The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-08-09
RES.1sTnA RATION.

haulcAlSj VINO seencu w w oJ
pleased with their success, whilst the
Democrats and real Conservatives were
much put out aboutit. When the smoke
begins to clear away We discover that
it is not so bad as was expected, and
believe both sides have been little
mistaken We think now that the Ra-
ideals cannot rely on more than three
or four of the Registers out OF the eleven
as fully coming up to their rigid ideas
of enforcing the law. The rest ofthcm,
as far as we can learn, have the conh-
dence of the unregistered citizens that
they will do justice in the matter. Our
own opinion is that those in whom this
want Of confidence is felt may yet turn
out better than expected, as there is
doubtless more liberality prevailing this
year than there was among Radicals last
year. Then, to have been consistent
Democrat was prima facie evidence OF
disloyalty, aud the crudest notions Of
law and evidence prevailed, which spor-
ted with the dearest rights Of the eiti-
zen, and rendered it quite unsafe for
people to trust themselves before such
tribunals. 1t was true that heavy
penalty hung over the head of the Reg
lister who abused the trust; but the au-
thoritics of the State, civil and judicial,
were believed TO be on the side Of the
Register, and if he did err il was easy
to set it down TO the score Of Ignorance
rather than to wilful oppression of the
citizen.
Our opinion il, that this Registry
law was a grand piece Of political ras'
cality, planned to cheat people ont oil
their right Of suffrage, for which there
was no real necessity, a. the tlrst clec.
ton after the war proved thattwo thirds
of the voters were union aud muliitudcs
who voted tho peace ticket were only
politically opposed to the adminisirai'on
To have disfranchiscd those only who
had taken up arms for the South or
could have been convicted Of aiding aud
abctting treason, was all the circum-
stances could have called for; but, in the
high state Of excitement then prevail
ing, it was easy for prcjudiced par,izans
TO persuade themselves that it was ne
ccssary TO punish their political oppo.
nents. and that the great body Of them
should be excluded from the polls
During the war there was opportunity,
but not necessity, for continuing this
prescription, and during the registration
last year, when the passions had not yet
cooled down, it might be expected thai,
bigottcd Registers would lean against
the right Of the citizen; bat he that
would do SO, this year, with better ia
formed public opinion, aud a liberal
Governor, instructing to fairness, should
receive the excavations Of al aud be
held responsible to the highest penalties
Of the law
When We speak Of liberal intcrpTe-
tation Of thc law we do not moan that
its plain provisions should be disregard
ed but We mean that. on deciding on
eases before them, the Registers should
feel themselves bound in cases Of doubt
to lean in favor Of the right Of the citi-
zen, and not against him, az VIC believe
has often been the case--Ihat he
should feel constrained TO give him the
benefit of the doubt, as he would do the
ycricst criminal and that he will not
reverse the order of law aud justice,
and assume, as was done, that the APP
plicaut was gi,iity until he would bring
witnesses to prove his loyalty Bad, as
the law Is, We are satisfied If II receives
n fair construction, aud the Registers
discard all prejudice, that not very
many will be excluded. Those who
have voluntarily committed open acts
forbidden by the law, will hardly pre-,
sent themselves to the Registers and
the only difficulty will arise in regard
to those who believe they have not done
such things with any criminal intent
Many gave food &c. to Rebels when
here without really meaning to help
them to overthrow the government
and many may have, at some time or
other, expressed sympathy with the
Rebels, under circumstances Of great
whose hearts all the time
were in favor of their government, and
who would have shrunk from any gonu-
inc act Of disloyalty. All such cannot
be disqualified under any fair construo-
tion of the law
We therefore advise all, who know
and believe that they are entitled to be
registered, to apply and insist on their
rights. They have little reason to dread
the prosecutions which are so ostenta-
tiously threatened, as 1t would require
the strongest kind of evidence to con.
Wet them of corrupt intention Any