The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-02-24


as to make ii binding not only upon those
States, but through their enforced adoption BY
them, upon all the other States Of the Union
They use duress and cali free consent They
use force TO make Virginia sign bond which
operates TO derive Maryland 0f her undoabted
rights, over which they do notpretend to have
any power whatever. will mot argue about
It, but l confess that the mere statement Oft
matter is sufficient TO rorse the resentment and
defiance Of every tree Sun Of Maryland. What
then is to be doue. is the question which every
son OF our beloved State should put TO himself
For one | answer the question BY declaring
that the lasting interest Of the State, her honor
and her freedom demand any course rather
than aequieseence on her part in the ubiquitous
proceeding. In the first place would suggest
such an amendment of our Registry laws to re-
quire that every register Of voters shall take an
oath that be will not obey the requirements of
the Fifteenth Amendment; in other words,
that be will place upon the registry rs voters
none but white mon. This done BY our Legis-
lature, brings the matter to an issue at once,
and for one have no doubt what will be the
decision OF any honest tribunal In the land. |
know under the second section Of the Fifteenth
Amendment, Congress may claim the power to
do acts that may annoy Us and may exact
penalties To Brighten us and our registers. But
let ms stand firm regardless OF tho threats OF
knases and tyrants and the victory will surely
be ours. II Is my firm conviction that the Sa-
preme Court will have jurisdiction in any case
! likely 10 arise under this amendment and
/ have no doubt what their decision will be. In
the case Of Luther 4 Borden, 7th Howard,
Judge fancy says, ssThe high power has been
conferred on this Court Of passing Judgment
npon the acts Of the State sovereignties, and OF
/ the legislative and executive branches OF the
/ Federal Government aud OF determining wheth-
er they are beyond the limits Of power marked
| out for them respectively by the Constitution Of
! of the United States" These reconstruction
! acts BY which Congressh has forced the Fifteenth
Amendment upon the Southern States and
/ through them upon Maryland, keutuckey and
Delaware, may therefore be made subject Of
I inquiry before the tribunals OF the land. Who
can doubt the result
| will not discuss the question low far the
power 20 amend the Constitution under the
fifth article extends, but will here assert that
il does not extend To the saejeet-matter OF the
three amendments forced upon the country by
the Radicals; that Is to saw, the 18th, lIth and
18th amendments. ! do not hesitate to say
| that in taking the oath to support the Cnnsti-
tuition | should not consider myself as bound
TO consider the the above so called amendments
as parts thereof. l do not believe the United
States can, through amendment Of the C0nsti-
tuition, make the King Of Dahomey or any other
king a ruler over this country, yet they can
do that as properly as they can emancipate a
slave, make him citizen Of StatS or force
the States to give him the right Of suffrage.
IN oruer 10 carry out tue ABOVE SUGGESTIONS
ihroughly, ne shall Of course have to continue
the old Federal basis of representation in Con-
gress, and fully believe that IL the Radicals
shall have a majority In the next Congress, our
members elect viii not be admitted. What do
we loose by this IN a body in which all impor-
tant laws are determined upon by a radical
caucus As abba as ihey may be, they would
be utterly incapable of doing any thing that
could resist radical power. But, sir, Demo
cratic House OF Representatives, WHICH hope
will Gil that Hall, would receive them with
open arms as a neHelus around which the
friends Of the country can rally for the over
throw of the tyrannical rule Of the Radicals =
Now, sir, to carry out the views | have taken
on this subject, we may require for the officer
OF Register in the various election districts OF
the State, men who are willing TO do their duty
to the people Of the State without fear. APP
prehend the knayes and tyrants who are inan-
gurating this system Of outrage upon us will,
through threats and penalties, endeayor to
scarce rs from snbjecting their yillainy to the
proper test aud many may decline the Office 50
necessary to bring about its overthrow, but
have no doubt men enough can be found TO
effect the object have in view. ] think can
venture to speak for our county, that there are
many who would not decline the office Of Reg
lister with such duties upon it. Let US try this
plan, ir none better can be suggested Ito saws
our State from the degradation designed fo'
her. If We cannot defend ourselves in any
other way against this thing, l declare, so far
as | am concerned, that should feel It'll,
more like free white man, if | were rhip
into submission to it.
b. G. HARRIS.