St. Mary's gazette., 1867-01-17

yasx*p.r MORNING. lsau.ry =, 1867
tEanhRDTuV:%, Nd

Philip Francis Thomas, in the House Of
Delegates, To restore T. snil cltl7"nshlp
snd tbc ,ight 70 vote AMI held othcc All
Icrsons who may be deprived thereof, br
sh- provisions contained in the fourth sec
ton Of the first .rtcc of the Constitution
II t!le State During the progress Of ra@
bill 10 its third rcadug, she radic.ls at
tempted by amendments &C. nn l!ssy aud de-
f.a, several of its rclnsl,sl provisions,
but the amendments we're promptly voted
down aid the bill passed TO its final stage
- il came from the hands Of its author.-
Ere this, it has probably become law Of
the State. Objections have been raised III
conservative circles to the tcst-oaths re-
t,iu.sl in. t!c Blk, AID xo coufc,s to have
been party ~ titrsc ourselves, but as
,i1cre is general concurrence Of legal
opinion that the Legislature Is rcst1aMed
s~| doing moro than making voli the
r1rosDrrt'rc features Of the tex-oaths in
.hc 4th section Of ehc lst article Of the
Constitution, ee now accept the bill with
out justification and return the sincere
thanks Of our disfr.ncliscd fellow. citizens
70 Mr Thomas for the relief winch his
b,ll vii. atEorl them.
Whereas, br the provisions Of the fourth
so -. t,I>
tion of this State.za largo portion of its
citizens otherwise entitled TO vote aud hold
otficc, have been deprived .! those prvl-
lcges, whilst they remain liable to taxation,
10 the performance Of military duty, and
in ali other rc.pcctr subject to law III whose
snactlnonts they can have no participation,
n! Of which is contrary to the principles
an which republican governments arc es-
tsbl.shcd.
And vhercas, these restrictions We're
designed to be temporary, as IS evident
from the fact that poser is wisely given
TO the General Assembly in the very sec .
ton Of the Constitution which imposes suc!,
restrictions, to remove them in all eases
by an act passed by . vote Of twothird.
And whereas, The reasons for such re-
strictions have, b, the return Of peace,
now happily ceased to exist, and it is
therefore vwh' and proper by the speedy
exercise of the power 80 reserved to the
General Assembly TO rc-establlsh and re-
affirm She right of the people to participate
in the Legislature, justly declared in the
declaration Of rights to be the security of
liberty and the foundation of all fr>e gov
ernmeut; thcrcfers,
Be 1t rnncttd dy ske ~Gcnrrd assembly
Of M1ryitnd, tlro-thir1is Of MY the members
olsct~d to each House concnrrlttq, That all
persons otherwise entitled to vote and hold
eifice, who may be deprived Of those prlyi
lcgcs by reason o. sny of the provisions of
the 4th section of the lst article of the
Constitution of this State, he and they are
hereby restored to their full rights Of cti
scnship, and each and all Of them shall be
entitled to be registered as qualified voters,
and TO vote in the ssmo manner as If the
SAID 18th section of the lst article of the
constitution had not been adopted, upon
taking and subscribing before any justice
Of the peace, or other officer authorized to
aauinister an oath. or before the proper
officer or officers of registration the follow
ing oath or affirmation
'1---do swear or affirm that | am a
citizen of the United States. ant! that | will
bear true faith aud allegiance to the Uni
ted States, aud support the Constituuo"
and the laws thereof as the supreme Jaw
- h. l,r, Of
State to the contrary notwithstanding that
! will in all respects demean myself as
loyal citizen of the United States. and |
make this oath or affirmation without any
reservation or evasion, and believe 1t 70 be
binding on me"
And shall be entitled to hold office upon
taking, before any officer or person au-
thorired TO administer an oath, the follow
ing oath or affirmation
II do swear Cor affirm as the case may
be) .ha, | will to the best of my skill and
Judgment diligently and faithfully, with
out partiality or prejudice execute tho of
6cc oi--according to the constitution and
laws Of this State, and that since the fourth
day Of July. 1881, have not III any man
rcr violated the provisions of tho present
constitution in relation to the bribery Of
voters, or preventing legal voters or pro
curing illegal votes to be given, ,"-tand
II governor. senstor or member of the
House of Delegates, a judge, )-that | will
not directly or Indirectly receive the pre-
6ts or any part of the profits Of any other
ofhcc during the term of my a,tins as
-. And do further swea' Cor af-
6rm) that will bear true allegiance to
the State Of Maryland. and support, pro-
t,ct aud defend the Constitution, laws and
government thereof rs the supreme law of
tho land. any law or ordinance of this or
any other State to the contrary notwith-
standing and do further swear Cor at-
trm) that | will, to the best of my ability
pro,ec. aud defend the Union Of the Cnl-
t.d States. and not allow the same 10 be
broken up and dissolved, or the Govern
,neu, thereof to DO DESTROYED under sny
circumstances if in my power to prevent
il, aud that will at all times dscoun;e-
II Il