Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-07-27

suffrage forfeited by any of the acts recited in
the fourth section can be at present restored.
The General Assembly by vote oftw o-thirds
of all the members elected to each house may |
hereafter restore it in particular cases, but no
other power can.
The question has been suggested whether
the special pardons now being granted by the
President to those participating in the recent
rebellion could not have that effect answer
no, and that neither the proclamation OF the
President, nor an act of Congress could make
any one qualified voter in this State who,
by the Constitution of the State is declared to
be disqualified On the other hand. no such
proceeding of the General Government can
deprive citizen of Maryland of the elective
| franchise unless the State Constitution has
made similar provision. and. therefore
though by an act of Congress, PASSED in March
1865, and promulgated by proclamation Of
the President of the United States, of the 18th
of that month, it was declared that: descrters
and persons leaving the State to avoid the
draft should forfeit their right of citizenship,
vet, nasmuch as our Constitution makes no
provision for excluding such persons from the
right of suffrage. they would still. if obnox-
ious to no Constitutional prohibition, be entl-
tied to registration.
You will observe that the 9th section of the
Registration act above quoted makes it the
duty of the Officers of Registration to inquire
not only into tho existence of the disquallii-
cations heretofore mentioned and reclted IN
the 4th section b ut also those mentioned in
the Sd and 9th sections. The 3D. excludes
from the right of suffrage any person who,
being twenty-one years of age, has been con-
victed of any Infamous crime and received no
pardon from the Executive, and the 9th Sec
ton excludes those guilty of giving or re.
ceiving brides at the elections since July 4th
1861, or guilty of any other force or fraud in
procuring himself or any other to be nomi-
, mated to Office. would here remark. how
ever, that it is not sufficient to exclude par
, " from the right of suffrage that the Regis
ters should be satisfied that he has committed
any of the act. mentioned in the 9th section
, unless he has been conrictcd in a court Of lon
of such offence, his disfranchisemcnt as ont
of the penalties of such an offence under thi
I section Of the Constitution being consequent
t " on such conviction.
4 deem it unnecessary to make any partic
r ular reference to the other qualifications re
e puired by the Constitution in regard to age
t residence, naturalization, &c which are y
= familiar as to be generally we'll understood
9 1t will be remembered. however, in regard
It naturalized citizens that the certificate of ma,
= uralization is required to be produced and en-
g dorscd by one of the Officers of Registration
l. with the date of its exhibition. Iu case tt
o original 70 ural cation papers be lost, 'hc Gel
o tifcatc from the clerk of the court where
,r the party was naturalzcd must be procured
= and will answer all the purposes OF the orig
If nal.
st The copies of the Registration act and th
part Of the Constitution relating to the electl'
l. franchise which sent with their commi'
o sions to all the Officers of Registration will.
ir hope, enable them, without any other susSe
c tons, satisfactorily to execute the law.
l Yours. very respectfully.
i A. w. BRADFORD.