and was there until a late hour in the eve-
ning, and issued his order that no one should
be allowed to vote there unless he took the
oath—I do not know who framed it—an oath
stuck up there and presented to everybody.—
Hundreds of persons just as loyal as the gen-
tleman himself, men who never did a disloyal
act in their lives, and who never contemplated
such an idea, men as perfectly pure and spot-
less as the gentleman himself, came to that town
to offer their votes at the polls; and they were
met with this oath and this military interfer-
ence. Capt. Watkins, of the eastern shore, cap-
tain of another military company, remonstra-,
with Colonel Baker and his party; but Colo-
nel Baker being the superior officer, be yielded
to him. There was a committee of gentlemen
appointed to go to Washington and investi-
gate the affair. They were detained there un-
til a late hour in the evening of the day of
election, and when they returned they said it
was without order,
When I went up to vole fifty soldiers stood
in front of the polls, who stood there the
whole day. I went up and offered to vote.
They said "You will have to take the oath."
I said, "There is nothing in your oath that
I object to; I don't care what it is. I don't
care what you put there oil that subject; I
would just as lief take one oath as to take
another; but I am opposed to taking any
oaths. You have no right to come here and
require this oath." The captain, I will do
him the justice to say, replied, "I agree
with you, I am a Massachusetts man, but
I agree with you. We have no right to put
such oaths. But I am a soldier, and it is on
my orders. Do you blame at soldier for
doing his duty?" I said, " No, I do not."
I put this question to the captain: "Cap-
tain, these judges here are sworn to execute
the law of the State. That is their duty.
Do you blame the judges for doing their
duty?" He said, he did not. He wished
that his orders were not the paramount or-
ders, but he had to obey his orders.
I give this as an illustration to show that
there was military interference. I know of a
number of gentlemen here who can give a
great many instances of that sort.
There is another subject which has been
introduced here. It has been said over and
overagain, upon this floor, that there have
been demagogue's and conspirators in the
State of Maryland. I have seen nothing and
heard nothing coming from the minority
like the appeals made here about the prison-
ers from the federal army held in the South.
It has been said that they are dying inch by
inch, and that the cruelly and barbarity
that has been practiced til on those unfortun-
ate men have never been quailed in the his-
tory of the world.
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Daniel.) That is not
in order.
Mr. MARBURY. It is a branch of the sub- |
ject which has been introduced into this de-
bate, and I wish merely to reply to it.
The CHAIRMAN. It is not germain to the
subject under consideration,
Mr. MARBURY. Perfectly, I want it to be
understood, Mr. President, that I have as
much sympathy for those unfortunate sol-
diers as any man living.
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman will come
to order. The question under consideration
is the amendment offered by the gentleman
from St. Mary's (Mr. Dent,) to the second
section with regard to administering the oath
to voters.
Mr. MARBURY. With all deference to the
judgment of the chair, I will say that the
gentleman from Howard (Mr. Sands) alluded
to this branch of the subject, and I wish to
reply to that.
Mr. BRISCOE. I will make one suggestion
to the chair. The whole subject-matter be-
fore the convention is one which appertains
to the obstruction of the ballot-box, and we
regard the imposition of this oath an ob-
struction of the ballot-box. The gentleman
was discussing it in that connection.
The CHAIRMAN. What has the treatment
of our prisoners in Richmond to do with the
freedom of the ballot-box ?
Mr. STIRLING. I move that the gentleman
be allowed to proceed,
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman may pro-
ceed.
Mr. MARBURY resumed , I was going on to
say that I have as much sympathy with those
soldiers as any man living. It may be true that
they have suffered all that has been repre-
sented. I regret most deeply that it is so.
It may be that they have been dying inch by
inch. It may be that they have been brought
here starved to death and not properly clad.
That may be all so. But there is another
side to the picture. If you will go to the
captain of the boat that conveys these pris-
oners to and from City Point, he will tell you
that comparing the miserable condition of
those that go North with that of those that
go South, so far as he is able lo judge, it is
identically the same.
Mr. PUGH. Who is the captain of that
boat? I ask for information. Will the gen-
tleman give us the authority for his state-
ment ?
Mr. BARRON. What is the captain's name?
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Daniel.) The gentle-
man is entitled to the floor and must not be
interrupted.
Mr. MARBURY resumed: The prisoners who
have gone South have suffered all that they
have suffered, and I regret it most deeply.
But whose fault is it? That is the point.
Who is to protect the citizen soldier? To
whom shall he look for protection? Does
he look to Jeff. Davis? Does the soldier of
the United States federal army look lo Jeff.
Davis for protection? My God, sir, he is |
