The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-06-21
ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
REORGANIZATION
ARTICLE I.

ton OF the names OF voters In this State
which registration shall be evidence Of
the qualification of said voters to vote at
any election thereafter held, but no
person shall be excluded from voting
at any election ON account of not being
registered until the General Assembly
shall have passed an act of registration,
and the same shall have been carried
into effect, after which no person shall
vote unless his name appears on the
register.
SEC. A. 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 sConfede-
rate States of America and no person
who has voluntarily left this State and
gone within the military lines of the So
called Confederate States or armies"
with the purpose of adhering to said
States or armies, and no person who
has given any aid, comfort, countenance
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 contributing to
the enemies of the United States, or
unlawfully sending within the lines of
such enemies money or goods, or letters,
or information, or who has disloyally
held communication with the enemies of
the United States, OF who has advised
any persons to enter the service of the
said enemies, or aided any person so to
enter, 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 en-
emies 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, un-
less since such unlawful acts he shall
have voluntarily entered into the mill
tary service of the United States, and
been honorably discharged thercfrom,
or shall be on the, day of election, actu-
ally and voluntarily in such service, o:
unless he shall be restored tc his I'll
rights of citizenship by an act OF the
General Assembly passed by yc,e CT
two-thlrds of all the members elected to
each House; and it shall be the duty OF
all Officers of Registration and Judges
of Election carefully to exclude from
voting, or being registered, all persons
so as above disqualified and the Judges
OF Election at the first election held
under this Constitution shall, AID at any
subsequent election may, administer to
any persons Offering to vote the follow
ing oath or affirmation [ Go swear or
| affirm that | am a citizen Of tic United
States, that have never given any aid,
countcnancc OF 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 res
poets demean myself as loyal citizen
of the United States, and | make this
oath or affirmation without any rcscrva-
ton or evasion, and believe it to be
binding on me and any person dccli-
ming to take such oath shall not be al
lowed to vote, but the taking of such
oath shall not be deemed conclusive
evidence Of the right of such person to
vote; and any person swearing or affirm
ing falsely shall be liable to penalties
of perjury, and it shall be the duty of
the proper officers of registration to
allow no person to be registered until
he shall have taken the oath or ahirma-
ton above set out. 4 x
REGISTRY LAW.
Sec. IA. Beat enacted, That for the
purpose of correcting said list Of quail
fed voters, after the first general cleo
ton held under this act, by the addi-
ton of the names and persons having
come of age, acquired legal residence,
been naturalized or otherwise, and by
striking from such register of voters
the names of persons removed from the
county or State by death or other causes
of disqualification, there shall be desig-
mated or appointed by the Governor an
nually, one officer of registration in like
manner as hereinbefore mentioned, who
shall be qualified in like manner, and
have and exercise all the powers herein
conferred on the three original officers
of registration, so far as shall be neces-
sary for the correction of the list of vo-
tiers and the books of registration rem
dered necessary by the provisions of
section three, four, and FIVE, of the first
Article fthe Constitution, and the ac-
ton of the General Assembly. s.
We publish above a portion of the
Constitution relating to the Elective
Franchise, and the section of the Reg
istry law, relating to future registration.
It would Seem from the above that no
one who actually gave aid and comfort
to, orcorresponded with the rebels, with
the intention of aiding their cause, can
conscientiously take the oath required.
As in criminal cases the intention is