Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1866-08-23

tW1TJfME tTlT ,aaliesim Iodio Bus
iii.E 2l.Iel3j.. a2gs.o,y Lga sdou bas.sa
ffaAdJther ana saaa way Of gitAius sid gs08mAB4a9
&sSa t'disl6yally Aoiding, ,eSumanication, asc.,'
tiefhisiseapeAle eIefimisunaeyssp ling pisley,al
eommugication ,is ~ Ippt such commqnicatiepa ~
We were all eonpelted to have whilst the rebels
were here. Bot any One who has has en nfertaihtIed
tIeif spiss III seOdts kRo&ihg thena to be ID, and
leohmunicated oanythingi to thena, kuswing IL
believing such sepnapicatie stei isr
pssfab has held dislaylpl lfc0mmuppicationo .; ,,d,
Another anda foiyM way stated is i'advising
any one 70 enter the ssfvfce o the rebeis 81 aided
any person so to enter" .BniGHios
plain bf fhistske<riT The person must
actually fd'gss.s II lssyeS nesyoom to doubt;
nothing short, of actual adtice brings the party
within the terns Of ibis clause, '"''''''"''''''
o Xnother And q mn wayby whieh aid; cSuatc-
nance, eOmiors and suppostimas7bei given is de
.ehsrsd b these words, ntany one vhe as,byaa apy
open deed or wOrd, declared bis adhesion 70 ths
cause of the enemy, or his desire for the triumph
or Gle said enemies over Inc arfies Of tie United
Stattsss % NJ III 10 sno sgnEosd ell .s9Gi
Now hsrsihf tts stSubls cs2issss nnshs law Ii
effect readas:o gAnylene who has given aid, eesnr
ten1sspee, comfort and support by any open deed
or word declaring his qdhesion to the cause Of the
entmy. -" ''''''''" ''"'''412q 'h" ,9''''i''i7
Amy one whose mind is not def6rned by pteju-
dices wili see al a glance that the open Word or
deed must heIa declaration of ddkesios To- Ac eaass
of the enemy eonEligt; ~ edi .oi'gsney q b.,
~ y is NOT therefore, any word or deed in oppo-
sition to the public measures of the administra-
tion. All men, at oil times and everywherre where Ii ID
this country Have had The right to dothat The
open word must be one OF adhesiosy tothe eas,ny,
not enc wherein the citizen DECLARES, as the con-
sttution of the United States entities him, his
dissent objection or hostility to the public acts
Of those in power, '''''' e'''
a'To'say that the 'fwat was wrong,,'D Or that the
emancipation proclamation was unjust, or that
tue arrest Of citizens was 5tyraaniealI that the
measures ofgoyyerpment were, oppressive, oriany
other conceivable expression or declaration Of
dissent or disapproval Of the administration, no
inttteein what terms OF language; whilst Il may
have teerrmy unpopular, xas still moi declaring
aasssloa ,pE expressing a'desire ferttr
gqmrapll', Of tbs, spsmyo Il ~, on.o Lsd .am,h
Now it is but sheer naked justice 70 the people
that this distinction be kept steadily In view
The constitution does not declare asoS? as OH? Of lie
causes of disqhatiG Gation, dtntneiatiShs of the
publicIscta Of those in power or Opposition cto
their measures. Speh things men hare always
been allowed to do. Such things men are doing
now. And whenever 4 law is passed prohibiting
this great right to the people, then pubic liberty
Ia at an end .ea7ifu ictD7p tbs eonn!s ,,.HiH
a Bat this great Eigh, remains untouched by the
constitution, and any terms ofdenunciation, either
public men, no matter who they MAY be, or
denunciation of public measures, n pmdtter what
they may be, are not prohibited. Nor IL such
declaration or denuncialion declared to be one
Of the causes of disqualification. ..
The words spoken must be declaration OF
"aahssion TO lie tnsmy'-not of opposition 10 the
public acts Of men-in power. srau - -
But this is not all; the words of adhesion NAV
be spoken, and proved, but unless they were
Openly declared they do not constitute a dis.
qualification.
/ Now the constitution speaks only of an open
word and deed. Not any Kind Of word, but an
open word or d'rd. This word open was put in
the law for some purpose and it is the duty of the
Register to, inquire and consider its meaning. r
Why is the word open used? Why did the law
not simply say any wo,d, without saying open
word? u or 'fd, ,a'fr-Er sit.."a
The rcason.and interpretation is too plain to be
misunderstood. ..sf r-f'T a-;r.. g,
Adeclaration of Addiction tohe enemy. made in
an asscinblage of people, and in their hearing,
openly, is within the terms of the law. Dec.
larations openly made, with = view TO Influence
public opinion, aud mould public sentiment ar,
the open words meant BY the constitutions. lBu,
declaration made by one acquaintance to anoth.
er is not such an open declaration or expression
as is meant by the law ..'"i
And this view is made palmer when we con.
sider'the connection in which this lsngaagt
stands. Look at it. Take the 4th sec.- of The
first Art. and read, ''no person, who has giyer
any aid, comfort, countenance or support ts
those engaged, in ermN,Aestility, either ,by contr
buting, &c, or by unlawfully sending, &c,or who
has dsloyally held &C., &c, or who has by an,
open decd or ,rord, declared his adhesion to H.
cause ofthe enemies, &c" ' fE"l N'HH "
If by any open werd Of adhesion'a party ha.
given aid, SC, then he, is disqualified. 4 But th'
declaration must be such as gives aid, counte
nance and support to those in armed hostility.
Now an expression Of fadhesion to the Rebel cause
not openly made, bnt made By one man to anoth
er cannot have given aid, comfort, &C., TO the en-
emy,. And hence there is no such: sbsurdity G-ir
the constitution. .l-. .,I,-,.... ,,,,
It is clear that no words Of opposition to th,
measures Of the Federal government, or any 0
its oficcrs-Presdent or Judge or Congress
mani no words Of opposition to any act of Stat
government, whether it be, to Legislation of th,
State or the States action through its convention
nothing of this sort is within the terms of tn
Constitution. Because, whilst such words o
opinions may have been in 'dehodnctment Of til
conduct or measuns of the ruling powers tile.
were not declaration Of adhesion to Mernemiss.
Men never were forbidden to oppose the acts o
measures Of their public servants. D.
tits also clear that words declaring an ddhe
siea to the cause of the enemy are not n dis
qualification unless they are open words, spoksl