St. Mary's gazette., 1865-12-21

hentucky mas set nozzle example Whieh
we hope viii not be lost upon the Legisla-
ture that h to assemble at Annapess id
January next. She has passed bin which
restores u tAeir civil sight iualhding. slla'
right of qoting. Alf psfties froiAl lhat State
Who have psfseipatod Is the cisil or milf
iary service a the rebel Siates during Che
late evil war: upop the copditiou THAI such
parties shall have filed an amnesty oath or
pardon with the CLERK ofthe County or city
ii which they may reside and shall prove
that they have conducted themselves as
loyal citizens since the cessation Of the re-
bellion. An act Of oblivion or amnesty
Ike tlris or akin to this would tend great
". ID our Judgment, to re-establish con-
cord and friendly relations between the
people Of Maryland, and il ia for this rca-
son that we have given expression to The
hope that the noble example Of Kentucky
might not be lost upon our own Lcgisla-
tnre. The Baltimore Erening Transer7P
has well-timed and well-put article on
the example which has been get by Ken
tucky 70 the Border States in this matter,
the counscls Of which, we hope win not
be disrcgarded by the Maryland Lcgisla-
ture when il shall convene in extra session
~
this Winter
The Border States, says he Trdn~rips,
have generally yielded 70 the popular i'm
pulses which result in prescription, during
the exciicments and passions Of aciyil war.
Thus, Missouri has its test oath 30 rigid
and searching. that meG who bear upon
their persons honorable woundis received
in the Federal service, Indignantly refuse
% fake them. Thus, West Virginia, gives
every idle, drunken wretch, who may cover
his sins and his crimes with the cloak Off
simulated loyalty, the right 70 challenge
the vote Of any citizen, and such challcnge
involves an oath which few can take with
out perjury. or placing themselves upon
the record As devoid Of al the huinauities
Of our nature, and eallous % The appeals of
suffering humanity. Think Of IL WA
il be believed BY posterity, that they who
have given a crust Of bread 70 \ starving
man. or brought cup Of cold water g
cool the burning. parcbing thirst Of some
poor wretch tortured by wounds, or 10 the
fierce furnace Of consuming fever, there.
BY forfeit their citizenship and become po-
ltical Parialls. Aud this By the operation
Of established law which thus declares, in
effect, that the Offices Of charity arc dis.
loyalty. and their performance. treason
In Maryland, il perhaps its illustrations
have bccp different, the same spiri, has
controlled the government and legislation
Of the State; the same stain rests upon it,
political integrity; the same prescription
limits the right u suffrage, until an elcc-
ton has become formal farce, performed
at stated intervals. There have existed,
too. the same divisions among the people,
and been experienced all The bitterness,
distraction and dissonsion which are the
Legitimate results ofinjustice aud oppression
We have no purpose to notice in detail
the action Of The border States 20 which We
have referred; and We certainly do not
propose to reproduce the exhausted arga-
mcnt which. long rincc presented IN all
its force, was powcrless TO FREQ Maryland
from the operation Of laws which dcpross-
ed, and, politically, degraded 70 large a
portion Of her people. Whatever Of re-
monstranee or adjura.ioD il might have
been proper 70 address, at a former day, to
those who then held power. It would be
useless to repeat now. Let the past goi-
We are willing to seek to build n?on the
foundations Of the present whatever future
may be achieved. without recalling the
bitterness which tingOs tho recollection Of
past eyents--but We ask that the lessons
which they teach be not forgotten.
The action Of the Legislature Of Ken
tucky naturally suggests the inquiry, whaI
will be the action Of Maryland' The con
dtion Of the one, during the war, was very
different from that Of the other Kentucky
was torn by dissension, and surrounded
By circumstances which gave rise to pecu-
| lar bitterness and hostility among her peo.
pie. Maryland was comparatively fre'
! from the excitemonts which belong Away
to conflicts between parties Of not uncqua
strength. The Opposition here was re
pressed and silent.
1 But it is unnecessary to pursue th'
PARALLEL farther, 30 far az the past is con
cerned. The question for considcrati or
is, may it be traced in the future? !
! g.. tf,a ,tnA,,ta b0al