davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17
THE BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF
THIS COUNTY.

If statements we have heard Of the
action Of this Board are true, its pro-
ceedings are violatiVe of both law and
decency. Gentlemen have been sum-
moned before this tribunal, to be tried
virtually on the charge of having sworn
falsely. In obedience 10 the summons
they have appeared, but no witnesses
confronted them-no evidence Of any
kind was adduced against them. This
state of things not suiting the disposition
purpose of this inquisitorial and parti
zan Board, they have attempted to make
these gentlemen criminate themselves
and upon their refusing to answer any
questions, their names have been stricll
en- summarily from the list Of voters
and for the avoWed reason, that their
refusal 10 answer the questions address
ed to them, was proof satisfactorily Of
their guilt Under section I, of the
Registry Law, the Registrar Is required
to make out copies of his books ten days
before any election. and lodge one Of
them with the County Board OF Regis
tration. Section reads as follows:
at shall be the duty OF the county
board of Registration to examine such
book. and ii they are satisfied that amy
person has been registered who has been
guilty of any OF the acts enumerated in
the affidavit contained in the third sec
ton of this act, or is in any way dis
qualified to vote, under the provisions
thereof. it shall be the duty of the said
Board, upon proof OF amy such act or
disqualification, to exclude the name OF
such person from the list Of registered
voters. But the party whose name IS
proposed to be excluded, shcH hare me
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17

notice of the time and place of taking
theevidence to prove his disqualification,
which evidence he shall hare the right to
reb,t, and shall have his name restored
to such list, if improperly stricken there
frOm.''
Now, according to this section, the
Board of Registration shall proceed to
exclude the name of any person from
the list of registered voters, only upon
proof of his disqualification, and the ac-
cused has the right to be present when
this proof is offered, and the additional
right to rebut it. The only proof which
the Board pretends to have received in
the cases of the gentlemen referred to, is
their refusal to answer questions as wit
nesses, in their own case. Now can it
be possible that the members of this
Board are so utterly ignorant of law as
to regard such refusal as legal proof. 1t
is impossible every school-boy
knows it to be rudimental principle
of law, that "every man is pre-
sumed innocent until found guilty."
And yet this Board are depriving
citizens of the most sacred right of citi-
zenship, for simply refusing to submit
to wanton violation of right secured
to them by the Constitution Of the
United States, of the State of West Nir
ginia, and by every principle Of common
and statutory law.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17

Some time ago it was stated that the
majority Of the Supreme Court had de-
cded that the action Of the radical Con-
vention Of Missouri, in incorporating
into its new Constitution what is known
as the "test oath," was in clear violation
of the constitution of the United States.
Not only has the report remained I'M
contradicted, but it has been from time
to time confirmed by rumors from va
rious quarters, and few days since its
truth was conclusively established. A
distinguished citizen of Missouri, Mr..
John Hogan, said in speech which he
he delivered in st. Louis a day or two
days ago, "the Supreme Court Of the
United States has decided that the
oath of Missouri was unconstitutional"
He added. 81 grant it, the Court has
not written out and promulgated its de-
eision; but | know that that opinion
was made, and | know from the vely
best sources. | have it from the Judges
of the Supreme Court Themselves We
may take it, then, as an established
fact that the Court will, when it next
assemblies, file an opinion declaring to
be null and void those clauses Of the
Missouri Constitution which require
certain classes of citizens to take the
'.test OATH
Nor is this a matter which interests the
people of Missouri only. There is every
reason to belieXe that the opinion of the
Supreme Court will, when delivered,
be found to be based upon Constitution
al principles with which the test oath
in West Virginia is just as much in con-
flict as is that in Missouri. Should it
be determined, therefore, as we are con-
fident it will be, that the oppressive
proceedings in which a radical and I'M
scrupnons party has for SO long time
INDUCED, have been committed in VIC
lation OF the law, every man who has
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17

participated in them will be liah,o +.
punishment. If the Legislature co,'s
not lawfully compel men to take ~
test oath, or punish them for refns;a WV
it, then it is we'll settled law that eva.s
public officer who has disfranch;sod
wronged any citizen on account Of !;
refusal to take the oath, can be held :.
the severest accountability. Now W..
will assume that we are not to 1.-Two =,
ways under despotic form of govern
ment as at present. We will take !,
for granted that the Federal authorit;o.
will one day confine themselves to tho;.
own proper sphere, and that We sbal,
all then be able SO to arrange the affair.",
of this State as to insure to every citi
zen ample protection for all his ripbt,
and the fullest opportunity of brineina
any one who may have molested %
wronged him before fair and impart;o
courts. If that state of things shoua
be soon brought about, and if the q,
preme Court shall by that time bav.
pronounced upon the unconstitutionalitv
of the test oath, some men may. no,
haps, be made to feel that it is a costly
thing to play the despot, unless they
can always maintain their position
Meanwhile we have the pleasant ASSN.
ance thst the individuals who deny ANY,
citizen right because he will not take
the oath, are acting under a statute
which cannot ultimately protect them
and which we are not under any obi.
cation to respect or obey.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17
HON. FRANCIS THOMAS.

This genHemon, we perceive, is am
nounced as one OF the speakers at the
radical disunion meeting, to be held at
this place on the 22d inst. As he pro-
fesses to have examined thoroughly the
question whether West Virginia is a
State of the Union, and to be fully Of
the opinion that under the Constitution
OF the United States there is no such
State, an exposition of his views would
doubtless be entertaining and perhaps
profitable.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17
ToVGFTERRss RS.

We trust that every voter, opposed to
the misinle OF radieaiism, viii make
every effort or sacrifice that is necessary,
to deposit his ballot en- 5he 9th instant.
Let every man look we'll to his ballot
and zee that every namo is right. All
sorts OF triekers viii be sesorted to by
the Radicals, To deceive and cheat the
unsuspecting and the honest. The citi-
zens of this State never voted when SO
much was at stake as at this time.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17
DESERVING THE RADICALS.

DESERVING THE RADICALS.
The injustice and mpolicy of the pro-
posed constitutional amendment. says
the Wheeling Register, are having the
effect of driving many honorable men
from the Republican party. Almost
every day We hear Of men who have
been active and influential members of
the Republican party during the past
four years declaring openly that they
cannot support the policy now advo-
Gated by the leaders Of that party. There
are also many men who will vote for
candidates for local offices II animated by
their party, but will be careful to vote
also for the rejection Of the constitutions
al amendment.
The radical leaders have scarcely
deigned to make an argument IN support
of the constitutional Amendment. which
was based upon the merits Of the ease.
They have labored again and again to
prove that the ratification Of the amend
ment would benefit the radical party,
but 50 far as the coed policy of the
measure, considering tie advantage Of
the whole state, and the effect the
amendment will have upon the pros
perity Of Inc arhofe, is concerned, they
have said scarcely a word. But instead
OF appealing to the reason of men and
Il Oh hof bn iii
franchisement and alienation of q large
number Of our citizens Will make our
people richer, happier, more contented
and prosperous than now, their whole
forte consists in extravagant laudatiens
Of their own loyalty and bitter denuncia-
ton of all who fail TO do their bidding.
Instead Of attempting to show that the
adontion of the proposed amendment
will increase the population OF our
State, give a new impulse to all its ma
terial interests and enable it to compete
successfully with its sister States in all
that goes to make up American pros
perity and power, they content them
selves by calling their opponents "reb-
els. = copperheads," or butternuts,o
and hourishing the party whip over the
heads Of all who seem inclined to assert
their manhood by deserving a party
which, however Wise it may have been
in the past, has recently demonstrated
itself to be now capable of nothing but
folly. Instead Of attempting TO answer
in fair discussion the objections urged
against the amendment by its oppo-
nents, they strive to excite anew the
passions created by the civil war, and
fan into fresh flame the dying embers of
hatred and revenge.
But there are men, and we are glad to
believe they are not few, who have
acted With the Republican party hereto
fore. but who do not approve and viii
not support the present policy Of that
party in this State. And why should
they" They acted with sthe Union
party as it was called, because they
believed that the aim and intention OF
that party was the restoration of the
Union. They believed that the only
safe and permanent peace that could be
attained was to be had through the
vigorous prosecution and successful ter
mination of the war. To this end alone
they labored Wei, the war is now
over; the authority OF the Federal
government has been rc-established !;
the southern people are honestly dis
posed to accept the result and maintain
their allegiance 70 the Union, and all
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17
PAnIgALTSM WANING.

Governor SWAMI, Ex-Governor BRAD
FoR9, and other prominent politicians
of Maryland foreseeing The coming doom
of radieaIisrn, are taking refuge from It
in the ranks 81 conservatism. They
ha1a openly turned their backs upon
thai portion Of the radical party that
support the action Of Congress. as OPP
posed to President JOHNSON. Similar
changes are taking place al over the
country. Nor Is this matter for sur
prise. Parties led by extremists, never
-nioy q protracted existence. They soon
heeouc exhausted by their own violence.
The ends they propose for attainments
and She measures adopted to secure them,
arc Usually fine suggestions OF soltishness
and passion and do not command the
sanction Of honest conviction, and cool,
enlightened Judgment. Hence, when
ille immediate cause Of their existence
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17

Judge Abell. eff the First District
Court Of New Orleans, has decided the
Civil Rights bill to be unconstitutional
and not binding. The Court argues thai
the present Congress is unconstitutlon-
ally constituted. The great MorganzM
and grand levees ab,ve New Orleans
have given away, and all Southern Lou
isiana is flooded. Thirteen parishes have
been overohWed. The people at New
Orleans are indignant at the inefficiehes
of the Levee Commissioners.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17

good men, North and South. desire
peace, quietude and harmony. 1t is de
sirable now to subdue passion, to cure
revenge, to efface as rapidly as possible,
the bitter recollections Of the past, in
order that all may join hands in re-
building the fortunes shattered by the
war and advancing in the path of pros
perity that lies before us as a State and
a Nation. But the men who have labored
honestly for the preservation of the
Union during these years of war, now
find that those to whom they looked as
leaders in the work have changed front.
They see that the radical party in Con-
gress stands as an obstacle to the resto-
ration of the Union and stubbornly re-
fuses to permit the return of the South
ern States. Instead of asking simply
that rebels lay down their arms and de-
mean themselves as good citizens OF the
United States, they demand now that
the people of the South submit to dis
reimbursement themselves, or confer the
right of suffrage upon an inferior and
antagonistic race. In this State, instead
of laboring for the return of peace, the
radical party strives to keep alive the
feuds created by the war and stir up
anew the discord which was rapidly dis
appearing before the magnanmous
policy of the President of the United
States and the Generals of the Federal
army. Instead Of laboring to increase
the population and develop the resources
of our State, the radicals propose to in
corporate intothe Constitution anamend-
ment which takes away all civil and
political rights from nearly twenty
thousand citizens and will have the
effect of driving that number of persons
beyond the borders OF the State. The
Federal Government has extended its
pardon to the late rebels; they have
complied With the conditions ofamnesty
and have relied upon the fulflment of
the promises held out to them. But the
radical party proposes to break faith
with the surrendered foe and impose
|
poses to thWart the policy Of the presi-
dent and annul the pardons granted by
the General Government.
Is il any wonder, then, that honest,
true-hearted men are daily forsaking
the support Of the party to which they
We're attached While 1t seemed aiming
to accomplish the right, but which they
are not willing to follow when it turns
to the commission of the wrong? The
only wonder is That there are not more
who dare assert their manhood, end
think and act as their own convictions
of duty prompt ther~ We doubt not
that when the votes upon the constitu-
tional amendment are counted, it will
be found that the number of these indie
pendent men who east theirvotes against
the radical scheme will be found to be
much larger than any Of us can now
reasonably predict.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17

Important Fenian movements on e..
Northern frontier are said to be ID e ata.
temptation now that Head Centre s,v
phens has arrived. There was sohle 90 nf
citement at Buffalo in consequently o w
the receipt of despatch from ,, aoM
Work city, stating that General Ne sa,.
had been ordered 20 Buffalo with Com
siderable numberof j'nitedStates 'iol las
The United States steamer MichlSl'h a'.t
also been ordered to remain ~ tfl's' s'o'
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17

is past, and time is afforded for calm re-
Election, all who are influenced by sound
principles, or whose political foresight
is sufficiently keen, desert these parties
and seek union with organizations
more honest in purpose, or more closely
identified with the true interests of the
country.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17
Certain wealthy New York citlz zen,

Certain wealthy New York citlzelh
have organized an american JocKes
Club, after the fashion of its Parlsian
namesake, with the following Officers
President, 4. Belmont Vice PreSiden,'
Leonard ". Jerome Treasurer. WI
Butler Duncan Secretary, }. F. Furry ,
The race-course at Bathgate. ten n me
out of the city, will be opened in egp,
tember, and ii is also proposed TO naNe ~
clubhouse in town. Certain gentlei, g,
living on and near Washington Helgn'51
have also organized Il Four-in- HAM
Club.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO OUR
STATE CONSTITUTION. THE COUNTY
AND TOWNSHIP OFFICERS TO BE
VOTED FOR.

AND TOWNSHIP OFFICERS TO BE
VOTED FOR.
Section LIST of Article 3, of our State
Constitution, reads as follows:
"The white male citizens of the State
shall be entitled to vote at all elections
held within the election districts in which
they respectively reside; but no person
who is a minor or of unsound mind, or
a pauper, or who is under conviction of
treason, felony, or bribery in any cleo
ton, or who has not been a resident of
the State for one year, and of the county
in which he offers to vote for thirty
days; next proceediding sucn offer, shall
be permitted to vote while such disa-
bility continues
1t is proposed to amend the above
article by adding the following clause:
" No person who, since the LIST day Of
June, 1861, who has given or shall give
voluntary aid or assistance to the rebel
lion against the United States, shall be
q citizen of this State, or be allowed to
vote at any election held therein, unless
he has volunteered into the military Or
naval service of the United States, and
has been or shall be honorably dis
charged therefrom."
In addition to the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution, the voters of
the State will be called upon also to vote
for a County Superintendent of Free
Schools, and for the usual township
officers, viz:
/ Supervisor,
/ Township Clerk,
t Overseer OF the Poor,
Township Treasurer,
Inspectors Of Elections,
/ , School Commissioners.
Gonstabies,
Surveyor Of Roads for each Road
District in the Township.
The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-17
officers, viz !:

| Surveyor OF Roads for each Road
District in the Township.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-02-23

SLAUGHTER AMONG HORSE THIEVES. The
Memphis Commercial, mentions the depre-
dations of gang Of horse thieves in Tisho-
mingo and Itawamba counties, Mississippi,
and the termination of their operations 1t
says:
The citizens of Saltillo, gaining an mixing
of the matter, set detectives on their track,
and readily ferreted ont their entire system
Of plundering. A week ago last Friday
this gang, headed by one Bowly, who re-
sides about three miles outside this city on
the Germantown plank road, entered the
town Of Saltillo and were Immediately arrest
ed by the citizens, who, upon consultation,
determined upon Kidding the community Of
such rlifians, and in a short time thereafter,
Bowly, with his six confederates, were or
dered to be shot. This sentence was carried
into immediate execution, and these bad
men thus expiated the folly Of their manifold
crimes
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-02-23
The Counties Of Jefferson and Berkeley.

BY vote of the House of Representatives.
the Counties of Jefferson and Berkeley have
been transferred to West Virginia. The
vote stood 112 ayes to "a nays: Upon this
subject the Richmond Hhig says: ..-
The highest act of State sovereignty is the
control and disposition of it's domain. None
but sovereign State can acquire or cede
territory. This imposing vote of the House
of Representatives is a fresh and unqualified
recognition of the undiminished integrity and
authority of Virginia as a State-of its pow
err to exercise the highest act of sovereignty
Yet the same is, by the same body, day af-
ter day, week after week, month after month,
persistenty denied representation. Its men,
bers elect, many of whom can take the re-
quired oath, are from their seats. For all
| the purposes of oppression, prosecution and
spoliation, Virginia is in the Union, but when
it comes to protection and representation, she
is out of the Union. Either Virginia was
not in the Union, as perfect State, when
she ceded those counties, and was, therefore.
not competent to perform such an act, and
the act is consequently void and of no effect
or, if she was then in the Union, as a per-
feet State, she still is so, and the denial to
her of representation is a denial to her of that
equality guaranteed by the Constitutions
| thus palpable and fragrant violation of that
Instruments a virtual ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
the Unions treason, q. e. d.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-02-23
Virginia..

We copy the following handsome tribute
to Virginia, from the Bastrop (Texas) Id
yeHiser, written on reading an article iii
Virginia paper.
The following extract is taken from q Rich
mond paper and awakens, in our heart, the
deepest feelings of sorrow and regret. Since
the disastrous result of the late war, and the
restoration Of the Federal authority, it has
become somewhat fashionable in certain quar-
tiers and among particular kinds of people to
speak, in terms of reproach and derlsion, Of
Southern chivalry and Southern manners
and customs
This course of conduct is peculiar to that
class OF minds-in whose eyes success in life
robes the miser in a moral habiliment of phi
lanthropy, generosity, and open-heartedness
upon whose lips always hang words of
commentator, cordial greeting, and earnest
welcome for the man Of wichedness and crime
and who bow with fawning obsequiousness
to the possessor Of wealth and affiuence-
Such people have no respect for. self-no
pride Of family--no devotion to the land of
their nativity. Truly, success is great thing
in life, and is no less important to nations
than to individuals. The noble bearing
self-reliant energy and glorious pride of Vir-
ginia, in her present dcsolation, does honor
to herself and her people. Yet, we could
have expected nothing less from the land of
Washington, Jefferson, Henry and the birth
place Of Lee, Johnston, and jackson. To-
day, Virginia though but one Of this great
Confederacy Of States-stands out, in the
history Of the world, giantess in glory and
renown-and were the balance of this vast
continent, with all of its evcntful annals,
blotted from the face of existence and from
the recollections Of mankind, Virginia would
still move queen among the greatest en-
pires of earth.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-02-23

How TO MAKE MUTTON. A lot Of Cotes-
void sheep having been seen in New York
that would weigh from 300 to 400 pounds,
the proprietor, "a Canadian, was asked his
method Of fattening sheep, and replied:
Gin the first place secure a good breed.
That is the most important point. The next
thing is to keep them growing from the time
they are weaned till they are taken to the
slaughter house, never allowing them to grow
poor at any season Of the year. I have fed
them all the hay, peas and oats they would
cat. Peas are better than Indian corn for
mutton. Oats furnish heterogeneous mat
ter for the formation Of necessary muscle. =
Peas produce more fat than the same num-
Der Of pounds of cereal grain
EDO you feed any roots and straw 2"
eyes, each sheep gets not less than one
or two pounds Of turnips daily, with all the
straw to eat and lie on that he wants and a
good shed is provided, with supply Of pure
water, and salt to lick at pleasure"
Chow much do you expect to get for the
largest of your flock r
':Two hundred dollars per head, or ] ship
them from this market
The next day VIC learned they were taken
at that price for Christmas mutton.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-02-23

The names of various gentlemen, among
them John S. Barbour, of Culpeper county;
Andrew Jameson, of this city; Granville j
Kelley, of Fauquier county; John Wood,
Jr, of Charlottesville, and Robert M. Chill
ton, formerly Of Loudoun county, Virginia,
but lately Adjutant General Of Gen. lees
army, are mentioned in connection with the
Presidency Of the Orange and Alexandria
railroad Company, an election to fill which
office has been ordered by the Board of Pub
lie Works to be held at the Courthouse, in
this city, on the sixth day of next March. =
We understand that one Of the newly APP
pointed State proxies will cast his vote in ia
vor of the last named gentlemm.--Ale1an-
oriu G0.ctte.