Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-11-03
TIL CONSTITUTIONAL OATH.

1t may not be amiss to remind the disloyal
citizens OF Maryland, who had no hesitation
in taking the cath the other day, on the
strength d Mr. Reverdy Johnscn's opinion,
that it was unconstitutional aud therefore not
binding, though they sworc they believed it
,eas binding, that the adoption of the Consti-
tuition mates the same oath the indispensable
prerequisite to voting at the General Election
next Tuesday. We very much doub. whether
that astutd lawyer, and pure and consistent
politician, will no,c advise them that the oath
may be ken without prejudice to the con-
science, fGr the sake of usurPing the elective
franchise from which they are most Justly
excluded. Governor Bradford's Proclama-
ton and The action of the Court of Appeals,
have ratified the peoples own work at the
Ballot Box, and the New Constitution is now
the fundamental law ofthe State. But though
the old Constitution has been superseded and
is now dead letter, the pains and penalties
of perjury remain as heretofore. The gates
of the Peritcntiary are as open as ever, to the
false swearer. and, it may be, more so; when
the perjury is perpetrated for the purpose of
affecting The ruin of the people. There are
many am,ne us, who cannot but be conscious
of dcsirs for the overthrow Of our Gov
eminent, and the success of the rebellion.
With whatever of retieoncc and prudence this
desire has been concealed, it has not been
'ehoRy so. The proud step, and the exultant
mien, whenever disaster has befllen the ma
tional cause.-the downcast eye and sullen
glance whenever victory has perched upon our
banners speak louder than mere words.
There are others no worse enemies of the
Government, and not more friendly to the re-
bellion, who have not always maintained the
same silence and reserve. They have publicly
rojoicel over our misfortunes, and gloricd over
the success of the rebels They have steadily
condemned every act of the Government and
justified every deed of jeff Davis There are
witnesses of this conduct-always morally the
highest lime citizen can commit, for it is
'rcason-and now legally and consttutonally
crime punishable by Acknowledgement.
Let such beware how they attempt to pollute
the ballot-box on Tuesday next. They will
surely meet the deserved punishment which
the law afixes to the crime of perjury. The
events of the past four years are not forgotten.
The memory Of the open disloyalty and undis-
guiscd sympathy with rebellion of some among
US, is burned deep in cur hearts. We can
not forget it, if We would. Heaven knows
that it is with no qualification we recall these
facts. We have no pleasure in the disfran-
chisemcnt Of any man, but our liberties and
those of all mankind are too dear to US, that
we should permit them to be overthrow by
their deadly foes, even if those foes should
prove to be of our own household Those
liberties are involved in the contest TO be de-
cidod on the 9Th November 1t is not the
mere success Of this or that party, under the
Constitution as heretofore, but it is question
of our very existence as a Nation. We must
support and defend our Country at whatever
cost. And to that end we must firmly and
rigidly exclude from the polls, every man
were he our own brother-who under the wise
provisions of the new Constitution, is disfran-
chlsed for disloyalty and hostility to that Con-
stitution and Government which we have re-
cognized to be the Supreme Law Of the Land