Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-01-08
The right of sunrago.
Editors InEeIligeRcer:

EdItoTS 4ntettIgeNetr:
A well written communication nppears5
in the Press Of the 9th uIt., Addressed to
the members of the General Assembly. re-
monstrating against the passage of q bill.
which, the writer describes as a "Biil dis
qualifying certain persons from exercisinO
the right of suffrage"
imagine the writer has not read the
bill. Ny reasons for this suppositioI are:
First That he appears to be au intelligent
writer; and Second. That no intelligent
Constitution and legal authorittes' and
adopts Latin signature, wopld .intsntion,
ally misdescribe bill for the purpose Of
denouncing it.
Ihe bill says not word about the right
of suffrage, or the qualification OF voters.
ltauaintS no one; it is not erpost fqcto in,
terms or in spirit nor does it deprive or
seek to deprive any man of his rights aud
privileges. -
1t proposes to amend the third chapter
of the Code, and to use the language of
''Unus Populi," the writer, ''simpiy defines
who are citizens of this State, what enti-
ties such persons to citizenship, and Hop
sueh cittzenship wdy be relinquishe3." Aud
in express terms, on its face, Is prospective,
not:retrospectiye, declaring how a mau may,
after the passage of the bill, relinquish his
citizenship and expatriate himself. This is
the whole OF 1t, and il it is unconstitution-
al, so is the law in the Code, which was
passed many years before the rebellion,
and its conBtiutionality never questioned.
StriPped of legal, and perhaps necessary
verbiage, the bill substantially declares.
that man may relinquish his citizenship
by renopncing in open court his allegiance
to the Stately removing aud becoming u.
citizen Of otanother Stately protesting alle-
glance to another State or Government-
by levying war against the State, or the
United States, or by adhering to their enc
mics, or giving them aid or comfort, he
may exPatriste himself by either of these
modes, 1t is not the law, but his own vol
untary act which disfranchises him. Where
is the hardshlP7 Where the wroDg7 A
man cannot at one and the same time be
loyal citizen of Two distinct and separate
aovereignttesror Governments. He must
cease to be citizen of one before he can
become e citizen of the other. This Law
leaves it to his own election. -
True, all who, continue in hostile rebel
lion, after the passage Of the bill, will dis
franchise themselves. IL that theifauIt Of
breakeTs?
II "Unus Populi" is not a rebel, or a
rebel sympathiser, aud will read The Bill
for himself1 doubt not be WillSwithdraw
his objections. 5s5i snip r'ta D., p.
Ohrlstmas nl1inneF to GO. r, si1Ih Va.
wEsFoa, Lewis Co, W. Va, Dec. 28. I
EditOr1 Lntslligenesr 8 q sdg ~ ys
At meeting of Go. B, Of the eth reEi.
.ment w. volunteer infantry, held at tbis
place, Capt. Reirpoint was called to The
chair and the object Of the meeting ex-
platusd: d1-g 1c, I'D s-a = = -
On, motion, Dieht. j. "A. Summers was
nominated Vice. President, aud P. j. Gun.
ninghamS Secretary. 'f7ts9a5, -i : " 81
90 motion of the President,,a a committee
OF seven was appointed to draft resolutions:
namely Eteut.eL. Dotsou, SerReants e. ii
Ireland, j.. b. Westfall, Charles D6ts6ui
Amos Keudall'And D. s. Bdsheand tho Sec:
retary. Whereupon the committee pro-
dnced the following preamble and reSoln.
| tions:d 'as5 II ,aFsIH v-5G as3iF TSsts7 4
WHEREAS; We, members Of Co. Z. bav-
ing been thelhonored recipients of splen.
did Christmas present in the shape of a
sumptuous dinner (prepared in manner
seldom eqIalled ndnever surpassed) from
the noble and patriotic Ladies' of Central
Station and5Vicinity. Therefore be its' 80
Resolped, That We feel proud OF the hon
or thus conferred upon US, the more, from
the fact that'having been stationed in their
immediate vicinity for the past fifteen
months, they have had an opportunity Of
observing our acts, both civil and military,
and for such q testimohialHfrom such a
source, We feel that we have just cause to
be proud! sfl ~ Hlg ssafzae9t JasaF
Realized, That while engaged in the SER
vice of our country, the remembrance OF
this token of their confidence and esteem
shall cheer us 10 our ldssp6ndency aud
strengthen our hearts in the hour Of dan.
Iger; and that il shall be our constant en-.
deavor to prove ourselves worthy Of tue
i respect and confidence of those ,lsdieu vbo