The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1866-01-20

State, chiefly among those who,'in the fac,
Of the decision Of our highest judicial trbu
nal, persist in denying its constitutionality
and object to the oath of allegiance which il
imposes. | trust and believe that sucl
threats are confined to very small class o.
our citizens The intention of both the Con
stitution and the Registry law, was simply tc
protect the State against treason, and to show
distrust of those who had been connected
with it. Complaints have been made that
abuses have arisen in the execution of this
| law, and that qualified voters as we'll as
others have been arbitrarily DISTINGUISHED.
upon frivolous and irrelevant issues, growing
out Of mistaken views of the purpose and
meaning Of that Act. | am sure that the
Legislature designed no more than that the
provisions of the Constitution should be
strictly complied with, without the remotcst
| intention of interfering with any loyal citizen
entitled to the right of suffrage. The law
would have been less liable to abuse had it
embodied the feature of appeal to some com
petent tribunal. The Registration Act was
passed, as is well known, at time when the
ravagcs of civil war were dcSolating our
State. Large numbers Of our citizens, va
rlous!y estimated at from ten to fifteen thou
/ sand, had left their homes. taken ~ arms
against their State, and subscribed to the
most stringent oath of allegiance to the so.
called " Confederate Statcs.'' ! do not pro-
pose at this time to discuss events that have
passed. farther than to refer to the acts of
the Union men of that day in their praise
worthy efforts to save their State from the
threatened ruin which lowered over it. |
would rather forget the past that rc-opens
atresh these fruitful sources of irritation
which should now be permitted to sleep. If
these acts were radical and ultra. much more
so was the attempt to revolutionize the State
and break up the Union. Maryland, surely,
could not have disrcgardcd the first duty of
sclt.preseryation. 1t has been alleged that
the dominant party who now control the
State represents Il minority of her aggregate
population. If it be So it is the more to be
regretted that SO large a number of our citi-
zens should have identified themselves with
the rebellion as to suffer the power which
this minority controlled to pass into other
hands. Small, however a the minority NAV
be, it cannot be denied that it is the fair and
legitimate representative of whatever there is
of loyalty among our people. They are the
men to whom you are Indebted for the safety
of your State and the property which you
now enjoy, and without whose uncompro-
missing devotion to the Union Maryland would
have been handed over to indiscrimate de-
struction
The elective franchise is function of the
State. To confer or without it is the pro-
vince of those who are entrusted with the
formation of your organic law. Our citizens
engaged in this rebellion have been received
with kindness and federation: they come
back however. to be dealt with as the pco-
pie III their wisdom may deem most expe-
dent. Threats of resistance to the Consti-
tuition and laws could hardly bccxpectcd to
facilitate them in rcsuming the privileges Of
citizenship which they have dcibclatclvahan-
doned. In the meantime they have no Just
right, in any fair view of their existing rrla.
tons to complain Of the harlships Of law
which they have themselves deliberately pro.
voked, and which intended no more than to
place the Government of the State. at a time
of imminent danger, in the hands of its loyal
defenders Are they not the legitimate
guardians and dcpositares of its power?
The repeal of the Registration Act. in my
judgment, will not materially benefit any
class of voters who have beer heretofore dis.
tranchised under its provisions. The oath
of allegiance prescribed by the Constitution
makes it incumbent upon the Judges Of
Election to do substantially what the Regis
tiers are required to do under a fair and pro-
per Interpretation of their powers As the
Executive of the State, | do not feel author.
Med to recommend Reputation by the lie.
gsIature of the organic law of YOUR State by
any radical modification of the terms Of the
Registration Act. To alter or amend the
Constitution, upon which this Act rests.
would require the sanction Of the qualified
voters Of the State. The regular stated meet
ing of the General Assembly, under the Con
stitution, takes place in January next The
Delegates who will compose that body may
he expected to represent the wishes Of the
people upon this subject, as the agitation now
going forward will show its results in the
ensuing fall elections. No other practical
mode of dealing with this question occurs to
my mind than by its reference to the Repre-
sentatives of the people, who shall compose
that body, who coming fresh from their con.
stituences, will be prepared to reflect the
public sentiment in any action which may be
deemed prudent and advisable.
From the Madison (Wis.) Journa, December 26.l
A Fearful Story of Hydr0phObia.
Mr.. Henry Drew, Assistant Superintend-
ent of Public Property, has related to us the
particulars of "a case of hydrophobia at the