when to give up. Also, as a port of trade with Europe, the war was costing them profits.
2. A good portion of the soldiers' votes may have been cast by Baltimoreans.
3. Baltimore City had been and was still a center of trade and industry that depended on a free work force. Although they could not vote, many in that force were already free blacks that were needed at those jobs.
4. The Baltimore American newspaper in that city was heavily abolitionist.
5. The pro-slavery voters in the rest of the state could not overcome the heavy population in Baltimore and the subsequent soldiers' votes.

By the way, GREAT question!