New-York daily tribune., 1863-11-05
SHALL TRAITORs VOTE

The right of traitors to vote came sharply
into question on Monday in Maryland. Gen.
Schenck issued an order that Provost -Marshals
should arrest all Rebels Offering to vote. Gov.
Bradford saw fit to resent the order by procla-
nation requiring the Judges Of Election to con-
form to the laws of Maryland, and to them
only, in geceiving or refusing votes. Gen.
Schenck suppressed the proclamation, the Gov
ernor appealed to the President, and the Prcsi-
dent responded in n letter which modihed III
terms one section Of Gen. Schenck's order,
but which expressly approved its principle, and
left its operation, in fact. little hindered.
Whcrcupon Gov Bradford proclaims against
the President also, and Gen. Schenck was good
natured enough-or shall we say was mis-
chovous enough to permit the whole docu-
ment to be printed, accompanying it with
supplementary order of his own, and the Presi-
dents letter.
| Gov. Bradford thinks Maryland loyal State,
and urges that as a reason why disloyal citizens
should be allowed to vote within her limits.
| All the candidates for Congress, but one, says
the Governor, are loyal. Yes, responds Mr..
Lincoln, but treason is catching, and " In this
struggle for the nations life cannot so conf.
IDENTITY rely on those whose election may have
depended upon disloyal votes. Such men. when
elected, may prove true. but such votes are CIV
en- them in the expectation that they will prove
| false" The answer is q sound ono. and stated
with the Presidents won;ed pcrspicacity. so is
the following ad homintm argument: " Nor DO
I think that TO keep tho peace Of the polls, and
to prevent the persistently disloyGl from voting,
constitutes Just cause of oi'ense To Maryland.
| think she has her own example for 1t. II
mistake not, il is precisely what Gen DIX did
when your Excelcncy was elected Governor
Ard we are LEFT TO suppose, what Mr.. Lincoln
il too polite expressly TO urge that on that occa
sion Gov. Bradford did no, deem Objectionable
the policy which secured his own election
Gen. Schencks order n. modified by the frcsi-
den, directed Provost .Marshals and other mill.
,ary officers to prevent, disturbances at the polls,
TO supper, the Judges Of Election in requiring
All oath Of allegiance TO the United States as the
tcs, OF ciiizenship Of persons challenged as dis
loyal. and Ia report al headquarters any Judge
refusing Ia carry out the order. II was meant
To coniine the exercise Of the right To vote 10
| 10y al men. l, was issued at the urgent request
OF numerous loyal citizens, and upon reprcscn-
tations not merely that open Rebels were IN
tonding a. vote, but that in certain parts oi the
State which are notoriog,ly disloyal by large
majority there wns reason 10 expect violence
and intimidation 10 loyal men at the polls. IL
was not merely question. therefore, whether
Rebels should be- forbidden, but whether Union
isls should be permitted To vote. and should be
protected in voting. And with that question
before him Gen Schenck would have been re-
miss in duty if he had neglected to issue the
order
| Independently of that question the matter Is
equally plain. II il not necessary TO impeach
the loyalty Of Maryland as State. Nobody
doubts tha, the great majority OF her present
voters are on the side Of the Union nor Is IL ma
teral how large part of her former population
may be- fighting ip'ihe Rebel Army. But she is
Border State. a Slave State, claimed as parcel
of the JEFF Davis Confederacy and contains
many active, allie, jealous. and utterly unscru-
pulous traitors, who are still striving by all
mean TO take the State bodily out Of the Union.
Shall such men be allowed to try and rois her
out of tho Union Gen. Schenck and the Pres
ident say No, and they are unqucstionsbly right.
Whether the effort il more or less direct,
open or covert, il is not 10 the point.
The principle which the Presidents letter de-
cdes, is simply that traitors shall not be per-
mitted to vote, where their votes lmperil the al
lcgiance of n State 10 the Union. The safety of
the Republic is the supreme law, and II is well
that an opportunity was offered for the Presi-
dent 10 declare himself thus uncquiyocally on
question that has always been serious, and may
vet become vital. Ii Is monsirons doctrine
tha. traitors retain and must BE- allowed to exer
else the civil privileges which they voluntarily
relinquishcd by their treason, while Of that trca
son they are still unpnrged. No Government
can exist which will deliberately suffer ia au-
thority to be dcfcd and its power resisted
whether at the ballot-box or by armed treason
in the field And this Government must crush
treason, in whichever shape it shows ITSELF and
by whatever means il seeks to destroy the life
of the Nation.