The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-08-23
WESTMINSTER MD THURSDAY AUGUST %, 1866.

OF the United States is not disqualifi-
cation prescribed by the Constitution.
But to disqualify, the citizen must have
adhered to the enemies Of the United
States, by contributing to them, or by
unlawiully sending within the lines of
the enemies of the United States, mon
cy, goods &c,, &c, or by doing some act
of adhesion specified in the 4th section
thereof 1t follows, therefore, that in
all cases in which any of the above
enumerated pretended causes of dis
qualification are entered on the books of
registration opposite the name of an APP
plicant in the seventh column, it is the
duty Of the present registers to correct
the list by striking out the Illegal and
void entry, and to rcgistcr.the applicant
who was disqualified without legal
cause, as a qualified voter in the eighth
column.
A refusal to answer questions fail
ure b p roducc naturalization papers;
refusal to take the oath, are not causes
Of disqualification prescribed by the
Constitution They are conditions pro
ccdeut to the right Of registration. The
registers were not ouud 10 register an
applicant who refused to answer the
proper and legal questions authorized
by the law, nor one Who failed to produce
his naturalization papers, nor one who
refused to cake the oath authorized by
the law 10 be administered, nor one who
had not legal residence, but, if the same
applicant had complied with these con
dit.oas al any subsequent time, he was
then entitled to be registered If he
complies with these conditions before
the present registers, he is entitled to
registration. because he offers the proof
that bc is q legal and qualified voter aud
the registers are bound to make out full
lisia oraIl legally qualified voters.
This opinion has been already OK
tended, and the subject is so prolific,
aud so much mioppgeheusion has exist
Cd. aud so much abuse Of power and
high handed and arbitrary deprivation
oftbe citizens Of their plain rights, has
been jractI,el under the prctcuce Of
the authority Of the Constitution aud
laws, but without the least authority Of
either, that it Is difficult to restrain our
selves from too much amplidcat,on, in
the effort 10 present with dstinctness,
the trla rights, powers mud duties, Of
thg present registers under the consti-
tuition aui laws.
We may say iuconclusion that care.
iul reading OF tho Constitution aud the
registry law, aud a strict adherence to
their provisions, is the most certain
safeguard against error, 10 being held 10
continual remembrance that the false
representations uf those provisions which
were 80 c'amgfously made last year By
interested and iuasmol partizaus. can
have pa rieh,lul influence with honest
aud upright public officers, who are en-.
gagged in The discharge Of sworn duty,
II b. hoped that enough has been said
20 satisfy the present registers that
Mayaal is not degraded by a 0ouati.
tuition and laws. which rightly aud fair.
vs. considered, aud interpreted, require
,hgm TO deprive any Of their fellow citi-
gems ofthe dearest right Of ireemeu
because Of the unlawful aud wrongful
ec,s OF thcir predecessors Every oiti.
zen Is ca,.Ned 70 The law The regis
tcrs are sworn to execute the law as it
m uat as it may have been misintcr-
proied by somebody else.
WM p. MAULSBY,
WM. B NELSON
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