Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-04-27
THE REGISTRATION LAW.

We this week publish Con the first pagc)
the voters Registration Law Let the loyal
read and ro-der it well. They have duties
to perform under it, If it is to be effective for
the purposes for which it was adopted. The
spirit of the age as well as of Christianity is
opposed to wholesale hanging; yet the law of
self-preservaton demands that those who have
stepped their hands in treason, endangered
the national life, and the peace and safety of
the State, shall be rendered harmless in the
future The trainers Of our Constitution in
view of the existing state Of things saw fit rs
punishment for treason, and sympathy with
treason to disfranchise all such persons, and
made it obligatory OH the Legislature to pass
law to efectuatc that purpose. He who in
the hour Of danger or peril deserts lis state is
held unworthy of her protection and unfit to
enjoy her privileges and not to be trusted with
voice in her councils. He whose attach
ment for party is SO strong, so deep that he
cannot and will not see beyond it TO the safe
ty Of his country, but will adhere to party,
though il lead TO treason, is unfit to have
place in the councils of the state or 4 voice rs
to who shall guide her DIES TIMES. The Con-
stituton aud the law intend to cut Of all such
from the elective franchise or the holding of
any Office of honor, profit or trust. All this
may be looked upon by some, who are likely
to be affected yt, MS Il new invention and an
act of tyranny. 1t is not SO. 1t is simply
extending provision Of the old Constitution
to crime new and heretofore unknown in our
political history. Heretofore if man was
convicted of any infamous crime and sent to
the Penitentary he was DISTINGUISHED. No
one except the guilty party himself thought
this hardship. If any one bribed or at
tempted to bride voter he was disqualified.
To this list Of small nfamics is now added the
great infamy of Treason and abettiug Treason.
lie who turns his parricidal against the coun-
try which gave him birth, sustenance or shell
ter and protection, has in all ages and in all
lands been held traitor and all laws award
him the penalty Of Death and enshroud his
name in the blacklist infamy. This is right
on every principle Of justice and humanity
He who from whatever motive deserts his
government and country to take part with her
enemies thus endangering, perhaps destroy
j ing the lives of thousands of his countrymen
his ncighbors and friends, unscttling the
relations of society and the security OF prop
erty is infinitely more criminal, superlativcly
more infamous than one who robs hen roost,
or, perhaps, steals shoulder Of bacon to pre-.
vent starvation. Yet such an one is disfran-
chised without 4 murmur! lfit is not hard
rhip in the latter case how can it be hard
ship in the ease Of him, the traitor, who has
cndcavored so far as he could to destroy that
very government in which he would still claim
voice. Is he to be trusted with the selcc-
ton of our Lawmakers. with the election of
the ministerial or other officers 10 execute
those laws, who was willing to see tho whole
government upturned, and the whole land
delugcd in blood that his party might attain
or retain power. lie who has been traitor
from choice, he who has encouraged or abet
ted treason from choice, is too vile, too deeply
sunken in infamy, has too little moral percep-
ton to be entitled to the privileges Of free
man. The object of the law is to cut off all
such as dead limbs from the tree of Liberty,
TO cut them as rotten excrcscenccs from the
body polite. Let the loyal, and true, read it
carefully and assis: the ministers selected to
put it into operation and make it effective to the
nccnni, III IN nannt 80 liz lnSinn