The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-04
ground had they for fear because of troops
al the late electinn2

trueS-but whoever before, heard of the
unte,ryfed giving up as achpped before the
fight Besides, they all claim to have a
majority of the voters of the State, and
base their claims for sympathy, for i'll
usage upon such hypothesis. They there
fore stultify themselves, and we are not
bound to believe them. Having as we
believe, shown that there was no just
ground for refusing TO vote because of
troops, or known inability to elect Mr..
Brown, we recur to the real cause.-The
oath Of allegiance, for the absence Of the
sympathizers at the polls. And this phase
of the subject is rarely presented to the
democratic % masses-through their own
press, but they thereby confess their dis
loyalty. Since the presence of troops,
and an even less powerful Organization
(to accede to the Democratic version Of the
affair." entered into the campaign of 1862,
When you participatd-what else beside
the oath prevented you participating in
1868? Among the lame attempts to justi-
fly Party, they, the Democrats, endeavor
to persuade themselves that the Democracy
did right in withdrawing from the contest
They state that "troops were stationed at
the polls in every Hundred of our county,
and in fact throughout the State" A
slight mistake since in this Hundred at
least, where we remained during the day,
no troops were stationed at the polls. They
blame the Union Party for obtaining a test
oath for disloyalty, and assert that the priv
ilsge Of voting should be equal to aH,"-
and If traitors be in our midst, as the Or
der, No. SO, "seem to in,py"-ther arrest
and removal 'cOuld appear to be the prop
er action for them"
Now, no men know better than the Dem
ocratic Party, that there are traitors to the
Government and its Flag in our midst
and they know that their arrest and removal
as both just and right, and yet fail to re-
commend it; but on the contrary declares
that the privilege of voting should be
equal to all" traitors as well as patriots
and we have no doubt would be adverse to
DISTINGUISHING Anybody because Of this
wicked rebellion, placing the rebels in
arms upon the same footing as the defend
ers Of our liberty.
They say "that no objection was made
to any one voting for Mr.. Smithers" True
enough, and so far as we know none was
made to the adherents of Mr.. Brown
Again they declare that "innocent men
sirvrald not saffar an ,njuat imputation
and be put to test not required of all the
community in which they live." Now they
pretend to assert that the oath prescribed
by Order So was required of one part O
the community more than another OF
was applied to a Party because it was {
Party? If so, they certainly intend t.
; deceive; and this we are slow to believe
because we had entertained more favor
able opinion of them. 1t is true however
that this oath would have rested mos
heavily upon the stomaehs of the miscalleC
, Democrats-since all secesh or sympathiz
ers call themselves Democrats though
) all Democrats are not secessionists, and i
by such an application they find them
selves in bad company, and thereby in
jured in that, an unjust imputation" rest
upon them, All we can say, is, that a
''evil communications corrupt good man
ners, the sooner they cut loose from sucl
reasonable organization, or an organiza
= ton that embodies all the now existin,
=, reasonable elements, the better for them
A Then again, "to say the least of it, ba,
: precedent is established by them, and tn
4 freedom which once characterized GU
:. elections will hereafter only live in name.
: Now, the sum and substance of all thi
: is, that the oath of allegiance to your owl
e government restricts the freedom of cleo
: tions. Soft does we admit, to an advocate 0
: treason, and such we would forever restrict
not only in voting but in exercising an!
, right or privilege under the Federal Gov
eminent. Would you still rather follow
: the policy Of your party, in restricting III
d loyal citizens and patriotic soldiers, and ex
It tending "the free and equal privilege"
i all others, even to traitors IN arms?
: There is yet another aspect of the case
: one upon which rebel sympathizers deligh
F; to dwell and it stands out in nearly ever
: article written by the Peace men; that il
c that day of retribution will surely come
j when they will be in power and the patr
It otto citizens of America subject to thei
will, and that they have advanced ste
e towards the accomplishment of that objeC
& in refusing to vote at this election, as sue
1t course will insure division and di!
; sention among the Unionists; thereb
o enabling them to resume the reins of gov
e eminent. Perhaps, we say perhaps sue
e may be the case, but more than likel