Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-10-03
For the Legislature.
TO the Voters of Allegany County.

iFELLow-C CITIZENS Il wish TO be a member of
the next House of Delegates, and if you honor
ene with an election, you may rest assured that
| ia executing the trust shall give you no cause
10 regret your choice. | think understand
the hearts of the people of Alegany county
at least, | will say, think | understand the
hearts of my democratic fellow citizens of the
county and thereforefeel justified in saying
| for them, no less than for myself that although
there is much to humiliate our national pride
in the present unhappy coniition of our coun-
try, yet we still cling with hope and affection
10 the Government of the United States-trust-
ing that the desolating march OF civil war
which is now affecting us with Its destruo'fe
and heart-rending consequences, VIII soon oe
arrested, and that we shall be again maze nap
py by the restoration of Union ana harmony
amongst the States, and in the consequent en-
ioyment of all the rights and privileges which
are guaranteed to us and 10 our SISTER states
by our existing Federal Constitution.
Should | he elected member of the House
of Delegates. before can enter upon the du-
ties of such Office our State Constitution re
nuires me to take and subscribe an oath OF
which the words following are part to witt
~, Samuel N. Semmes, do swear that will
support the Constitution otme United States, and
that will be faithful and bear true allegiance
to the State of Maryland, and support the Con
SututlOn ana LhWb tueTeOl anu tHdL WILL
to the best of nay skill and judgment, diligent-
ly and faithfully without partially or preu
dice, execute the Office of member OF the House
delegates according to the Constitution and
IS of this State"
I'd in connection with this oath, our State
{ ttution declares that "any person swear
il .alsely in the premises, shall, on convic-
{ thereof in a court of law, incur the pen.
a lies for wilful and corrupt perjury"
In respect then to the question whether our
Rational Constitution shall be upheld or de-
ssroyed, you see from the oath which mem
Der of our House of Delegates is required to
ule before he can enter upon the duties of his
Office, that he is not only not at liberty to APP
Prove or connive at any legislation having for
sts object a separation Of the States as united
Under our Federal Constitution, but that it is
nlade his duty in regard to all such legislation
70 take the part of the General Government
End 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
port the Constitution of the United States on
~ bound man to support the Constitution
*.s he understood it, and therefore, ii he under
stood the Constitution of the United States as
conceding the right of Secession to the differ
: ent States to be exercised by them separa tcIy
At Measure then it was no violation OF his
bath to take the part of his State, should she
tenounce all obedience to the authority of the
Union, and claim to act AS separate sovereign
nation. But deriving my knowledge of the
Constitution from the teachings OF Madison.
Marshall, Webster fancy and other great and
good men whose exposition OF the ConStitu-
ton are respected as controlling authorities,
sny appreciation of the oath to support the
Constitution would oblige the not only TO re-
I mot all mill Gcatiou 6prtriDpS IUt the n
+ guage of W ashingto Ito discountenance what
ever may suggest even suspicion that our
National Union can in any event be abandon
ed.
In conclusion, | will take the liberty of ad-
yising my democratic fellow citizens to stand
10 their party organization, and to AVOID all
new party names. Democracy, TO me, is II
time honored name, whose triumphs as detail
ed in history have yer thrilled my mind with
delight, Notwithstanding its occasional de-
rancement and sad wanderngs; iii truly the
most eloquent of all political noun-substan-
tives, meaning as it does thai form OF govern
meut where the people are recognized as the
t-ghtful source of all power, and where public
officers instead of being the masters are only
recognized as the servants OF the people, TO
whom they are accountable and by whom they
are punishable for all abuses OF their respective
public trusts. The name of democrat has moth
ing in it at all inconsistent with unlonism,
unconditional unonism or peace party ism.r-
We are all friends of the Uni Quail anxious
Cor the speedy restoration of peace to our lis
tracted country. 1t was only II few days ago
when at the call of the Chief Magistrate OF the
nited Sta.es, 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 10 our Nation and that
God may speedily grant our prayer is. | an
sure, at the present time, the nearest wish Of
every patriots heart ,
Oct. s-tf SAMUEL NJ. SEMMES.