The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-10-20

ton to the whole machinery lie was here the
day their nominating Convention assembled,
engineering the ticket selected and the resolu-
tons adopted He is one Of the most strenuous
advocates of a " liberal construction " of our
laws, and, on very late occasion, being asked
how the small handful of conservatives who had
left the Union party should act. replied, that
they would have to 60 into the Democratic
party" He is wholly entirely devoted to My
Policy and. is working yalorously for the over
throw of the Upion party. Let US see how his
part actions agree with his present attitude,
Mr.. RidgeIy was member of the Convention.
that made our present State Constitution, and as
Chairman OF the Committee +" on such Provi-
20 sions and ordinances as may be desirable to
g carry into effect amendments to the Constitu-
q ton, % was probably the author of the disqual-
| flying clauses of the Constitution. he it was,
doubtless, that reported the following section,
which is now part of the Constitutions:
SECTION 4. No person who has at any time
been in armed hostility to the United States, or
the lawful authorities thereof or who has been
in any manner in the service of the so-called
1" Confederate States Of America, " and no person
| who has voluntarily left this State and gone
within the military lines of the so-called 9 Con-
| federate States or armies y with the purpose of
adhering to said States or armies, and no person
who has given any aid comfort, countendnce or
support to those engaged in armed hostility to
| the United States, or in any manner adhered to
the enemies Of the United States, either by con-
tributing to the enemies of the United States, or
unlawfully sending within the lines of such en-
| emies money or goods, or letters, or lnforma-
| ton, or who has disloyally held communication
| with the enemies of the United States, or who
has advised any person TO enter the service OF
| the said enemies or aided any person SO toenter,
or who has by any open deed or word declared
| his adhesion to the cause of the enemies of the
United States, or his desire for the triumph of
| said enemies over the arms of the United States,
shall ever be entitled to vote at any election to
| be held in this State, or TO hold any office of
! honor, profit or trust under the laws OF this
\ State. unless since such unlawful acts he shall
| have voluntarily entered into the military SER
vice of the United States, and been hOnorably
| discharged therefrom, or shall be on the day OF
election actually and voluntarily in such SER
vice. or unless he shall be restored to his full
rights of citizenship by an act of the General As
| sembly passed By a3yote of two-thifdso of all the
members elected to each House and it shall be
the duty of all Officers of Registration aud Judg-
les of Election carefully to exclude from voting,
/ or being registered, all persons so as above dis
qualified and the Judges of Election at the first
election held under this Constitution shall, and
at any subsequent election may, administer to
any person Offering to vote the following oath or
| affirmation do swear or affirm thatl am cit
zen of the United States, that have never given
any aid, countenance or support to those in
armed hostility to the United States, that have
never expressed desire for the triumph Of said
/ enemies over the arms of the United States, and
that will bear true faith and allegiance to the
United States and support the Constitution and
laws thereof as the supreme law of the land, any
law or ordinance of any State to the contrary
Notwithstanding that | will in all respects de-
mean myself as loyal citizen of the United
States, and make this oath or affirmation with
out any reservation or evasion, and believerit to
| In those days. Mr.. Ridgely seemed to recog-
nize higher power than even the registry
law. He seemed to have this idea in his mind
when be had inserted in the Constitution the
clause requiring that g it shall be the DUTY of all
! officers of Registration AND JUDGES OF ELEC-
| TON CAREFULLY TO EXCLUDE FROM VOTING, OR
BEING REGISTERED" all persons disqualified by
| the Constitution He acted up to this belief so
late as the fall Of 1865, when Messrs. Emory and
+ Grason were the opposing candidates for the
| judgeship of the county. As the author Of
| a handful signed +" Law and Fact, he contend
| ed that Mr.. Grason's g trial and conviction of
dsloyalty F" before the House ofDelegates forever
| prevented him from holding any Office, and
characterized the action of the Registers of the
Ninth District, in registering Mr. Grason, as " an
| As matter of reference we insert this precious
| document, or all of it that is material: 40
| 'FIRsT.-Mr. Grason' 8 trial and conviction Of
disloyalty was had in pursuance of special power
conferred by the Constitution on the House Of
| Delegates 'yaa -.asr9ss3
(See Constitution, Article w, Section 15,)
| SECOND The Record of that Conviction stands
so long as the Constitution stands, and no earth
4 ly power can change it except in the mode pre-
scribed by the Constitution, to-wit: Sc By a
vote of wo-thirds of both branches of the Gener-
al Assembly" ~
4. (See Constitution, Article /, Section 4
| THIRD.-This conviction disquali6es him from
voting SAT ANY ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THIS STATE
4 OR TO HOLD ANY OFFICE OF HONOR PROFIT, OR TRUST
! UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE" during the con-
tinuance ofthe conviction. His, ineligibility to
4 Office or his incapacity to vote at any election
1 if therefore as patent as the sun at MONDAY.
| FoURTH.-The act of the Registers of the Ninth
District, in admitting him to beregistered is an
impotent attempt to nullfy the Constitution, and
is a mere act of error or ignorance. If such an
4 act could confer the right of suffrage upon him,
4 or render him eligible TO Office, it would be a
4 virtual abrogation of the Constitution. Thefact
4 of his being registered can not purge him of a
Constitutional disability, and the Judges of Elec-
4 ton, if they are true to their legal obligations,
4 are hound to reject hio vote If offered
/ Let no voter be misled by the flimsy and emp
ty parade of Mr. Grason's friends. The Consti-
tuition is the highest authority of law in the State
| it defines his political status beyond controver-
4 sy; it depriyes him by virtue Of the judgment Of
condemnation pronounced by the House of Dele
gates in pursuance Of authority, OF the right to
vote, or to hold Office in the State, and no incon-
siderate or i'll advised act of Board of Registers
can alter his constitutional disabilities. All votes
cast for Mr. Grasou are therefore thrown away,
and might as we'll be cast for colored man, for
an alien, for lunatic, or for any individual
| specially disqualified by law In contemplation
of law there is really but one candidate for Judge
before the people, viz: the Hon. D. c. H. EMORY.
i qt,fa3 ae.n LAW AND FACT. +
Extremes meet" Mr.. Ridgey engineered
the Conservative ticket through, and is an ar
dent supporter of President Johnson + Mr.. Ora
son was member of the Democratic Convention
that Endorsed the conservative ticket, and praises
My Policy "4
|
Es- We have been asked the question, how
many deserters from the United States service
have been registeredin our county Really, we
do not know. In looking over the list we re-
cognize the names Of several who were in the
United States service, but we have no means of
knowing ALL. In the Tenth District, Messrs Jno.