The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-04-19
The Constitutional Amendment.

Much as has been said upon the sub
iect of the proposed constitutional
amendment which is TO be ratified or re-
iected by the voters Of the State on the
oath of next May, we dud many persons
who are not acquainted with the terms
of the amendment nor the full extent OF
the enormites it contemplates For
the information of such persons, Nc se
publish the provision which the radicals
desire TO engraft in the constitution,
and will keep it standing until all our
readers become thoroughly acquainted
with its language and meaning.
1t is proposed to add to The first sec
ton of the third article Of the cOnstitu-
ton, the following amendment
No person who, since the first day of
June, 1861, has given or shall give vol
nntary aid or assistance to the rebellion
against the United States shall he citi-
zen 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, aud
has been or shall be honorahly discharg
ed therefrOm."
This amendment has been adopted by
majority in both houses of the legisla-
ture at two successive sessions: first in
1865 and second in lSG6; aud now awaits
only the ratification of the people in or
der to become part of the constitution
of the State Upon this question, a tinal
vote will be taken ON the oath of May.
We call the attention of our readers TO
the fact that this amendment not onlS
deprives all those who have aided the
rebellion of the privilege Of voting, bat
il takes from them the rights of citizen
ship also 1t proclaims them aliens who
can never become uaturalized. it>
effect will be to create in West Virginia
a body of fifteen or wenty thousand men
fettered with all the disabilities of alien
age and excluded from the protection #
auy government When foreigner
comes to this country he still owes al.
of the monarch whose dominions lie has
left, until he formally renounces that
allegiance and declares his desire to be
come an American citizen. 1t he is ag-
grieved, or his person OF property VIC
lated, he appeals to the consul who rep
resents his home government and oh
tains redress. But if this amendment Ia
the constitution of West Virginia is
adopted, fifteen or twenty thousand
men, many of whom are now among our
most valuable citizens, Will be without
country and without the protection Of
any government on earth
1t is easy TO see at a glance that the
adoption of such measure would be
ruinous to the prosperity of the State.
These men will be compelled, in order to
enjoy the rights which are dear to every
American citizen, to remove into other
States where a wiser policy is pursued |
and where, aftera short residence, they !
may become citizens But can West |
Virginia afford to drive out twenty
Thousand men from her already sparse |
population and suffer no loss 2 Bear in
mind that this amendment excludes !
from citizenship not only those who
have been engaged in actual service in
the rebel army but all who give laid or
assistance" of any kind to the rebellion.
Whoever voluntarily gave morsel Of
food or an article of clothing to a soldier
in active service in the Confederate
army is held by the friends of this
amendment to have given aid to the 70.
beliion. 1t may thus be seen that the
class of persons whom it is proposed to
disfranchise and ALLEVIATE is much larger
than the number of those who served in |
the rebel army, and it is even probable
that it exceeds twenty thousand persons.