The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-07-28
Gov. Bradford Approves the Regis.
try Law---Regards its Justice
TAAs~,...Nahln
Indisputable.

The speech made by Governor bradford ON
National and State affairs at Frederick, on We'd
nesday the 18th instant, has been published en-
tire. The Governor approves the policy Of Pres
ident johnson, and condemns the reconstruction
plan Of Congress, mainly on the ground that Il
gives white man in Pennsy lvania jus, As iaach
elective power ~ a white man In South Carroll.
na. How Il Is possible for man Of Governor
BradfoFds sense Of justice and right to claim for
the people Of the Southern States representa-
ton Tor the freedmen in Congress, thus giving
the disloyal whites Of those States three times
the elective power Of loyal white man, or n re-
turned soldier in the North, we cannot conceive,
and his arguments fail TO convince rs on the sub
ject This representation OF the slave in Con-
gress was, like Slavery, Que Of the evils Of the
past, and It's abolshment should be regarded rs
the righteous result Of the war. To reconstruct
the Union on such u basis Of representation Is
virtually giving TO the soldiers Of General Lees
army reward for their treason, and Furnishing
those Of General Grant for their sacrifices and
suIcrngs in the cause Of the Union. By the
continuance OF the old basis Of representation
the keepers Of the prison pens ut Belle Isle and
Andersonvile, will have three votes. whilst those
OF their victims who survived their horrid bar
bariies are TO have but one. In this matter OF
reconstruction let justice be done, and the white
men Of all sections OF the Union placed upon an
equality. giving 10 the one no advantage. over
the other.
The Governor evidently does not agree with
Mr. Blair aud his /" Conservative friends 90 in re-
laiion 10 the Registry law Of Maryland. lie
- cannot understand how any one can dispute
. the justice Of the principles Of that law -
Hut We give has remarks on this subject entire
should here conclude what have to say
Tor ieel that must have taxed already your pa
nenee' rs J have nearly exhausted INV own
sirengih-were IL not that there l. one subject
tue omission OF which would certainly lead tu
the conclusion with some that ! had purposely
avoided aliusion TO IL. Allude. Of course 10 the
Registry law, the repeal Of hich the radical press
u constantly striving 10 show Is n fundamental
priuciple OF the conservative platform I, has
always seemed 10 me that ~ well those who
'aVor AS those that oppose the repeal of that law
place entirely too much stress upon the effect Of
sach repeal. so far Is the most material qucs-
ton connected with the subjcci-ihc disqualified
ton OF disloyal votcrs-is concerned. il must
readily occur TO every one on slight reflection
iha, as these disqualification are a part OF the
Constitution OF the State. and are not for the frs,
time prescribed in the Registry law. the repeal
o. that law would not remove these disqualified
tons. nor ~ II seems 10 me. have any other ma.
,erial elect than 10 transfer all questions touch
lug them from the Officers Of Registration TO the
Judges % Elections
am aware that loud complaints In many
parts o. the State have been made agains, the
law but am inclined TO think that when you
examine them they will BE- found to consist rather
in objections 10 the manner in which in some
places il has been administered than 10 the law
Itself ~ the provisions Of the Constitution IL was
intended 90 enforce. Indeed ! cannot under
stand how any one who claims 10 be loyal in the
most liberal acceptaion OF the term can reason
ably object TO these provisions. /, must lie re-.
membered that they are in the Constitution Of a
State that never pretended 10 secede that never
wAvefed IN her allegiance TO the General Gov
eFnmeni and the general principle that ;hey
avow u that no man who left the State aud took
W arms against the Government. and Of course
against this State. or who aided. abeiied and en-
couragel Others thus 10 arms. is entitled 10 the
elective franchise. That any man with any pre-
'enuons 10 loyalty eau dispute the justice Of such
principle or the necessity for its adoption a,
SUCH time, Is. as repeat, proposition ! can
hardly understand
can understand that even among loyal men
there mas be an honest difference OF opinion as 10
the duration Of such disquaifca,ions The &C,
q l1s5. by which the persons known during the
Revolution as non-jurors ~ere disqualified a. yo-
icr.. continued upon the statute book until l7ss
three wears after the conclusion Of the war. when
Il was repealed. Speaking only for myself rs TO
the proper time for continuing the disquAlifcA-
lions provided in the Constitution Of IsGs |
should feel very much di sposed 10 regulate our
action Ia that respect by reference TO the conduct
o. the individual who seeks restoration OF his
s#ssa Hra.haN a a.
mgh, probably safely pass Az act los the required
constitutional vote, which should invest the Gov
ernor with power 10 remit the dissranchsemeni
whenever the individual fled 10 the Executive
Department. petition for the restoration OF nj.
franchise. stating his readiness TO renew his oath
oi allegiance, 20 observe IL faithfully hereafter.
and 20 conduct himself 10 future as good and
faithful ciizea.
As regards the provisions OF the Registry law.
II Is probably like many other acts of Assembly
upon new subjects, and may be ehaFgcable Nth
defects which were hardly ioreseen. until We act
ed under H. and are then so manifest. that those
who made the Law, IL they had their work 20 do
over, would probably themselves apply the re-
quired correction.
tine defect Of that kind, as II seems 70 me, Is
the wantoi some such supervisory power as would
secure greater uniformity Of action on the part
Of those entrusted with is execution II Is sery
manifest to me, from facts that have come 10 nv
knowledge-iadeed under the circumstances il
could hardly be otherwise--ihai the law has
been very differently interpreted in different parts
Of the state; this might be remedied either by
an appellate tribunal In every Congressional dis
,rici or by single tribunal Of that kind com.
posed Of a member from each Of such districts.
Ia regard 20 the kind Of construction the nc,
should receive, eau neither agree with those
who claim for il liberal nor those who demand
strict construction Of It's provisions; both sug.
gesiions seem 10 the 10 imply something more or
less than just. IL should receive, In nv opinion,
a fair, just aud legal construction. and from ca
ses reported 20 the AN satisfied IL has at times
received a construction that the law would no,
warrant One instance may be given RELYING
upon that clause Of the Constitution which de-
clArcs that the oath taken by the applicant for
registration shall not be conclusive Of his right
70 vote, the Officers OF Registration, az | am in
formed. have In many eases refused 10 register
him. al,ho ugh after questioning him at length
under oath, they have failed 10 elicit any Admis-
sion Of disloyal or disqnalifypg act, and al
though no witness has testined 20 that effect.
Such course Is not authorized by any proper
construction of the law, In my opinion, for though
by iis terms the oath Of such applicant Is not con.
eta'is, II Is by every principle Of legal construc.
ton PresuHPtirs evidence in his favor, and suf-
hcieIi Until. bis disqualification Is established by
sone other testimony. This u not only the legal
rule, but u Is the manifest intent OF the art for
IN speaking Of the duty Of the Registers, Il de-
elares that 10 the Of disqualified voters in
stead Of entering their names 10 the column Of
qualified voters they are to inser, In lieu there
Of the names OF one or more witnesses by whom
the disqualification was proven" thus clearly
showing tha, the law itself contemplated IN oil
such Cases tho presence Of = competent witness.
These are my views very frankly given upon
this law, not that they are worth more than the
views Of any other citizen, bot a. the Law and ia
proposed repeal are supposed q be connected