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415] The Maryland Constitution of 1864. 69
ures, of bribery or illegal voting, but in addition that he
had "never directly or indirectly by word, act, or deed,
given any aid, comfort or encouragement to those in re-
bellion against the United States or lawful authorities, there-
of," but that he had been truly and loyally on the Union
side. Further, that he would to the best of his abilities
protect and defend the Union and "at all times discounte-
nance and oppose all political combinations having for
their object such dissolution or destruction." Mr. Scott
of Cecil had offered an amendment to the original report
requiring the officer-elect to swear among other extrava-
gant things that he had "uniformly and at all times de-
nounced [those in rebellion] not only as rebels against
and traitors to their country, but as enemies of the hu-
man race"! However, Mr. Stirling's amendment was the
one which superseded this latter.119 An additional pro-
vision offered by Mr. Stirling was adopted, which required
all those in office under the preceding Constitution to take
the above oath of office within thirty days after the new
instrument had gone into effect. The office should be ipso
facto vacant if the incumbent should fail to fulfill this con-
dition.120
As was to be expected, the minority stoutly opposed
these oaths or tests, declaring them to be especially di-
rected against the large number of true Union men who
opposed the "usurpations" of the National Government.121
An unsuccessful series of bitter and sarcastic amendments
was offered by Mr. Jones of Somerset putting the observ-
ance of the "Ten Commandments" in the test oath, and
the affirmation that the person had "faithfully supported
the Constitution of the United States against all violations
of the same whether in the Northern or Southern States,
or in any department of the Government of the United
States, civil or military."122 A more serious attempt to
119 Proc., 422-4, 505-8. 120 Proc., 512-3.
121 Deb., ii, 1334. 122 Proc., 449-500.
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