The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-11-23

/ terence. merely, 10 the circumstances,
under which the discussion of the con-
! stitutionality of the the "Test OATH
closes here for the present, it is appro-
pirate To acknowledge the adoption, on
your part, now, of the direct form, as
we'll as the improved temper. ofyour al
lusions to myself.
undertook, in the communication.
which you We're requested to copy, to
show, among other things, that. as no
one ceased to be a citizen of the United
States because of his adherence to the
rebellion-a proposition sanctioned by
the authority OF the Attorney General of
the United States, in his letter which |
puhlished-and as all citizens of the
G7aitcd Mites, resident in West Virginia,
are ut oil times citizens of Uest EfYiaid,
by the explicit terms of the Constitution
of the state-and, moreover, as the leg
islature cannot add any Condition. hot
sanctioned by the constitution of the
State, to the elective franchise conferred
by it upon all such citiZens-it follows,
conelusiveiy, that the lars, as to Test
Oaths and citizenship, We're utilities in
this respect.
You had not controvcrted this view
and You declined. for want of space. 10
give me access to the ear ofyour readers
in order to present il, or to give them
synopsis or extract, even, from my argu-.
ment.
On the contrary, by flank moYement.
you pass from the consideration of this
subject of general and vital interest, to
some references TO matters, pertaining to
myself individually.
trust | may be excused from advert
ing 10 tiiat topic, only SO faras to say,
that the intimation, that my associations
have not been With the s'smalI farmers
and mechanics" OF the county but, rath-
or, With its ..aristocracy" tof The exis-
teaee Of which, even, | have net been
a"-aFef-.fs @sella as the imputation Of any
purpose on my part to excite % any Vie
lence, or breach Of the peacc-croWned
with the compliment 10 my uaioaism
throughout the war, until the. eomnas-
aeiveiy, small fues ion, FOREIGN to the
great issues ofthe war although Of large
interest II u, Ideally OF the annexation
Of this county to West Nirrinia,= alianaz
ted he from tie great cau-,e-4ee 80 NJ
te9!Y cit d place and unloaaeeI. as al
are aware, who know my opinions and
my relations to the people of the county,
that | leave this small matter in their
hands without further notice. The alln-
siens to "first families" and awealihv
farmers | beg you, Danish from your
columns.-ln charity, | must suppose,
that stranger only could have penned
these impeachments.
To revert-The constitution being as
sailed by an invalid laW-the principle
of that law being now sought to be in
corporated as an amendment to the con-
stitution-I conceived it not only admis-
sible but grave duty, in an election,
that involved the establishment and per-
petuation Of SO vital a proposition, not
to stop to make the miserable inquiry.
whether it would advance or defeat a
party-whether those, who agreed with
me, in relation to measure that, If con
summated, would, in my opinion, seri-
ously and permanently, retard and in
jure all interests, were wings or demo.
Gratis. / did not allow myself to be
swayed from the responsibilities ola par
amount impending issue by any silly
clamor ofprovincial partizanship. Much
less was the judgment of those exalted
in my estimation, who submitted them
selves to the bugbear of democratic as
cendancy and the lamentable hallucina-
ton, to designate it by no harsher term,
of democratic reputation Of the war
debt. Indeed, I did not believe, that
any small scheming of party influenced
any Of the supporters of those Union can
didates, who approved the governments
policy of reconstruction, harmony and
restored civil rights. l deemed it wise.
at least, to leave those problems for flu
ture solution. We are in deplorable
condition indeed. if il he that s,,nroe,oa