The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-03-02
View Treason bill,

The following bill is pending IN the Geu'
cral Assembly Of Maryland:
An act to repeal section 81, relating to in.
Sur.ection, of article 80 of the Code ol
Public Conceal Laws, entitled Grimes
and Punshmcnts,' and to mend and re.
enact the same.
Section |. BE ii enacted by tie General
assembly Of Nmyland, That section 81 oil
article 80, Of the Code of Public General
Laws, relating to crimes and puniShmentS,
be and the same is hereby repealed, and
that the same he and it is hereby amended
and re oua2rcd, to read as follows:
Section 81. Every pe.son, his counsel.
Tors, aidcrs or abettors, who shall Lc con.
victcd Of actually raising instruction or re.
belion in this State, shall suffer death And
every person, his aiders and abettors, who
ing conspiring or ATTEMPT ing to raise in
.uTrrcction in this State, shalt be sentcrccd
to the pcn!tentiary for not less than six years,
nor more than twenty years.
Sub section s. If any person or persons
within this State shalt hold any secret or
public meeting, or unite with, or belong to,
any secret club or association known by him
or them to be intended to effect, promote,
or encourage any attempt to subvert over.
throw, or usurp the Government Of this
State, or shall counsel, consult, conspire, or
combine with others to subyert, overthrow,
or usurp the Government of this State; or
to levy wer against this State or to give
aia or comfort to the enemies thereof, wheth.
er toreigli or domestic, within this State or
elsewhere, and Sa convicted thereof, he shall
be sentenced to confinement IN the penitcn-
tiary for not less than two, nor nisre than
twenty years, or 10 Il fine not exceeding five
thousand dollars, at the discretion Of the
Court, and shall be subject to ii penalty OF
two thousand dollars, to be recovered in q
civil action IN any court of competent juris-
diction. in the name of the State, onc.halt
thereof to be for the use 1f the intormcr and
the other half for the use Of the State,
Section -. Ind be it enacted, That this
act shall take effect from the date Of its pas.
sage. -
Forewarned, iorearmcd,' says the pro.
verb; and we give the above bill conspic.
uous place that the loyal men of the county
may see the position they will occupy, if it
becomes Il law, and be prepared to resist it
in proper manner.
1t is but very few years since men were
indicted in Hartford county for reading " The
Impending Crisis" and The New York 7ri,
6unc, and all the postmastcrs in this county
were dragged before the grand jury to give
evidence as to what incondiarv, abolition
publications passed through their respective
offices, and who received them And the
same spirit that instgated such investiga.
tons and indictments will actuate the aiders
and abettors Of rebellion and treason to con.
struc this bill, if it becomes law, so as to
in'iict and convict hundreds of those who
have stood up for the Government, and OPP.
posed secession and treason, during tho past
few years, for attempting to "subvcrt, over.
throw or usurp the Government" of the
State.
No loyal man can fail to see al a glance
that the new treason bill is but rc-modif
cation Of the old pro.slavery law agains,
"Incendiary publications" and is got up
for The same purpose. that is, the suppress.
sion of free thought and free speech. Aud
we call upon Union melt everywhere to be
prepared to meet this ubiquitous mcssuy. as
it should be met.
BY who know then rights.
And knowing, dare maintain them,