Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-26

BIB. FLEMING, one OF the members from
Harrison county in the House Of Delegates,
yesterday introduced an important amend
ment to the oath prescribed for electors in
this State in section "a, page lls, of the
Acts of 1868. in case of cballeuge at the
polls in times of "insurreclion or public
Danger" As the law now stands all per.
sons thus challenged are required to swear
allegiance to the government of the United
States and of West Virginia. Il is be-
lieved from experience that the law does
not answer the full purpose intended, viz ;
to restrain persons who are aiders and
abettors of the rebellion from voting. The
act of November l6, 1868, prescribed for
officials in this State, is proposed by Mr.
Fleming as an amendment to the section
banned; SO that by his bill, in case it be-
comes law, all persons, if required, will
be obliged to swear or affirm as follows,
viz
Il, a. B., DO soIemuly swear that will
support the Constitution OF the United
States and the Constitution Of this State;
that | have never voluntarily borne arms
against the United States; that 1 have
voluntarily given no aid or comfort 10 per-
sons engaged in armed hostility thereto,
by cOuntensnCing, cOuoseliug or eucOur-
aging them in the same; that have not
sought, accepted nor attempted 10 exercise
the functions OF any office whatever, under
any authority in hostility TO the United
States that have not yielded voluntary
support to any pretended government,
authority, power or constitution within
tue United States hostile or inimical there
to- and that take this obligation freely,
without any mental reservation or purpose
of evasion"
This oath is the one required by all per-
SOUS sworn into office in this State. 1t is
also required of all persons entering the
Uoited States civil service. We do not
see why if it is a proper oath that it should
not as we'll be taken by those who elect
officers as by those who are elected-in
other wOrds by every voter who is believed
to be enlisted in the cause of rebelliou in
the way of furnishing it actual physical
aid or in the way of "countenancing, coun-
selling or encouraging" engaged in SC
ding.
Mr.. Fomiugs bill further amends the
section referred to, SO as to plainly en-
act that every voter properly qualified
must vote in his own township and nc
where else. This amendment in this re.
speCt is intended to remedy supposed OBJ.
scurity in the wording of the section. We
would suggest in this connection whethe,
an additional amendment would not be
proper, giving to soldiers the right to send
their votes to their county seat instead OF
TO their townships, 1t is the experience
of our late elections that many votes
were lost because OF the provision com.
peIliDg them 10 be sent to some specified
precinct or township in the county. Often
the eoldiers themselves did not know their
townships, tho change to the township sys.
TEN having been made since the war. The
object Of the law in giving them the right
to vote in the field 10 thus defeated. Per
hNPs large minority, If no, an actual ma,
joriIy of our soldiers do not to day know
the names Of the townships in which their
hcmss are included.