Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1867-01-17
The Bin tosRcstorefo Rights of Giti-
Szenship Certain Citizen Oft:iis state.

The Bill tosRcstore.f0 Rights Of G3ti-
Szenship Certain Citizen Oft:i:s state
I. The following is the bill reportel bs Hon.
Philip F. Thomas, of Tailot county, in the
House of Delegates yesterday, to restore to full
citizenship and the right to Vote and hold Office
all persons who may he deprived thereof by the
provisions contained in the fourth section of the
first article of the constitution of this State.
Whereas, by the-provisions of the fourth sec
ton of the first article of the constitution of this
State a large portion Of its citizens otherwise
entitled to vote and. hold Office have been de-
privsd of those privileges whilst they remain
liable to taxation, to the performance OF military
duty, and in all other respects subject to laws in
whose enactment they can have no participation,
all of which is contrary to the principles on
which republican governments are established
and whereas these restrictions were designed to
be temporary, as is evident from the fact that
power is wisely given TO the General Assembly,
in the very section of the constitution which inn
poses such restrictions, to remove them in all
cases by an act passed by vote OF two-thirds of
all the members elected to each house; and
whereas the reasons for such restrictions have,
by the return Of peace, now happily ceased to ex-
list, and it is therefore right and proper, by the
speedy exercise Of the power so reserved 70 the
General Assembly, to re-establish and re-affrm
the right of the people to participate in tho
Legislature, justly declared in the declaration of
rights to be the security of liberty and the foun-
dalton of all free government: therefore
Be IL enacted By the General assembly of Nary
land, tsoo-thirds Of all the members elected to each
House concurring, That all persons otherwise en-
titled to vote and hold office, who may be de-
prved Of those privileges by reason ofany of the
provisions of the 4th section of the LIST article OF
the constitution Of this State, be and ttay ara
hereby restored to their full rights Of citizenship,
and each and all of them s..ali be entitled to be
registered as qualihaS voters, and to vote in the
same manncr as If the said 4th section Of the LIST
arur.1 of the constitution had not been adopted,
upon taking and subscribing before any justice
of the peace, or other officer authorized to admin
lister oath, or before the pro per officer or Off
GERS of registration, the following oath or afirma
ton. So
d, do swear Tor AFFIRM that am citi-
zen of the United States, and that / will bear
true faith and allegiance to the United States,
and support the constitution and the laws thereof
as the supreme law ofthe land, any law or ordi-
nance of any State TO the contrary notwithstand-
ing; that will in all respects demean myself as
a loyal citizen of the United States and | make
this oath or (aflrmation) without any reservation
or evasion, and believe it to be binding on me-"
And shall be entitled to hold office upon tax
ing, before any officer or person authorized to
administer an oath, the following oath or sflir-
nation.
81 do swear Tor affirm, rs the case may be)
that will, to the best of my skill and Judgment
diligently and faithfully, without Partially or
prejudice, execute the office Of according
TO the constitution and laws of this State; and
that since the 4th day of July, 1851 have
not in any manner violated the provisions of
the present Constitution in relation to the
bribery of voters, or preventing legal votes or
procuring illegal votes to be given; land if a
Governor, Senator, member Of the House of
Delegates or judge, that will not, directly
or indirectly, receive the profits or any part Of
the profits of any other office during the turn of
my actiag as -, And do further swear
or affrm) that will bear true allegiance to the
State Of Maryland, and support the constitution
and laws thereof, and that will bear true al
leginncc to the United States, and support, pro-
tect aud defend the constitution, laws and gov
eminent thereof as the supreme law of the land,
any law or ordinance of this or any other State
10 the contrary notwithstanding; and do fur
ther swear, Tor afiirm) that will, to the best Of
my ability, project anS defend the Union Of the
United States, and not allow the same to I've bro
ken up and dissolved of the government thereof
to be destroyed under-nny circumstances IL in
my power TO prevent it, and that will at all
times discountehance and oppose all political
combinations having for their object such disolu-
ton or destruction" r -s. -. ...F
Sec. 2. BE enacted, .Sc., That the several off.
GERS of registration shall register as a qualified
voter every person who shall apply for registra-
ton and claim the benefit Of this act, upon his
taking the oath or affirmation hereinbefore Sd,
out in the first section thereof provided he is in
other respects entitled to vote by having the re-
qured qualifications Of aye, citizenship and resi-
denca, and be not disqualified under the third
and fh sections of the first article Of the consti-
tuition and If aHy officer of registration shall
refuse TO register as a qualified voter any person
as aforesaid applying to be registered, he shall,
upon conviction thereof before any court having
criminal jurisdiction, forfeit and pay fine of
not less than Sl00 nor more than $500 for each
ofense, and be imprisoned until said fine and
the costs of prosecution be fully paid and salts
fed, and shall also be liable In an action for
damages at the suit of the party aggrieved
Section 3 provides that all courts, and State,
county, township and municipal officers in this
State shall take notice of the provisions of the
act, without requiring it TO be specially pleaded,
set up or relied on and shall give the full effect
and benefit thereof to any person embraced with
in the general description of the first section of
this act, in The same manner and to the same ex-
tent as if the name Of such person Ind been ex-
pressed aud set out specially in the said forsgo-
ing secton. -., =.
Section 4. This act shall take effect from the
day of its passage.
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