The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-10-27

Christian country on earth, where the right Of
suffrage is conferred on the citizen.
But how stands the case under this mild and
humane Republican statute? The Registers
must be satisfied, says this act of OPPRESSION
Now a man comes before them who stands high
in the community; he is charged with no offence;
no man comes forward to make any charge
against him; he has contributed largely in taxes
to support the government; has never, by word
or act, encouraged its enemies, and was as
anxious for its success as any one of his inquisi-
tors; but these gentlemen, never having heard
anything from this man, either one way or the
other, in regard to the late unhappy difficulty
between the two sections of the country, con-
clude that his silence is some proof that he might
have rejoiced within himself over the Confederate
victory at Bull Run, Balls Bluff or at some
other place; and being unable to satisfy them
selevs that he did not, lie is disfranchised. We
do not know of any case exactly of this descrip-
ton but it serves to show what violent wrongs
may be done under the provisions of this most
unjust enactment. That cases Of the sort re-
ferred to above have happened, we have no doubt;
but the mere possibility of their happening is,
we think, Just cause for its repeal or modifca-
ton.
Many well disposed but many more evil dis
posed people of late confound the Administra-
ton with the Government; but this is gross
error. The Government consists of the execu-
tive, the legislative and the judicial branches,
all Of which are required to constitute what is
termed the Government. Now, when we OPP
posed the administration of Mr.. Lincoln, as we
certainly did, we no more thought that we were
opposing the Government, than did the individu-
al who has been receiving the Governors salary
for the last four years, either of the gentlemen
whom he appointed Registers throughout the
State, thought they were opposing the Govern
ment, when they were opposing the admins ra-
ton OF Mr.. Buchanan and yet many man in
this State has been, we have no doubt, deprived
of the opportunity of choosing his rulers, for no
other crime than that he happened to differ with
the Administration and party in power, in mat
ters of mere policy, and as to the proper manner
of administering the government, but who, at
restoration of the Union, as the President or any
member of the Cabinet.
We ask, then whether it is not the duty of
every good citizen to assist in removing this en-
CINE Of oppression from our midst by wiping
from our statute books an act which would
have disgraced the records of Jefferies 2
This law has reduced the vote of the State to
about one-third of what should be- and it is her
aided forth that the individuals who hold the rens
of government were elected by immense MAORI
ties, when the truth is they represent contempt
ble minority of about one-tEird of the people of
the State, while among the disfranchised are to
be found three-fourths of the solid and substan-
tai men Of the State. Let us all, then, who de-
spise tyranny, lend what little aid we have to
whomsover will assist in removing this abom-
nation from the statutes of Maryland.