The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-04-27
For the Wheeling Register.l
The Constitutional Amendment.
WESTON, April 23d, 1866

On the Oath of May, the people OF
West Virginia will be called upon to
sacrifice the interegts OF the State
TO the welfare OF tho radical Office
holders by the ratification of the
following amendment TO the constitu-
ton
No person who, since the first day Of
June, 1861, has given or shall give vol
| untary aid or assistance to the rebellion
against the United States shall be citi'
zen of this State or be allowed to vote
at any election held therein; unless he
has volunteered into the military or ma
val service of the United States, and
has been or shall be honorably dischaTg-
| eS tberefrom
This amendment is in open violation
| of the constitution of the United States
| and the constitution OF West Virginia
is opposed to American civilization, sub
verts the fundamental principles of re-
publican government and comes IN dl-
rect conflict with the late act Of Con.
gress known as the civil rights bill.
It is a bill Of attainder; it is an ec
post facto law; it is law impairing the
obligation of contracts; it cOntravenes
the Presidents amnesty and pardons: it
compels a man to testify against himself;
it puts him thrice in jeopardy Cor the
same offence; it breaks the treaty be-
tween Generals Grant and Lee, and con
times the war
To the unreflecting, the question will
be at once asked, how does il do all this'
The answer in the language of the law
is, it disgraces and condemns a man by
| act of the legislature without due pro-
cess of law, (Which is a bill OF attain
der the passage of which the constitu.
ton forbid. II punishes au act by
'retrospecton. shift or device which
was not an offensa against the laws of
| the State, for 40 such State was in eX-
! istence at the time Of its commission.
| (which is an &c post faCt0 law the pas.
| sage Of which the constitution fOrbids.
| 1t annnls contracts by destroying citi-
| zenship, which the constitution fOrbids.
| IL nulliles the Presidents amnesty aud
| pardon by Furnishing the same treason
| over again which the President OF the
| United States, in the constitutional eX-
ercise of the pardoniDg power, and pur-
. tried and obliterated, thereby putting
! a man twice in jeopardy for the same
| effenses, which the constitution fOrbids
1t, in effect, compels a man TO testify
| against himself in the exercise of
two of the dearest rights known
| TO the freeman--the right 10
be citizen aud the right to rote II alb
rogates the military treaty between
| Gems Grant and Lee, by which certain
| persons were allowed to return 10 their
| homes (despite even the Governor OF
| West Virginia, who tried as he says, "to
get the order revoked) and remain
there undisturbed under the constitution
and laws of the country, by compelling
their expatriation. 1t conflicts with the
civil rights bil' by which all native
born are declared citizens, and subjects
offenders to heavy pains and penalties
and last, but not least, it continues
the war, in order that bad men may feed
and fatten on its wreck and ruin, and
gloat aud chuclllc over the mjseries of
people, whom by savage laws, they seek
to reduce TO tue lowest depths Of bodily
and mental debasemeut.
OF majority of the late body, so
called, the Legislature Of West Virginia
nothing we could say, we are sure,
could penetrate their deadered intel
lectS, or improve their selfrespect. Men
who violate their oarhs to violate laws
for party promotion, caunot expect 10
have good opinion e the 'ay.
y thief ne'er felt theialter draw
With good opinion of the law
much less men who think il impolre
20 behave with decepcy.
We address th5 honest masscs-weu
who are willing to costrue constitutions
so as TO maintain, not to destroy and
corrupt tke principles upon which gov.
u.pmeuts are established-to yield to
constructions that are visible to common
seuso-not such rs consist of 6laments
60 slender as not 10 DO seen except
ragoush some maglitying glass Bad
mon coastrue constitutions 10 extend
their own power; TO forge chains lpoA
al uususpecriug people, and make
promises Of future blessings for innova.
ci0ps 10 fucnish parties, factions COM
biuations and individuals With COZ.
Cssled dirks 10 stab liberty
Tyr,-1s-c I.