St. Mary's gazette., 1867-04-11
LAWS-GENERAL-
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARY
LAND
At the January Session. 1867.
rUBLIsnED By AUTHORITY.
LAWS-GENERAL-
TpUBLIsnED By AUTHORITY.
\ BILL

Entitled an Act to restore to full citizen
! ship, and the right to vote and hold Of
fee, all persons who may be 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
section of the first article OF the Constltu-
ton of this State larger portion OF Its
citizens, otherwise entitled to vote and
hold office, have been deprived of those
privileges, whilst they remain liable to
taxation, to tho 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 gov
ernments are established and whereas,
there is every reason to believe that the
persons SO deprived Of the right of voting
and of holding Office are now faithful TO
the State and the Government OF the I'M
ted States
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 imposes such re-
str!ctious, to remove them III all cases by
An act passed bv vote of swo-thlrds OF AL
the members elected to each House;
And whereas, The reasons for such re
strictioDs have, by the return ofpeaco now
happily ceased to exist, and it Is, there
fore. right and proper by speedy e1er-
else of the power SO reserved by the Genc-
raj Assembly to rc-establish and re-atflrm
the right of the people to participate III the
| Legislature, Justly declared i'll the Dcclar-
alton of Rights to be the security of lib
etty and the Foundation of all free govern
msut y therefore,
! Section /. BE it enacted by the Gene
raj Assembly of Maryland, two-thirds of
all the members elected TO each House
concurring. That all persons otherwise en-
titled to vote and hold office, who may be
deprived of those privileges by reason Of
any of the provisions of the fourth section
/ of the first article of the Constitution of
this State. be and they are hereby restored
to their full rights Of citizenship, aud each
|
gistered as qualified voters, and to vote IN
the same manner as if the said fourth sec
ton of the first article of the Constitution
| had not been adopted, upon taking and
subscribing before any Justice of the Peace,
or other officer authorized to administer an
oath, or before the proper officer or OH
cerf of registration, the following oath or
! affirmation
"-, do swear Cor affirm) that
em citizen Of the United States, and that
| will bear true faith and allegiance to the
| United States, and support the Constltu-
ton and laws thereof as the supreme law
of the land, any law or ordinance OF any
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 with
out any reservation CT evasion, and believe
it to be binding on me" And shall be
entitled to hold office upon taking before
any officer or person authorized to adun,'
lister an oath the following oath or affir
! nation; Il -, DO swear Cor affirm,
az the case may bc) that will, to the best
of my skin and Judgment, diligently and
faithfully, without partiality or prejudice,
execute the Office Of -, according TO
the Constitution and laws of this State ::
and that since the fourth day of July, i'll
the wear eighteen hundred and titty-one,
have not in any maLner violated ,he pro
visions of the present or the late Constitu
ton in relation to the bribery Of voters, or
preventing legal Votes or procuring illegal
votes to be given, (and if i Governor Sen
ator. member OF the House of Delegates or
Judge, that | Will not directly or midi
rectly receive the profits or any part Of the
profits of any other office during the term
Of nv acting as ---: and | do further
swear Cor affirm that | will bear true al
lcgiaucc to the State uf Maryland and sup
port the Constitution and laws thereof and
that | will bear true allegiance TO thc Ia
tied States, aud support protect and de
tend the Constitution, laws aA,! govern
ment thereof as the supreme law Of the
land, any law or ordinance Of this or any
State to the contrary Notwithstanding and
| DO further swear Cor affirm that | will
To the best Ct my ability, protect and de-
fend the Union Of the United States and
not alow-the same 10 be broken up and
dissolved. or the Government thereof - be
destroyed uDier any circumstances, If in
ny power to prevent It, aud thrt viii At
ali times discountenauce and oppose all po-
itical combinatio having for their object
sarh dissolution or destruction
Sec >. AMI Be it enacted, that the sew
erai officers Of registration shall register,
as qualities, roi.fs every perso.. To shall
apply lor 4, ,.sirahon ana elaim the hene-
i; OF ;lu- al pPen a.s taking tie Gath (oT