Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-09-25
.IMPoRTA Ntrs.I,I.r,raIcM..


IMPoRTANr DEersroN.
We direct the attention d, our readers, and
especially the Board Of Registration, to the
following card, which embodies the. decision
OF Judge HARRISON in a case which was
recently brought before him in Hampshire
county Mr.. Armstrong is aIlavyer of good
standing in Ronney, aud his statement of .tlle
facts of the case may be relied Ion as correct:
To tte Voters of. Hampslllre Cotpty:
| | applied to tho Registrar OF the R0mney
Township, to be registered asa voter, aud he
/ refused-to register me unless would take
the oath known as tho test5gath: this could
not and wouldsnot do Il them applfedlt to the
BoardsofE Registration, and they alsorefused.s
Believing that | had clear right to vote,
and unwilling to be-deprived of that right
without using all the means that inmy judg-
ment, the law authorized, to prevent it, / ap-
| plied, at, the May term, TO the Judge of this
| Circuit for Writ of Mandamus, to compel
| the Board of Registration to register me =
The Judge issued summqls against the
members of the Board, to showrcause why 1
should not be registered, and the matter was
continued until this term. 4a.s...
At this term brought the case up and ar
gued it before Judge Harrison ,7presiding in
place OF Judge Bunker. After mature CON
sideration, the Judge, on Friday last, directed
the following order to be enteredf .,sr
JAMES D. ARMrRoNo, PEainG1,
q rs
The Board of Registratio,t Of tie. County IF
Hampshire, Detendttnts,
On an application for mandamus" re-
quiring the Board of Registration of the
County of Hampshire to register the appli-
cant as voter in tho township of Romney,.
| in said County.
The process Issued in this cause at the last
term, having, been duly served on the men,
bers of the said Board, and it appearing by
the endorsement of the said Board on the ap-
plication made to them, that they refused to
register said applicant, unless he would take
the oath specified 10 the third section of the
registration act, passed the 23d day of Feb
ruary, 1866, and the court being of opinion,
that SO much of said registration act as re-
quires any registrar to administer the oath
prescribed in the Sd section of said law, be.
fore registering such person, is unco"Stitu>
tionat, null and cold; being also of the opiu-
ion that the adoption of the amendment to
the Constitution on the 9th day of May,
1866 cannot give validity to said registration
act it having been passed before the adoption
of said amendment: 1t as Ordered, That a
percmptory writ of -Nan6an,us be awarded,
directed to the members of the Board of Re-
gistration of the county of Hampshire, COM
mauding them to cause the said James d.
Armstrong, to be registered as voter in the
Township of Romney, in the said county, and
it is further ordered, that the applicant re-
cover against the defendants his costs by him
herein expendeds A copy-Teste,
CIAs. NJ. TAYLOR, c. G. C. II. G.
Youwill perceive from this that the Judge
has decided, in the most unequivocal manner.
that the Registrars have no right to require
the test oath of any one !; that every sSoter
can compel the Registrar to register him
aud III determining who are voters the Regis.
trars be governed by the Constitution
OF ttlls State, aud not by the provisions of
the Registration Act; aud, he has ordered to
be issued the most authoritative writ known
to the law, cou mauding the Board to register
me as voter, d!sObedience to which is con-
tempt OF Court, and subjects the members of
the Board to heavy fine and Imprisonment.
would therefore, urge every voter teap>-
plysimmediately to the Registrar of his town
ship to be registered, and if he refuses, it will
be wilful aud deliberate violation of law.
and you should then apply to the Board of
Registration, and if they refuse, take imme-
diatc steps 10 compel them. .-..... 81.
nc teSlStrar Is required to sit ut some con-
venient place in his township, on Friday and
Saturday Of every week, trom the first Thurs
day in August to the third Saturday imsep-
TENDER, inclusive, aud he is bound to register
voter at any other tine provided the appl.>
cation is made to HIM mure than ten days be-
fore an election. Il aiaI
If you value your liberties, and the right
to have a Vice in deciding what taxes shall
be laid on you aud what officers shall have
power over your persons and property, and
dearest rights, act promptly.
Ii any voter desires fuEthcr information,
let him apply to me or to other members of
the bar here, and we will attend to the matter
free of charge. JAs.iD. ARMSTRONG.
Romney, Sept. 15, 1865. h1
R9- A low, grovelling, fve-points black
guard, styling himself 'ReU." S. A. Barnes,
puplishes'a most scurrilous and abusive card
in the last Free Press, about the editor of this
paper, caused by our comments upon vulgar
attempt made by him to humbug the commu-