Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-10-21

For County Surveyor,
CHARLES F. TOWNSEND.
POLITICAL VINDICTIVENESS-MR.
GORSUCHS RECORD.
By Section of Article /, of the Constitu-
ton of 1854, at least two-thirds of the Demo-
Gratis in the State Of Maryland were ex-
cluded from voting or holding Office in this
State. mo person who was in any manner
in the service of the Confederate States of
America; no person who has voluntarily
left this State and gone within the military
lines of the so-called Confederate States
with the purpose of adhering to said States
or armies; no person who has given aid,
comfort, countenance or support TO those
engaged in armed hostility to the United
States, by contributing to or unlawfully
sending within the lines money, goods, let
tiers OF information, or who has dsloyally
held communication with the enemies of the
United States, or who has advised any per-
son TO enter the service, or who has by open
NCCo VI WIN HIS lunCSlOH W tHc
cause of the enemies of the United States,
or his desire for the triumph of said enemies
shall ecer be entitled TO cote at any election 10
be held M this State, or to hold any office of
honor, profit or trust under the laws of this
State, unless since such unlawful acts he
shall have voluntarily entered the military
service and have been honorably discharged
therefrom, or shall be on the day of election
actually in such service, or unless he shall
be restored to his full rights of citizenship
by an act of the General Assembly passed
by vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each House, and it was the duty
of the officers of registration and judges of
election carefully to exclude from voting or
being registered all persons as above dis
qualified
This was the status of affairs when the
war closed, and how many of us now living
were under these bonds, excluded from
every right which is sacred, dear and cher
ished by an American citizen.
In 1867 the echoes and smoke of the bat
tle-feld had passed away, the asperities en-
gendered by the war had been notified and
the great desire of every liberal man in the
State was 10 bring about harmony and
brotherly feelings and to see all restored TO
wonted rights and privileges in the State.
On the other hand there was a class whose
narrow minds, whose vindictive spirit of hate
and revenge, whose arbitrary will to con-
troll politically this State were unwilling to
see this disiranchised class restored or to ac-
cord TO them the privileges of citizens.
In the Legislature of 1867 bill was in
troduced to restore to full citizenship, and
the right to vote and hold Office, all persons
who were deprived thereof by the 4th Sec
tion of the Constitution.
The first amendment offered TO this bill
was TO Except such persons who have
voluntarily left the State of Maryland and
entered the service, civil or military, of the
so-called Confederate States of America or
the armed enemies of the government of the
United States" For this amendment Mr.
Gorsuch voted-see Journal 1867, page SO.
The second amendment offered required
the person TO swear, "And that | have not
been in armed rebellion against the United
States since the 10th day of April, 1861"
For this amendment Mr.. Gorsuch voted-see
Journal, page SO.
The following amendment was then of.
fered, Except such persons who have left
the State of Maryland and entered the So
called Confederate army or navy, all such
persons shall be excluded from registration,
voting or holding Office under the State un-
ill the year 1871, January 1st" For this
amendment Mr. Gorsuch voted-see Jour.
nal, page IS.
The bill was then read a third time and
passed by yeas and nays Mr.. Gorsuch
voted against the bill-see same Journal,
page So. Our representatives, Enoch b.
Hutton and Raymond w. Burche, voted
for the law.
At the same Legislature a bill was offered
to amend the Act of 1866, chapter ia, which
would enable this same excluded class 10
register. To this bill Mr.. Gorsuch offered
an amendment, which would have pre-
vented them from voting-see House Jour
nal, page 626. The bill was then put upon
its final passage and passed by yeas and nays.
Mr.. Gorsuch voted against it-see Journal,
page 627.
Again il is well remembered how the
members Of our Legislature of 1851 was ar
rested and many Of them imprisoned. This
Legislature and its officers had never been
paid, bill was offered TO pay them and
passed by yeas and nays. Mr. Gorsuch
voted against this bill--see Journal, page
623.
These are a few of the votes of Mr..
Gorsuch in 1867 when the war had closed.
They fully set forth his sentiments, his
liberality, his justice 10 the Democrats of
that day. Can. will or shall Democrats of
the present day vote for such a MANI Could
a man of such vindictive feelings I'll any
Office with credit and honor 10 the good old
State Of Marylands
Senator Edmunds' sneer at "the constitu-
tional views of the populace" is little rel
ished even by the ultra organs of his party |
The people Of New England. especially |
pride themselves on their intelligence, and