The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-15
DELEGATE BUCKEYES PRO
TEST.
Makes a Strong Speech Against
Election Bill and Doubts its
Constitutionality.

Delegate d. Princeton Buckley, of
Frederick County, is one of the most
talked of Democrats in Maryland.
On Friday last he made a lengthy
speech of protest i'll the House, then
having under consideration his amend
ment to give assistance at the polls to
all persons asking the same of the bal
lot clerk. This, of course, would have
destroyed the object of the law and
rendered the extra session useless.
The amendment was defeated 10y a
! vote of 26 to 80.
Mr., Buckeyes speech was well rem
dered and received well merited COM
ments from Republicans, Republican
newspapers and some Democrats who
are dissatisfied with the proposed bill.
The Baltimore american called him
"The Lion of the Hour and the
Herdld, which is Republican paper
i'll policy, if not in name, printed his
picture and reported the speech in full
"ibh SNItOllli
Mr.. Buckley is a young man of pleas
ant manners and address and is not
likely to be spoiled by his newly ac-
quired laurels. Frederick should be
proud to be the home of such an illus
trious legislator
We give below some of the salient
points in Mr.. Buckeyes speech
1.-The grave responsibility created bv
the pending measure forces me to rise.
Notwithstanding my obscurity, to
record my feeble vote against the dam
gers and injustice of the present bill
Descended as | am from an unbroken
line OF Democratic ancestry, and deep
ly as | am devoted to the principles of
the Democratic party, am constrain-
ed to protest now. Let us tread with
cautious steps before the passing of the
present bill, lest il prove the hand
writing on the wall and an omen fore
| telling that grand old party's destruc-
ton" Judgment is now being passed.
The very class which we now attempt
to disfranchise constitutes a part of
the people by whom the very honors
we enjoy We're conferred upon us, and
! instead of gratitude for that distinct
ton and honor we are now called
upon to pay a faithless breach of a
public trust by the sacrifice of one of
the most cherished rights as citizeas
! they can claim.
"What man among us would caress
the dog that tore the hand that fed il?
What respect can that man claim who
attempts to rob his benefactor of his
liberty?
"Hasten not to destruction. Re-
member, Hannah was hung on the
scaffold he had prepared for Mordecai.
'"The danger that turks and fingers
| behind this bill, will prove the de-
struction of the party passing it, by
the very class whose political liberty
it seeks to destroy.
"The oath we have taken to obey
| the Constitution prohibits this legisla-
! ton. Justice appeals to us to prevent
it; the law condemns it as illegal and
usurpation of power; a fearless man.
hood and common honesty brand it as
tyranny. A people who defied the
Kingdoms empires and republics of
the world will not scare at a simple
legislative body, but to their Cypress
ed brothers will they throw their sym.
pathy, affection and power and drive
into obscurity forever the unfaithful
trustees of liberty and justice.
"As for me 1 swore before God and
man to uphold the Constitution of my
State, and none will find that vow
broken.
"Let me sink into the grave of OBJ.
security; but ask me not to turn traitor
to both God and man.
"Well may the good citizen, though
he cannot read or write, proclaim to
the Democratic party, Meme, tekel,
upharsin.' | now close with the
thought that l have done my duty to
the people, who appointed me trustee
to guard their sacred rights"
He injected into his speech many
Constitutional arguments in support of
his PROPOSITION citing measures. au-