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

which always occurs at the end of ci-
vii war, they have proclaimed their in.
tentions to guard the polls against the
entrance Of votes hostile to the icpub.
lie, and, by a continuous repetition Of
these appeals aud malicious assertions,
they have been able to band together n
number of persons, well-meaning in
themselves, who are apprchensivc that
this Government might fall into the
power of those who arc denominatcd rs
rebels, as copperheads, and enemies to
the Government. Proceeding upon
that basis they have enacted law and
test oath intended to keep those from
voting who were in actual rebellion
against the Government, or who gave
that rebellion aid and comfort, but iu-
tended to keep also men who did their
duty TO this Government 10 maintain it
aud who actually fought for il, to keep
them away from the polls because some
Of them may have sympathized with
those who were ia rebellion because
some Of them may have been enrolled
by some malicious enrolling oihccrs in
sour counties as disloyal, or as sympa-
thiscrs with the South Aud SO they
have enacted this test-oatb, with eighty
fvc specifications ofthe character which
| have named, to keep away voters from
the polls 20 keep away large maJori-
ly OF the people Of the State Of Misson.
H. Apprchcusiye and fearful that this
testoath, borrowed from the dark nges
Of the history Of the world, whcu rcligi.
Gus aud political fury ran higllcsi---a
tcsi oath that they had invoked 10y
which the successful party 10 those days
gorc enabled to punish all those who
conlcudcd against ihcm--lcariul and
apprchcusiyc that tcst.oaili would not
suffice, they have gone on and enacted
q registry law. under which the Cover.
nor OF this State app1inls a registrar Of
each county, aud tbe registrar OF each
county sppo.uts the voters uf that cDuu.
ty, aud the voters appoint the members
OF tie Legislature, and the members Of
Congress, mi al tbo other officers
which. f. iipos past, were elected by
the lfcc voice Of the people Of ouI State.
Look i1r one momrat, at ,hc ingenuity
aud tho outrage upon our inHtiiutions,
committed ia ths registry law. W hen
a man shall have taken THE iron clad
oatl-wbcn b, has taken this eEpurFa.
tory oath, declaring that be hos not on.
ly never borne arms against the United
State. or given aid or cDufor. % its
eucmios. aud ,hai he has not sympa.
thizcd Bith any who have been ~ arms,
nor whu have douo aoy Of these eighty.
1--we aci- specified Ia this test oath. oven
alter he has taken it the registrar Of
tbm county has the absolute right 10
djs!mBrh.se him. go matter what might
have been Ia, history or hs oarecr--ao
matter What testimony he adducc7 10
prove himself mote .nypl mau than ihc
maa aho sil. thoro arbitrarily TO reject
his yme.
They bad the audac,iy 10 90 sliil fur.
ther, aud Tor fear that thc tcst oath will
not suffice that thc registry law would
not DO their complete aud pcricc, work
they as0 passed Ia the Lass General As.
seubly a law authorizing the Governor
10 call out the militia iu each aud ali Of
this State 10 enforce those act. aud 90
protect the registrar lu auy arbitrary
act hc might commit. aud 90 drive from
tho bsllaibox lho.c Who'll will not say
those Rho undertake to resist, because
that could not have been the intention
hur 20 drive ifum the hailathox those
who might muruu 80 their cuslaYcmcut
aud their dirlrauchiscm1ut Wcnf to
vote &C. wc vote 90 on. after having q.
ken this cspurgatory oath We are TO
vote. il we vote nt 40 at the will aud
pleasure of some ono selected and vested
with arbitrary power Ia each county to
reject our vote; aud then. il We should
mufmur at the hard decree which has
been imposed upon ns the Governor OF
the State has authority to uso the mill,
tary p0wer Of the State 20 suppress aud
put as down, aud to drive us away aud
still our mumurngs ! venture 10 say
that 20 more diaboliealact was ever con
cUctcd IN the heart Of the most inia.
nous Of tyrants ia the history Of the
world venture 10 say that. IL this
thing can be brought home IN It's cuor-
nifty. aud with All is atrocities upon It's
head to the understanding Of those par
ties who pretend to be Radical, before
November we shall have more than Que
half OF their voters to assist US IN over
throwing the Infamous thing. lapplausc;]
aud am here to. day 10 urge our people
to organize themselves in every county
aud every precinct in the State, but 10
bring to bear against this infamous iui-
putty the public opinion fthe State
That is our safety aud our only safety
1t is the mightiest engine in the world
If We can call il forih--if we can get
the people Of this State to understand
the real question upon which they are
10 dccide--if we can disabuse their
minds Of the prejudices aud the anmos.
ities and the bitterness which was evoked
by the managers Of this Radical party
ia order to mislcad men, and induce
them to sacrifice not only tho rights of
their fcllow-citizens, but their own
rights-ifwe can only disabusc hepublic
mind Of the people Of this State OF these
auimosities aud these prejudices, aud
get them to look into the face of this in
famous outrage which has been perpe-
trated not only upon their ncighbors,
but upon themselves, tell you thatt this
whole system which has been invented
and organized by the Radical party will
disappear like baseless fabric Of a vi
Sion. There is no honest man in the