The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-01-17


] held tbe Elections without being sworn
and pursuing the advice given, they lie
fused to exact of voters the test oath o
LOYALTY, Notwithstanding they had beer
challenged as the law prescribes. Th'
consequence was that at many of th'
voting places the Election was conduct
ed wholly in disregard of the laws of th'
State, and persons were elected who can
not qualify And now new Elections mus
be held, or the oath of Office amended 81
that it may be taken by those who have
been elected. Z l. 3 f-i
ENFORCEMENT OF oATHs OF LOYALTY
After the war ended and peace was be
ing restored entertained the hope thai
/ would be able at this session of the
Legislature to recommend the moditica
tion of the more stringent laws in regard
to the election and qualifications of of
fcers, but after what has transpired al
the first and only Election held since the
close of the war in the localities where
disloyalty had most prevailed, l cannot
make such recommendations. On
the contrary 1 now think it the
duty of the Legislature to so amend these
laws that their execution may the more
certainly be secured. And to this end /
recommend, ,lst, That you provide fol re-
gistry of voters as authorized by the. Con-
stitutien, Art.i3, See. II. I'd, That you de-
clare distinctly that all officers Of Elec-
tion shall take the oath of Office, prescrib-
ed by the Act of November 16, 1868, and
if they fail TO do so at any place of vot-
ing, that the vote where such failure oc-
ours shall be void and shall not be count
ed. Sd, That you require allithe county,
and the principal township officers to
qualify before the Circuit Court of the
county, or the Judge thereof in vacation.
These amendments, it seems to me, will
insure the purity of Elections and the due
and proper enforcement of the laws. And
in order that there may may be no fail
ure in the administration of the laws
where a person is elected who cannot
qualify and, at the same time, frequent
elections may be az ayoided, it may be
proper to amend the law so that vacan-
Gies may be filled until the succeeding
annual election, instead OF holding spe-
cial elections as now provided by law !;
and that the vacancies in the principal
township offices may be filed, as many
county offices now are, by the Circuit
Court, or the Judge in vacation.
know that the passage of the Laws to
which l have referred has been attribu-
eed to indicative and unkind spirit on
the part Of the loyal people towards
those who have hitherto committed acts
of disloyalty, but l confidently affirm
| that they We're not 50 intended by those
who passed them nor am l actuated by
any such spirit in recommending
their amendment and enforcement.
When they were passed it was
deemed necessary to adopt some meas
ures of protection against the evil
influences which those in rebellion were
exerting within our State, and it was in
| tended no doubt. as soon alter the war
concluded as the hitherto disloyal should
manifest their purpose to observe the
Laws and support the Government of
the State, that the Acts complained OF
should be modified or altogether repeal
ed But confess my disappointment in
finding that, instead of observing the
Laws, and counselling Others to do so,
many of those who have professed to re-
nounce their disloyalty, have seized the
first occasion to set at naught those Laws,
and have induced others to wholly disre-
gard them. Under these circumstances
i believe it to be the duty of the Legisla-
ture, not only to allow the present Acts
to remain, but to add thereto such pro.
visions as will secure their certain and
continued execution, until those who
manifest this disorganizing spirit shall
conform thereto, or, if they consider
themselves aggrieved, shall seek redress
in legitimate mode.
JEFFERSON AND BERKELEY.
During the last Fall, and since the re-
turn to the County of Jefferson of per-
sons who had been actively engaged in
| the Rebellion, there has been a party in
that County who prefer living within
the jurisdiction of Virginia rather than
in West Virginia, and have been con-
tending that all that has been heretofore
done for the purpose OF transferring that
county, and the county ofBerkeley from
the former State to the latter, is irregu-
lar, unconstitutional and void, and does
not effect the purpose intended And in
| accordance with their views OH this sub
ject. they made preparations and declar-
ed their purpose to hold an Election in
Jefferson Countylon the 18th day of Oc-
tober, for members of the General Assem-
| blN VI anu III a
tive in. Congress. from that State; that
being the day appointed by the Procla-
nation of the Governor OF Virginia for
filling all vacancies in the Legislature of
the State and in the representation in
Congress from that State Upon being
satisfied that it was their determination
to Ii old the Election at the time men
toned, |, on the 9th day of October, is
sued my proclamation, warning all per
sons against attempting to hold such
Election, and directing the arrest of any
who should attempt it. But as the civil
au horities alone would not have been
sufficient to prevent the holding of the
election and TO arrest the offenders, if re-
sistance had been offered, l requested Maj.
General W. II. Emory, commanding the
District of West Virginia, to aid the civil
officers in maintaining the laws and it
affords me pleasure TO acknowledge, in
this official manner. thepromptneSs with
which that gallant officer responded to
this. as he has to all calls made upon him
since he has been in command within
this State As a consequence of these
precautionary measures, no election was
held.
am assured, and have no doubt of the
fact, although not officially informed of
il, that, at the instance of the malcon-