The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1866-08-10
THE REGISTRY LAW.

their labors. So far as we know them they ap-
pear to be well qualified for the discharge of the
duties that devolye upon them. Certainly in
this county they are high-minded, honorable
men, who, we feel sure, will not fail to do their
whole duty. That they may commit some er-
rors, is natural enough, but we are sure that
none will be committed which can be avoided.
Great anxiety is manifested in some parts of
the State and among some people, as to the rule
by which they are to govern their action. Now,
we incline to the opinion that this anxiety is
unnecessary; for, to be satisfied that they will
properly discharge their duties, it is only neces-
sary for US TO know that they are honest and
conscientious men, and honesty, at least, will
be awarded to the appointees in this county by
all parties, we think. Therefore, we feel no
alarm, but on the contrary, are satisfied that if
mistakes occur, they will, at most, be but errors
of the head.
Judging from what we find in many of our ex-
changes, we cannot but believe that much Of this
anxiety is brought about by fear that the Re-
gisters, or many of them, will not pay that de-
votion to party drill, which is desirable to the
leaders of the radical wing of the Republican
party in this State.
We find in the Baltimore american the address
of Robert NJ. Proud, Esq, chairman of the IN
conditional Union State Central Committee
which committee attempts to instruct the Regis
tiers in the line of their duty, by the quotation
of few lines from the Registry Law, and then
calls on ''all ward and district organizations
and on all loyal citizens, to see that proper per-
sons are constantly on hand, as challepgers, at
the offices of registration, that full objection and
evidence may be made against any one trying to
be registered who is unqualified" The COM
mittee declares the prominent question to be,
''Has the person applying for registration ex-
pressed desire for the triumph of the so-called
Confederate States over the arms of the United
States?" and that no one should register who
has "by any open deed or word declared his ad-
hesion TO the cause of the enemies of the United
States" and thinks that 'imany who have boast
ed that they were on the side of the South,
against the Yankee Government will desire to
be registered"
We can hardly determine the committees
standard of loyalty, but suppose they will place
it no higher than it was when the editors and
proprietors of the paper in which the address is
published, were admitted to registration. If they
do not--and to be consistent they ought not
we think that even men who have by "open deed
or word declared their adhesion to the enemies of
the United States, F." might be registered. If the
committee will turn to the Baltimore american
of the Goth of April, 1861, they will find this adj
vice given to the citizens of the State by that
journal. We quote:
ave have, through our constituted authori-
ties, declared that the Northern troops should
not be passed through our city, and that decla-
ration must now be supported with determine
ton, energy and unanimlty. There must be
preparation organization and good counsel. To
prevent the passage of troops, they should be
met beyond the limits of the city by such an or
ganized force as will make the prohibition ef1ec-
tual."
We do not know what the Committee thinks
of this sort of talk, but we confess that it looks
to us very like expressing by "open deed or
word his adhesion to the cause of the enemies of
the United States.' But this is not the only
prominent Republican journal in the State which
has expressed sentiments similar and of the same
import and whose editors and proprotors have
long since been registered. The Baltimore Coun-
ty american, published at Towsontown, issued
an extra on the evening of Saturday, the goth
day of April, 1861, which reads as follows
baltimore COUNTY AMERICAN-EXTRA.
VIZ
occurred between soldiers from the North and
the citizens of Baltimore, and unarmed men
have fallen beneath the musket shots of soldiers
from another State. We have stood long by
. the UNION FLAG-we have contended thus far
beneath its folds, but now we must coincide
with Governor Hicks and Mayor Brown, as well
rs with the sentiments of the people of the en-
tire State, in saying that Northern troops shall
not pass unframed through the State of Mary
land, for the purpose of subjugating the South.
Northern troops are now, it is said, marching to
Washington, intending to force themselves
through Maryland, and we can but say to our
people, respond to the call issued by the Govern
or and defend your State.
ttIt is said that Government troops who came
rs far As the Gunpowder, on the Philadelphia
Railroad were prevented from proceeding by the
bridge being destroyed, and that they are now
marching on foot towards Baltimore.
"The Baltimore County Horse Guards, of
this place. have been ordered out, and manfully
are they responding They are now gathering,
and will march before the going down of the
sun.
"The tTowson Guards have not yet received
orders but are momentarily expecting them.
"All is OK element here, and with few excep-
tions all appear to be Of one mind.
"On the N. @. R. r., the bridges over West
ern Run and Beaver dams, near Cockeysvlle,
and several bridges near the city, including the
iron bridge at the Relay House, have been de-
stroyed, to prevent the transportation of gov
eminent troops from the North"
Now does this committee mean to say that no
other men holding these opinions shall be regis
tered, and that it was wrong to register such
Or is not the true meaning of their address this,
that all the men who have heretofore held these
and like opinions, and who vote with The Abo-
lition party, have already been registered and
forasmuch as those not registered are political
enemies, they shall not be registered, although
they may have repented Of their indiscretion in
sackcoth and ashes2 What more could or did
any Southern journal say, in urging its fellow