Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-10-24
For the Legislature.
TO the Voters of AlIegany County.

Er,1ow-C ,rIzEss:-I wish TO be member of
the next House Of Delegates, and If you honor
me with an election, you may rest assured that
In executing the trust. shall give you no cause
10 regret your choice. think understand
tba hearts of the people of Allegany county
at least. I will say, think l understand the
hearts of nv democratic fellow citizens of the
county: and therefore feel justified in saying
for them, no less than for myself, that although
there is much to humiliate our national Prlue
in the present unhappy condition OF our eoun
try, ye1 we still cling with hope and ahe .o,
TO the Government of the United States ust
ing that the desolating march OF ,ostro,;na
which is now affecting us with It's uestluo'i'e
and beart-rendug consequences, VIII soon oe
arrested and that we shall be again maze nap
nv by ,ba rastoration of Union and harmony
amongst the States and in the consequent en-
;oxment of ALI the rights and privileges which
are guaranteed to us and to our sister States
by our existing Federal Constitution
Should be eiecteu nieu'"e' VI .ne hosa0
,fnoIeostes. before can enter upon the du-
a.. - sncb office our State Constitution re.
nn;res me to take and subscribe an oath of
which the words following are part, to wit;
az Samuel NJ. Semmes, do swear that will
,ynnort The Constitution ofhe United States, and
that will be faithful and bear true allegiance
TO the State of Maryland, and support the Con-
stitution and Laws thereof; and that will,
to the best of my skill and judgment, diligent-
ly and faithfully without partihlity or preJu-
dice. execute the Office of member of the House
of Delegates according to the Constitution and
Laws OF this State
And in connection with this oath, our State
Constitu ton declares that "any person swear
ing falsely in the premises, shall, on convic-
ton thereof in court Of law, incur the pen
alties for wilful and corrupt perjury
.t,..t
In respect then to the question whether our
National Constitution shall be upheld or de-
stroyed, you see from the oath which mem
her of our House of Delegates is required to
take before he can enter upon the duties OF his
office, that he is not only not at liberty to APP
prove or counive at any legislation having tor
its object separation Of the States as united
under our Federal Constitution, but that IL is
made his duty in regard to all such legislation
to take the part of the General Government
and to support the Constitution OF The United
States.
Men. know, of the old notification school
Of politics used to contend, that the oath TO sup
mort the Constitution of the United States on
iy bound a man to support the Constitution
as he understood it, and therefore, il he under
stood the Constitution Of the United States as
conceding the right of Secession to the differ
emit States to be exercised by them separately
at pleasure, then it was no violation OF his
oath to take the part of his State, should sue
renounce all obedience to the authority OF the
Union, and claim to act rs separate sovereign
nation But deriving my knowledge of The
Constitution from the teachings of Madison,
Marshall, Webster, fancy and other great and
good len whose expositions of the Constitu-
ton are respected as controlling authorities
my appreciation of the oath to support the
Constitution would oblige me not only TO re-
ject all notification doctrines, but in the lam
guage of Washington to discountenance what
ever NAV suggest even suspicion that our
National Union can in any event be soandon-
ed.
In conclusion, | will take the liberty OF ad.
vising NV democratic fellow citizens TO stand
to their party organization, and TO avold all
new party names. Democracy, TO me, Is n
time honored name, whose triumphs as detail
ed in history have ever thrilled my MIND win
delight, Notwithstanding its occasional de-
rangement and sad wanderings tits truly the
most eloquent Of all political noun-substan-
tiyes. meaning as it does that form of govern
ment where the people are recognized rs tne
riqhtful source of all power, and where public
officers instead of teing the masters are only
recognized as the servants of the people, to
whom they are acc ountable and by whom they
are punishable IL: all abuses OF their respective
public trusts The name of democrat has moth
ing in it at all inconsistent with unionism,
unconditional unionism or peace partyism'@
We are all friends of the Uni on--all anxious
for The speedy restoration of peace to our dis
tracted country. It was only few days ago
when at the call of the Chief Magistrate OF the
United States, our Christian Churches of all
denominations were opened and the people of
all parties united in prayer to God for the re-
turn of Union and peace TO our Nation; and that
God may speedily grant our prayer is, | am
sure, at the present time, the nearest wish OF
every patriots heart.
Oct. 3-tf SAMUEL NJ. SEMMES.