The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-02-19

the loving arms OF once, Of both DaVil
and Letcher. Its. therefore, perfectly
consistent for "Jeff. Davis meu'' to say
sin season and out Of season." ITO cd.
NIT West Virginia is uncoas'itstionaI;'
bu! no Union man can so say and be con-
sistent, no new Stale man can 80 sdy
without impugning his own loyalty ia
the United States Government, no mon
now holding office under the restored
Government Of Virginia or that has so
done since the 18th Of June, 'Gl, can 80
say without admitting himself guilty Of
treason, nor can any man say, that the
consent Of Virginia has not in fact been
thus given, who previous to the rebellion
held any Office requiring en- oath, and has
held or now holds any office under the
restored government, without an open,
public, confession, Of the two heinous
twin crimes, of perjury and treason.
Without dwelling longer at present
upon this Constitutional JagJear. We,
Without conscious lropidatioa. glance
again q! the "frec niger"
The Constitution of West Virginia
provides: Art. II,
Sec. 8, Such parts of the common law
and OF the laws of the State of Vitginis
as are in force within the boundaries Of
the Staleof West Virginia when this
Constitution goes into operation, and are
not repugnant thereto, shall be and con.
tinue tho law ofthis State until altered
or repealed by the Legislature,
We give "tho laws" "new in force"
in reference to free negroes! Code Of
Virginia, 1860, title 80, chap, lO7, sec.
l. No negro, emancipated since the
first day of May eighteen hundred and
six, or hereafter, or claiming his right to
freedom under negro so emancipatedt
shall. after being twenty one years Of
age, remain in this state moro shan one
year without lawful permission.
And section I'd enaCts,
Any such negro may be permitted
by the court OF any county or corpora,
lion to remain in this state, and reside in
such county or corporation only, but the
order granting the permission shall DO
void, unless it show that all the acting
justices were summoned, and majority
of them present and voting on the quesi
ton oIpcrmitting said negro to remain
in the state; that notice of the applica.
ton for such permission was posted at
the courthouse door for at least two
months Immediately preceding; that the
attorney for the commonwealth, or in his
absence some other attorney appointed
by the court for the purpose, represent
Odthe state as counsel in the case, and
that the applicant produced satisfactory
proof Of his being ofgood character, so,
Der, peaceable, orderly and industrious.
Such permission shall not DO granted to
any person who, having removed from
his state, shall have returned to it.
Tie next section provides for tho re-
vocation ofsuch permits for cause, at
any time; and the fourth section pro.
vides tl.at the sentencing "ior felony
ip'O tacto revokcs" such permit TO rO'
main in this State. Section FIVE provides
for giving information TO the grand
jury of every free negro remaining in
the State against law" Section 9Th
provides for rcgisyaIiOn.every five years
Of all fee negroes. Section 18th provides
for furnishing each with dan attcsted
copy Of the register" 1t is also law
that every free negro above the age of
twelve years without such attesled copy,
may by justice ''be committed to Jail
and hired out to pay Jail fees and upon
second arrest "be punished besides,
with stripes
Any person employing free negro
without his having free papers," fOrieits
Eve dollars. Any free negro may be
hired out in default of paying his taxes
'Or lcyies, and for the taxes Of five pre-
ccding years. Section 10 provides that,
"freO negroes desiring to remove into any
county or orporOtion, shall hereafter
apply to the Court thereof to DO register.
ed" tbs request MAJ or nay not be
granted, but if they remain longer than
ten days after the refused registration,
shall be considered "at large withou, a
register" and therefore, liable 10 arrest
and proceeded "erainst AS in case OF