The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1867-04-05
apps

4 BILL Entitled an Act to restcre to
full citizenship, and the right to cote
and hoM office, all persons who may be
deprived thereof BY the provisions con-
tained in the fourth section ofthe first
article otth Constitution Of this State.
Whereas, BY the provisions Of the
fourth section 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 deprived of
those privileges, whilst they remain La
BILE to taxation, to the performance of
military duty, and in all other respects
,ubject to laws in whose enactment they
CAD have no participation, all of which is
contrary to the principles on which re-
publican governments are established
and whereas, there is every reason to be-
lieve that the persons so deprived of the
right of voting and holding Office are now
faithful to the State and the Government
of the United 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 sec
ton of the Constitution which imposes
such restrictions, to remove them in all
cases by an act passed by vote OF two.
thirds of all tho members elected to each
House
And whereas, The reasons for such re-
strictiops have, by the return of peace now
happily ceased to exist, and it Is, there
fore, right and proper by speedy exer-
else of the power so reserved by the Cen
eral Assembly to ro.establish and re af-
firm the right Of the people to participate
in the Legislature, justly declared in the
Declaration of Rights to be thu security
of liberty and the foundation of all free
government therefore
Section ]. BE it enacted by the Cen
eral Assembly OF Maryland, two-thirds OF
all the members elected to each House con-
curing, 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 sec
ton of the first article of the Constltu-
ton of this State, be and they are hereby
restored to their full rights of citizenship,
and each and all of them shall be entitled
to be registered as qualified voters, and to
vote in the same manner as ii the said
fourth section 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 officers of registration, the fol-
lowing oath or affirmation
81, ---, do swear or affirm that
am citizen of the United States, and
that | will bear true allegiance to the
United States, and support the Constltu'
ton and the laws thereof as the supreme
law of the land, any law or ordinance OF
any State to the contrary notwlthstand-
ing; that l will, in all respects, demean
myself as loyal citizen of the United
States; and | make this oath or atfir.
nation without any reservation or eva
sion, and believe it to be binding on
me-" And shall be entitled to hold
office upon taking before any officer or
person authorized to administer on oath
the following oath or affirmation 81,
----, do swear, Tor affirm, as the case
may bel that | will, to the best of my
skill and judgment, diligently and faith
fully, without partiality or prejudice, ex.
ccute the Office Of, according to the
Constitution and laws of this State; and
that since the fourth day of July, in
the year eighteen hundred and fifty
one, | have not in any manner violated
the provisions of the present or the late
Constitution 10 relation to the bribery of
voters, or preventing legal votes or pro-
curing Illegal votes to be given, and it
Governor, Senator, members of the
House of Delegates, or judge that | will
not directly or indirectly receive the prof
its or any part Of the profits of any other
office during the term Of my acting as
-----; aud | do further swear (or af
tiim) that will bear true allegiance TO the
State of Maryland and support the Con
sItution and laws thereof, and that will
bear true allegiance to the United States,
and support, protect and defend the Con.
stitution, laws and government thereof
as the supreme law of the land, any law OF
ordinance of this or any State to the con-
trary notwithstanding; and | do further
swear Cor affirm that | will to the best Of
my ability, protect and defend the Union
of the United States aud moi to allow the
same to be bro ken up and dissolved, or the
Government thereof to be destroyed unde,
any circumstances, if in my power to pre-
vent it, and that will at all times dis
eountenance and oppose all political com.
binations having for their object such dis
solution or destruction
Section 2. And be it enacted, that the
several officers of registration shall regis
ter, as qualified voter, every person who
shall apply for registration and claim thu
benefit of this act, upon his taking The
oath Cor afGirmatiou) hereinbefore first sc
out in the first section thereof, provided
be is in other respects entitled to vote, BY