The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1864-01-23
MORGANTOWN, JAN. %, 1864.
The Oath Bill i'm the State
LEGISLATURE.

considerable interest both inside and
outside of the Legislature, as we'll as
having furnished another pretext for
the radical press to dispense venom
and vitriol upon the traitorous
heads of those who dared to oppose
it, we are glad to be able to lay be-
fore our readers the opinion OF the
oldest and one Of the most able mem
bers of the Senate, on this subject.
This Oath Bill is but another fla
grant example of the disposition of
the radical party to break down ev-
~ constitutional barrier in the way
of the complete establishment of
their party principles throughout the
land. The Bill in question is mani
testify in direct violation of both the
constitution of the State, and of the
United States and it is fact not to
be overlooked that every larger in
the Legislature has taken a decided
stand against it. Our ewn Senators,
Messrs. Bunker and Brown, both
able lawyers, have nobly denounced
the usurpation from first to last
How it has been with our represen-
tatives in the House we know moth
ing, but could probably make good
guess in regard to one, as not much
is expected from one to whom there
has not much been given.
Senator Raymond, the author Of
tho letter we append, is, as we have
said above, the oldest member of the
Senate and is not less respected for
his talents, and discretion upon mat
tiers of State, than for his age. 1t
is natural that he should feel q more
than ordinary attachment to that
constitution whose virtue he has
tried for almost "three score years
and ten and for such an attach
ment he is respected by all who
know him.
During the excitement occasioned
by the Morgan raid into Ohio, he
was among the number who shout
dered their muske's and followed in
pursuit, with zeal that would have
done honor to one in the vigor of
youth. And yet turbulent fanati-
cism which has its seat in the brains
of two or three journalists in this
State, would fair impeach the loyal
ty of the source, as we'll as the just
ness of such al opinion as this. We
invite the careful attention of our
readers in its perusal:
From the Plaindealer.l
Mr.. Editor:-Since my return from
Wheeling, l have learned that some
few of my constituents land proba
bly, others that l have not heard off
have complained Of me because of my
vote in the Senate against the Off
cial Oath Bill, as it is called. l ask
a space in your columns for a brief
statement of the reasons which gov
erned me in casting that vote, as |
do not feel satisfied that any person
or persons who have reposed conf
dence in me should think that had
wilfully or heedlessly misrepresented
them.
After the bill was reported to the
Senate, and finding that l should
have to act upon it, l carefully exam
ined the Constitution of the United
States and the Constitution of West
Virginia, and arrived at the conclu-
sion that it was contrary to the letter
and spirit of both Of them. l think
so yet: and having taken solemn
oath to support both of these consti-
tutions, l could not do otherwise
than vote against it.
The Constitution of West Virginia
provides that, the white male citizens
of the State shall be entitled to vote
at all elections held within election
districts in which they respectively
reside; but no person who is a minor,
or of unsound mind, or pauper, or
who is under CONVICTION of treason,
felony, or bribery in an election, Or
who has not been a citizen Of the
State for one year, shall be permitted
to vote while such disability CONT
nues. BY same article, persons en-
titled to vote are eligible to be cleo
ted or appointed to any State, conn-
ty OF municipal Office; from which it
is easily seen that the Legislature
has no constitutional right to require
any other oath than that of support
ing the Federal and State constitu-
tions, and an official oath as necessa-
ry to carry out their provisions no
matter how great or Infamous the
crime, it is conviction alone by jul
ry that can deprive citizen of his
right to vote or to hold Office.
The test oath adopted in the reign
of Kipo Charles IT nf Enplapd and