Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-08-10

of qualification or disqualification, whether
the party tried be present or absent.
1fit be remembered that entering The name
of person in the book of registration, and
the entering of the name in the seventh COL
umn of the book as a disqualified voter are
: two separate and distinct acts, the supposed
difficulty is removed and the intention and
meaning of the act becomes plain and clear.
In coroboration of the view that the act.
and more particularly the fifth section thereof,
intended and its effect was that the Officers of
Registration should ascertain and register
the names of every white male person, resi-
dent or temporarily absent. claiming or not
claiming to be registered in the book of reg
istration, we refer to the journals of the
House, in which will be found that it was
distinctly understood b. the Union. as also
the opposition members, that such was the in
tention and effect of that section, rs also the
general bill The amendments offered, and
the speeches made. show that it was so under
stood, and entered as to lisqualfy the disluy
al, even if they did not apply to the Officers
Of Registration. In the House Journal
page AIS, will be found. Mr.. Williams (Cal.
vert county, submitted the following amend
ment "by inserting after the words fran
chise': Who shall apply to said Officers of
Registration to have their names registered. "
Los'-yeas %, nays 43.
The next amendment. page 416, by Mr..
Chew, of Prince Georges, to strike out "or
temporarily absent, lost-24 to 43. In the
Senate Mr. Clarke, of Prince Georges (sce
Journal, page 35S, moved to strike out
claiming and entitled to the right of cleo
tive franchise" and insert applying for
registration" The object in each case
was to restrict the action of the officers to
those only rho sa""'d apply. The like object
was attempted to he accomplished blouse.
Journal, page $751; by Mr. Miller of Anne
Arundel, by amending section 5 to read
register the name of every white male citi-
zen of the United States of the age of twenty |
one years or upwards" who shall have resided
in the State one year next proceeding the
election next hereafter to be held. The same
will be found Senate journal, page 1862, Of
fcred by Mr.. Clarke, who also offered amend |
meuts (page 800 to strike out the 9th and
9TH sections. The object of all these amend
voters to such only as should apply and be !
twenty one years of age. The loyal men of |
both Houses, by their votes, positively refused
10 nave III tnuS restricted, ana vote! That the |
Officers of Registration should take the names
of every white male person resident, or tenn
porarily absent, whether he come before them |
Or not, enter his name in the book of regis
tration. and diligently inquire and ascertain !
that such person has not done any of the
acts" etc, and if he takes the oath prescribed |
in the 18th section, before them then his name ,
is to be eut red in the eighth column or register,
J qualified Ooters. If, however. they shall |
after dilligent inquiry, that he has
been guilty, they shall enter the fact in the !
'erenth colum as disqualified voter, absent or
present.
G. III. DIR,
Chairman Senate Committee.