The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-11-02


declare it void-thus, in case of a contest
as to the county officers, if that be the
correct opinion, leaving the rejected
voter, in such case, and the candidate
who might be elected by the votes of
the citizens entitled to vote, remediless,
as such contest is decided by the Board
of Supervisors.
In view of this state of things-after
published announcement, at late day
preceding the election, that the Inspect
ors had the right not to allow the re-
jected votes to be listed even-thus pre-
venting voters from going to the polls
and, as a last hope of awaking thepublic
attention, by presenting, in as strong
light as possible, the wrong, which
would be perpetrated, if the votes refer
red to were rejected solemn remon
STRANGE was issued-presented notanony-
mously, but with my name and others
appended, setting forth the foregoing
views, and drawing attention to the
fact, also, that a large number of consci-
entious Union men would, perhaps, be
excluded from the polls, las was the
case,) by the application of the Test
Oath. This was not the first election in
which the Test Oath had been applied,
with like results; and we sought by this
grave form of public address-asserting
that it would not be borne in patience
and in silence-to utter our protest
against the wrong-trusting wholly to
the moral effect of a remonstrance to
induce the judges of election to obey
the constitutional requirements. For
the exercise of this rightful and peace
able act we were placed under arrest.
The action of the subordinate military
officer who made the arrests was prompt
ly repudiated by his superiors. He
claimed that he had acted at the insti-
cation of the Sheriff of the County, who
utterly denied that he had done SO.
If, in fact, at the Sheriff's instance,
however his conduct was in violation of
law, in arresting, not in person or by
deputy, and without process, citizens not
engaged in the commission of breach
! of the peace-some of them quietly at
their homes citizens, too, of original,
unfaltering UniOnism-not as vague
sentiment, but as an enlightened and
we'll digested opinion-and marching
them between files of soldiers, with
musketry, through the streets to prison,
accompanied, in some cases. with insult
and Observation-Disclosures as all this
was, it yet sinks into comparative unim-
portance when contrasted with the out
rage of a violated Constitution.
A few words more. | am aware that
some gentlemen, for whom | have high
regard, we've perhaps swayed to some
extent, in their judgments as to the
issues at stake, in the recent election, by
an apprehension that Rebels and Demo-
Gratis were insidiously plotting forpower.
had no reason to suspect any such pur-
pose, and believe there exists, now, no
basis for such distinctive organization.
They naturally desired the success of
those candidates staunch Union men,
though they were, who were prepared
|
ship. No Interior object on their part
was developed, and none, believe, en-
tertained. These Alarms, incident to
the delirium of an election contest, have
long since ceased to shake my nerves.
| had present radical evil to deal with,
and deemed it the part of wisdom to
remit the solution of any purpose of
partizanship, if it existed, to the future.
In this l may, of course, have erred.
However that may be, l impeach not
the sincerity of those who differed with
me in this respect looking forward to
the day, not distant, when, as my ex-
perience assures me, csslmer reflection
on their part, and the restored temper
Of the public mind will place all our in
terests upon true and stable basis.
EDMUND PEN DLETON.
2;aaI, Note Descriptive List.
To the publisher we are. indebted for
II copy of this excellent work, Which is