The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12

Each Of these parties have presented
their candidates for election in the pres
ent contest. The election Of the several
candidates, or their defeat, are matters
of minor consideration. The all impor-
tant points are in the principles which
these different candidates represent, and
the effect upon the material interests of
the people, which their success or defeat
must inevitably work.
One of the cardinal principles of the
Radical party, is the entire disfranchise-
ment of all men, who have in any man.
ner rendered assistance, aid or encour-
agement to the late rebellion. Not a le
gal Acknowledgement either; for it seeks
to do its work by means which are, be-
yond all doubt, unconstitutional and IL
legal. This party gives these same peo-
pie the right to hold property; oblige
them to pay taxes, and respond to other
persons in suits at law, yet denies them
the right to protect their property and
interests, by excluding them from the
courts, when injured by their neighbors,
and deprive them of the right of repre-
sentation. In short, this party would
make a majority ofthe people of our dis
trict the bitterest enemies in our midst,
rather than have them our friends, and
useful citizens.
1t is the duty of the people to defeat
this party in the coming election. Its
success must necessarily produce trouble
and i'll feeling. It is arrayed in direct
opposition to the government at Wash
ington, and is opposed to the true inter-
ests of our State. All the tranquility,
happiness and security of our people,
rest upon justice, and a recognition of the
rights of others. If we are forgetful of
those rights, and deliberately go to work
to deprive men of them, we must ex-
pect trouble and confusion, sooner or
later.
A great many men will think it best
to stay at home on election day, as they
cannot take the "test OATH" Ouradvice
is, for all to go to the polls, who are al
lowed to vote by the constitution of the
State, and have their names recorded on
the rejected list, should the supervisors
and inspectors of election have the te
merity to require the test oath. The
constitution declares, "that every white
male citizen, of the age of tWaRty-one
years, not of unsound mind, pau
per, nor under conviction of bn, fell
ony, or bribery in an electiol ind who
has been a resident of the State for twelve
months, and of the county thirty days
next preceding the day upon which he
offers to vote, shall bepermitted to vote"
Such is the law which governs the citi-
zen and the legislator of this State; and
such is the law which the inspectors of
election are sworn to support. If they
violate their oaths, and thereby deprive
men of rights guaranteed them by the
highest law of the State, a responsibility
must attach to their acts.
The success of the Conservative or true
Union party, can only be achieved in
this election, by every friend of the
cause going to the polls, and doing his
utmost to make friends for it. Let eve
ry man believe he has work to do, in
this behalf, and the Radical party will
be effectually defeated, and all unconsti-
tutional and unjust laws, wiped from
our statute books. The interests of the
people demand the triumph of our prin-
ciples, and the means of triumph are in
their own hands.
General Robert Il. Lee.
We have been permitted to see letter