The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-11-13

statement of the facts furnished by the
st. Louis Republican;
General Frank P. Blair appeared yes
terday at the Sixth Ward poll, held at
the Engine-heuse on Washington avenue,
to record his vote. for the anti-Constitu.
ton candidates for Auditor and County
Court Judge-Peckham aud Daley,
when his ballot was reflected by the
judges of election, Messrs. Stephen Ridge
ley and John s. Thompson. because the
General refused to accept the Drake IN.
fanny, known as the new Constitueion
oath, but. offered instead of it On oaGh
prepared by himself, covering the whoie
ground of constitutional alieslance "
the United States and the state OF MIS-
souri,. -
to the bvstanders and not lunamusing,
fron, the contrast exhibited in the aston
isb b very lserious faces of the radi-
csi ind es. and the composed and deter
mined purpose as shown on the bronzed
features Of General Blair 1t was evil
dent toall present that the initiative
was being taken to overthrow the infa-
NOUS violation of u great vested right
the right of franchise unshackled by the
test outrage of the new Constitution.
General Blair after waiting for several
to cast their votes, said: Gentlemen, l
offer to cast my vote, and am ready to
prove to you am twenty-one years of
age, and have been resident citizen of
tile State of Missouri for over twenty
wears, and that am otherwise qualified
to vote at the PRESENT election. Here is
nv ballot (the General here presented to
Judge Ridgely bis BALLOT. have pre-
pared and now offer You an oath of allie
glance, (which I.h2ve subscribed and
sworn TO. l decline to take the oath pre-
scribed bysthe new Constitution of Mis-
sonri, and desire you TO decide that am
entitled to cast my ballot without taking
sud new Constitution oath" -Tn.AI'p
Mr.. Ridgeley replied-"We can't decide
so General, hut must decide exactly
the reverse to which Mr. Thompson
asSented ~ IL - 30 7tsh
! General Blair then Jaid Gentlemen.
i require you TO say, whether my ballot
is rejected only because / have refused
TO take the Snew Constitutions oath2"
The judges answered: Entirely so,
for no other reason, because you refuse
TO take the Constitutional oath"
General Blair inquired: DO you re-
gard me III altOther respects qualified
yOters' tst'A Wiz
Messrs Ridgeley alaTh ompson replied:
/ "Certainly, your vote is rejected upon
that ground and that ground only" 'a-
The ballots for Messrs. Peckham and
Daily were then folded by Mr., Ridgeley
and marked by him rejected and Gen
ernl Blair quietly left the poll. e., ..s b.
Tie followingis the oath az offered by
General Blair to he taken by him in lieu
of the new Constitutional one. '-''1
I.'Fraucis P. Blair, jr., do solemnly swear that
! will protect and defend tn Constitution of
the Unitel States and of the State of Missouri
AGAINST all enemies and opposes whether do
nestle or foreign; that will bear tru faith loy-
atty and allegiance to the United States and
will not directly indirectly, give aid and com
fort or COuntGuance 10 the enemies or oppoSers
thereof, nor of the Govegnment of the State Of
Missouri any law ordinance or resolution of
any State Convention or Legislature, or of any
order or organization, secret or otherwise to
the contrary notwithstanding; and that do
this with full and honest determination pledge
| and purpose faithful to keep and perform the
| same without any mental reservation or eva.
| sion whatever and that i do further solemnly
| swear that I will support the Constitution and
| laws of the United States " the supreme law OF
| the land; any law or any ordinance of amy State
| to the contrary notwith Outstanding, and that will
10 the best OF my ability protect and defend the
Union of the United States, and not allow the
same to be broken up aud dissolved, or the Gov
eminent thereof TO be deStrOye or overthroWn
under any circumstances If i'll my power TO pre-
vent it and make this oath without any men
tai reservation or evasion, and hold IL to be bind
ing o2m me- FRANK p. BLAIR.
Sworn to and subscribed before me. Notary
Public for the county of St Louis, the 9TH day
OF November, 1865.
Seal A JaMINOR, Mp
General Blair was at the capture of
Camp Jackson as Colonel of the lst Mis-
Sonri infantry, and, i'll his view of the
case, was in arms against the govern
ment OF the State. He, therefore, decli-
ned to swear that he was not i'll arms, as
required by the new Constitution. He
rendered an oath Of allegiance and loyal
ty to the Government of the United
States and to the State of Missouri; but
this the Judges, acting under the infa-
nous new Constitution, did not deem
sufficient aud fully I'D to the Draconian
theory, and the result is known This,
however, is only the beginning. General
Blair has determined to test the power of
the late Convention to disfraachise citi-
! zers by er post fscto laws and attainders,
prosecuting them for acts innocent when
done, and without judicial trial. This is
question ofvjtal Importance to the lib
'erties, civil and religious, OF. the outra-
ged people of this State, and will find
its final entilation in the Supreme Court
of the United States In the meantime
as the initiative step, General Blair has
instructed suit to be brought at once
against Messrs. Ridsely and Thompson
the Judges of Election in the Sixth Ward,
for ten thousand dollars damages for re-
frsing his vote. .I =