The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1866-10-20
Address of the UnConGifioHai
uru;ou state Central Committee.
TO THE LOYAL VOTERS OF MARYLAN

Or who ..has been in any manner in the
service of the so-called Confederate States
of America"
Or who '.has voluntarily left this State and
zone within the military lines of the so'caIl-
ed Confederate States of America with the
purpose of adhering to said States or armies,
Or who .'has given any aid comfort
couutcnance or support to those engaged III
armed hostility to the United States,
Or who has in any manner adhered TO
the enemies of the United States, either ny
contributing to the enemies OF the ohi'e"
States or unlawfnly sending within the
lines of such enemies money, or goods, or
letters, or information,'
Or who :. has disloyally held communica-
ton with the enemies of the United States,
Or who has advised any person to enter
the service of said enemies, or aided any
person so to enter,
Or who 9 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
The object and intent of these restrictions
is clear and unquestionable. The Consltu-
ton intends that the Government Of the
State shall be retained exclusively in the
hands of the loyal people of the State, OF
those who have been loyal to the National
Government and it intends to exclude from
any participation in its Governmental those
who have participated in or countenanccd
the late rebellion, or even expressed Il desire
for its success.
This evident intention of the Contribution
is now in danger ofbeipg set aside, under the
prctence Of giving to its language "a liberal
construction
The clauses which we have quoted admit
of only one construction. Their meaning is
plain. No honest mind can mistake it.
And vet. those whose sworn duty it is to
enforce these provisions, and to cary Their
purpose into effect, have attempted, under
forms Of law, practically to annul the law.
And as the intention of the Constitution
in imposing these limitations upon suffrage
was undoubtedly to exclude all who, by word
or deed. were identified with the rebellion
and to keep the Government of the State
solely in the hands of her loyal people, so ii
is equally plain that this scheme for amend
ing the Constitution by construction has for
its object exactly the opposite result. 1t Is
intended to take the State out of the hands
of the loyal men who have guided her over
the shoals of rebellion and given her a free
Constitutions and to place her under the
control of Il combination made NJ in large
III assure of those who during the war were
VIGOROUSLY disloyal.
in the prosecution of this scheme tho
Registers appointed by the present Governor
have utterly disfegarded the Injunction o
the Constitution ''cuetulM to ertl'ide from
Ieing registered all persons SO as 06orc dis
qaaHfcd."
They have registered in large numbers
those who have VIGOROUSLY ''given aid
comfort, countenance and support to those
engaged in armed hostility to the United
States They have registered by thousand
those who during the rebellion were lout
aud administrative in the expression OF thcl
desire for its success, and who scarcely nov
attempt to conceal their disappointment a
its overthrow. They have even in som
instances registered those w!C make boas
of their exploits in the Rebel army.
These are not random assertions. The
nrc facts patent to everybody. Almost ever
citizen of the State can bear testimony t.
many instances of the kind within his ow
knowledge.
The Registers have, with few honarabl
exceptions, refused to make the 'diligeii
inquiry" which the law requires, and hav
accepted applicants upon their taking tn
prescribed oath, when the slightest invcstlgi
Ton would have proved that oath to be
false one.
Indeed, the moral sense of every true ma
must be shocked to contemplate the amour
of perjury which has been perpetratcd IN tn
,rosecuton of this scheme to take the pow'
nr the State out ofthe hands gifts loyal ropl
lation, and to hand it over to party calIe
"Conscrratire,n but which derives its chi
strenoth from that faction which lately soug|
the destruction Of the Government and
the Union, and would have dragged theS Sta
of MARYLAND into the vortex of rebellion.
LOYAL men of Maryland, il you are true
Yourselves as we are sure you will be, til
scheme will fail The black list of Reb
candidates for suffrage is now before you.
Examine it carefully. Mark the names
those whose acts have disqualified the
nm lerthe Constitution. Collect the evidenc
Present it anew to the Registers on the da
designated for revision, and if they still d
regard the obligations Of their positions, a
peal to the Judges on the day ofthe clectio
The Constitution distinctly puts upon the
the duty 'carefully to exclude from voti
all persons so as above disqualified"
This duty we have reason to hope will
large portion of the State be faithfully p,
formed. 1t is for you to sustain and ass
the Judges in the discharge of this imp
tant duty. This done, we have full faith Il
you will triumphantly defeat this wicked
tempt, under the forms of law, to annul
Constitution in its fundamental provist
and to revolutionize your State.
1t is for you, loyal men of Maryland, to
that your good old State has her part IN