The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-08-02

is the question that pcnetrates the re-
motest corner Of this State. How arc
We to accomplish this We are to ac.
complish it by organization we arc
going to the work, and the eyes of the
people of this country aud Of all the low
ers of good government throughout the
world are fixed upon yoa If you fail
to do your duty, if you fail to do all the
work that you can possibly do and con
tribute every mite to this great and glo-
rious cause, you fail to do that which
the people have right TO expect Of
every good man in this community
you will fail to do your duty. When
you have an organization you must make
it as complete aud perfect as it is in
your power to make il, and you must
bring its influence TO bear upon the
ranks of your opponents, and those who
have been misled in this nelarious
scheme to subvert our liberties aud
my life upon il that the five men out OF
every six--for that is about the proper.
ton Of the people Of this State who are
Conscryntivcs--if they will exert their
natural aud rightful influence upon their
noighbors, they will get one-half of that
remaining six TO support the constitu.
ton and the right Of citizens Of this
State before tho next November cleo.
tion approaches. Every man io this
State, except those who have been actu-
ally in arms against the Government, or
who have given aid aud comfort 10 the
armies ~ rebellion, ought 10 feel him
self bound to take this oath. [Applause. ]
I The man who shrinks away from IL.
either for the sake Of convenience og
from the apprehension Of tho threats
which have been held out, does not and
will not perform his duty to his country
aud 10 his children. The oath is uu-
constitutional aud is pull and void
and has no obligation binding any
body IL has been decided by the Su.
/ premc Court Of the United States TO be
null aud void ] had il from the lips
Of one Of the judges Of the Supreme
I Court myself truthful man lie told
me that the Supreme Court, BY ma.
jori,y, had decided that this test oath
was unconstitutional, null aud void,
/ Leouiinued applause and the decision
he added, would be proclaimed next De.
\ ccmbcr. at the next term of the Sn.
promo Court Of the United States --
/ This unconstitutional oath, therefore.
which has been iulerposcd between you
aud the exercise Of your rights, and
which the Supreme Court have decided
| to be unconstitutional is Of no ubligato.
~ force. No man eau bs prosecuted
/ and convicted under IT, mean to
take it myscIf. although 1 am included
ia one Of those provisions which declare
( that no man who has taken up arms
against the State aud the government Of
I the State Of Missouri shall vote. Top.
/ plausc. aud which am ready 10 pro.
( claim before tho registrar aud before
/ the Judge, OF the election, and 10 admit,
/ II should br tried aud indicted before
I the courts. that | did take up arms
against the government of the State Of
( Missouri will ai The sauc time con.
I f,.,s that took this oath. aud / defy
them [Grcat applause ! shall take
I il because tho men who inicrPVso that
oath between me aud my right 10 vote
7 had 30 authority 10 do Il As far a. {
am concerned, and Others are concerned
/ il is compulsory oath You are com.
PEELED to take it or be deprived ofrights
Z that are "a dear aud dcarer 10 you than
( your life [applausc aud, whilst these
men proclaim ihatil is a voluntary oaih
aud that sou can take il or let It alone
vet. IL you do not take il, you are dc
privcd Of the right Of suffrage You
are deprived Of the right to manage
your own property. You are deprived
Of the right 10 earn yonr own bread mad
The bread for the support of your family
I by pursuing an honest avocation You
are deprived of the right to worship God
according to the dictates Of your own
conscience, aud yet these mcn say that
| this il not a compulsory oath IL il
Just as compulsory as il they had pre-.
scnled a pistol at your head and je-
mandcd your money or your life, aud
when you had delivered your money,
demanded that you would swear before
Almighty God that you would not dl.
vulgc who had robbed you. You would
take the oath, aud so far from being
bound to keep it you would be bound
ia any court of justice to break that
oath aud diyuigc who had robbed you
You would be bound 10 do it for the
good of society. for the safety Of the
other individuals in the community who
had been robbed as you had been rob.
bed and compelled to take the same
oath
My fellow-citiz this is a compul-
sory oath. You are compelled to take
it or lose all your rights as citizens-
As for myself, | will take it. | admit
that | sympathized with those who
we're engaged in rebellion at the time
that took mp arms against them. |
have never ceased TO sympathige with
them. | sympathize with them now
more than ever, when | see that they
are to be made the victims Of proscrip-
ton by those who did not dare to 80 out
and fight them, but who stayed at home.
And while / make this admission | will
still take this oath. They shall not
hold this Government by any dcrelic-
ton of duty upon my part. will take
the oath, and by taking it | will assist
to throw them out of power. That is
the iniquity which has been imposed
upon this people. You must either
take this oath or submit to the rule of
Radicalism now and for all time to
/ l ". ....,,.G 4aia tt,s entb ne al