Speech #810019937

This was the practical ending of the military operations of the Civil War. About 20.000 men from Maryland had taken service in the armies of the Confederacy. and the survivors were soon paroled and began to return home in large numbers. The Union men were much elated and joined in a hearty celebration of the national -triumph of their cause. but as the exConfederates began to show themselves about the streets and to frequent their old haunts and a large immigration from the South. particularly from Virginia. began to set in. this feeling gave way to alarm. too often accompanied by signs of prejudice and vindictiveness. The party in power at once began to foresee and to fear what finally took placean" active coalition between the Democrats and the southern sympathizers and the eventual overthrow of the Union Party in the State. The Registration Act had been passed just in time. and when sigisof opposition to it began to appear its advocates decided to fight to the last ditch to keep it on the statute books and in active operation.