The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-04-12
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

of.1asny Of tho loyal citiIens Of this town. ad.
5a,cs..d II. people ON tho proposed amend
rpautto tho Constitution Of the State Of West
vireinis-wbseh practically disfranehisesS all
persons who have assisted in tho present re-
benion, until they shall have served two Year,
p.the Federal army and been houorably dis
charged thoreiIom. -. - ,. Is'
His rsuasks were substantially as follows:
Col; Fserssen regretted ;that no had not
taoTa before he left home, Of tho desire 9th
people gf this place to hear him upon this sub>'
iect .as;tn:that case he should have brought
along .some documents TO refer toin the dis-
orss;ao; Bat as he had noticed here some OPP
poaisisn to tho amendment. by some OF the
ie9al fraternity, and at least one newspaper
,ssntlsmsn, he would do the best he. could-ot
hand. - ~. ..-.l.3 g..
.Hs.xauld present Us proposition unirer-
,sx,iy accepted, that every individual, eommu.
nityer State possessed the inherent right OF
.self-defense.S The State has,A right TO pro-
tact itself against every, dangerous element
within its borders, and to suppress any and
everything endangering the existence OF its
Institutions. Four years ago there Was no
nation in tho world moro prosperous than
this. Every right or privilege, compatible
with good government, Terc enjoyed by the
people. :. The courts were open to all, to re-
.tires, their wrongs There nere none so high
ar 10 low as to be excluded from these bless
- INN. This was tho condition Of the country
ND 70 1860, when An election took place uuder
tho forms and by the provisions Of the laws Of
tho country. - 80, 81 y. ..-
But disturbing element had for many
years existed in tho country. The Southern
politicians OF tho Democratic school had, for
many ears, dictated the policy Of tho Gov
eminent, in tho interest Of Slavery and Arts
toorAcy; and finding that the time Ind come
whom tho North had determined to assert its
manhood, and the lamented Douglas could not
be made 10 BON 10 their Lecompton swindle
for tho ex.sntion Of slavery, they Immediately
SGT about accomplishing their foul scheme Of
oyerturnins tho Government. At tho Charles
ton Convention they succeeded in dividing the
Democratic party, and during the canvass,
they. aided in tho election Of Mr.. Lincoln and
tho defeat Of Douglas, in, order to havo o pre-
taxi for dissolying tho Union and setting up o
Goysrnmcnt Of their own. They Immediately.
commenced firing tho Southern heart" BY
exciting the alarm that they we're about to be
) deprived Of their inalienub BILE rights, in the
leSs Of their slaves and equal rights in the
public domain. The people were misled, and
made to believe that the Yankees would not
69ht. that one Southern man could whip ut
least Ave Yankees; that it would olly be
necessary to show bold united front, and
tie North would consent to separation rather
than fight. At first the South had oil the ad--
Tantage; they wore prepared for II, while the
North went into the war reluctantly. Bat
after struggle Of four years, unparalleled
In history, these enemies Of liberty and free
institutions arc about 10 receive their just
doom.
This Amendment IS necessary to protect tho
State 1gsinst the influence Of these mon in
future. Tho General Government proposes to
forgive them, 30 far as the laws and. Conetitu-
ton Of that Government are concerned. But
tho National Constitution does not determine
who ahall vote at tho election, in tho several
States; neither does the Presidents Amnesty
Proclamation determine that. matter, ns some
gentlemen contend. ~, .syk..' !..-,,..s '.,..li,
.It2is no new thing for States to control this
matter. : Tho restored Government Of Vir..,
rinis, before the State, Of West Virginia was
organised, possed q law which declared that
an Who had taken mp arms against tho Gov
}, ernment Of tho United States should be doom.
cd to have lost their citizenship. :, FL.
Tho Legislature OF West Virginia has al.
ready passed law to prevent oil who, have
aided and assisted in tho rebellion from hold.
ing Office; and law passed. BY tho. last sea-
sion, prevents their voting at elections, whom
challenged, unless they toko tho Oath Of Allie
Iiance, and compels Thorn to leave tho State
unless they do 80. Does any one, question the
right Of tho Legislature to punish tseason.and
project Tho State In this manner Z: Aud if it
u proper 10 thus prevent them from holding.
oo6cs, would It not also be proper, and right to-
r{S khe ayi( ';n,ihA hnd and preyont Thorn from,