The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-03-22
The ADDRESS.

measures TOT the npIl>hfHent OF its
objects = they should deem expedient.
BY virtue Of this authority, the Com
mittee, through its Chairman, DANIEL
LAME, Isq.. lave issued an address to
the people Of this state. which we are
happy 10 lay before our readers to-day.
We ask them TO read it with close at
tentioat and reflect deeply upon the
tratl : i embedies. 1t is a production
Of some OF the best and purest minds of
the state, and presents considerations
OF the gravest Importance to the liberty.
prosperity, and honor Of its citizens
II demonstrates clearly the uneonsti-
tutlonality, injustice, and ruineusness of
the Radical policy adopted in this State.
ana appeals powerfully to every OPP
ponent of that policy, and Wel-wi.her
OF the State TO unite in one grand effort
10 save our young commonwealth from
Its blasting power. To our felloW-citi-
Zens of other States it seems incredible.
that BY the IaWiess usurpatiens Of the
small minority comprising the Radical
party Of this State, from one-half TO
tMo-thifds Of its lawful citizens are de-
barred from the exercise Of any political
privileges, and to a great extent from
the enjoyment Of civil rights Never
theless this i the fact. By selling with
out law or authority upon the Offices of
the State at its revolutionary formation,
and by a course Of subsequent legislation
in utter disregard of the Constitution
which they themselves had adopted,
they have virtually created an olgarchy
which boldly seeks to render perpetual
its dishonesty acquired and tyrannic
power. The Registry Law, which was
Intentionally framed, so as to exclude as
far as possible, from the right to vote, all
citizens who are not .subservient to this
despicable oligarehy, is one of the latest
enactments and is to be Immediately en-
forced in order to carry the proposed Con-
stitutional amendmentby thepeople. To
defeat this ubiquitous purpose, every citi-
zen who by the Constitution is entitled to
vote. and who can take the test oath,
should at the earliest day practicable
apply to the Registrars of his township
and have his name registered as voter.
The power of the Registrar ceases when
the applicant has taken the oath He
is bound then TO record the name of the
applicant. After the registry has been
made, the Voter may be summoned before
the County Board of Registration to
defend himself against having taken
the test oath falsely, and if the Board
decides the charge to have been proven
against him, his name may be stricken
from the list. The following is the form
of the oath prescribed in the Regis
tration Act:
State Of Uest Virginia, - Toaeaship
81 county, to wH:
l, --, do solemnly swear that /
have not, since the first day of June,
eighteen hundred and siXty-one, volun-
tarily borne arms against the United
States, the reorganiZed government of
Virginia or the State of West Virginia !;
that | have not voluntarily given aid,
comfort or assistance to persons engaged
in armed hostility against the United
States, the reorganized government of
Virginia or the State of West Virginia !;
that have not sought, accepted, eXer-
clSeu, VI dllcIu pttu W tAcIClSt, All OllICc
or appointment whatever, under any
authority or pretended authority hostile
or inimical to the United States, the re-
organized government of Virginia or
the State of West Virginia, that | will
support the constitution of the United
States, and the constitution Of this State !;
and that take this oath freely, without
any mental reservation or purpose of
evasion.
This oath therefore excludes only those,
says the Wheeling Register, who have
been engaged in armed hostility to the
Movement, and those who have given
aid or assistance to those actually, and
at the time Of rendering such aid, COM
fort or assistance, engaged in armed re-
bellion. The giving of money, clothing
or food to prisoners in the hands of the
Federal authorities does not disfranchise
the citizen who did these things, either