Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-03-08
Correspondence of the GallipOlis Journal.l
WHEELING, WEST VA,
March 2, 1866.

March 2, 1866. {
Mr.. EDIToR:-The West Virginia
Legislature, which has been in scs-
sion here for the past two months.
closed its work yesterday and ad-
iourned sine die. Most of the mem
bers have already departed to their
respective homes, and we miss much
of that life and animation which the
city has of late manifested. Ques-
tions of great interest and Importance
have been before the Legislature
during its present session, and
though many, perhaps a majority of
its members were men almost en-
tirely destitute of experience in prac-
tical legislation, yet to the consider
ation of these topics they have
brought a large amount of sound,
practical common sense, and have
met, discussed and disposed of these
important questions in a manner that
will undoubtedly meet the approba-
ton of their constituents, and CON-
mand the respect of other States.
Though not skilled in the arts of pol
i,s-ssrrs and the trickery of dema-
gogues, they sss.a Ehat Is FAR better,
true, honest, loyal sz,,2'seillgerf
men, who look only TO the pest 2
terests Of their State and connts
and to Whom corruption and polii
cal dishonesty are strangers.
The Registry Bill, which 1 men
toned in my last letter as having
passed the House, also passed the
Senate on Monday and is new a law
of the State. The vote in both houses
was strongly in its favor In the
Senate there were but four dissent
ing votes, and in the House but six,
plainly manifesting that it is the
almost unanimous sentiment of the
loyal men of West Virginia that
rebels must not for the present at
least take part in the political affairs
of the State. The object and pro-
visions of the bill are very similar to
the Tennessee Registry law, and like
that it aims to cut off from the ballot
box all men who by participation in
the rebellion, have shown themselves
to be unworthy of that high trust
and privilege. The loyal men of the
State believe that those who were so
lately plotting and attempting the
destruction oil the Government, can
not for some years to come be safely
trusted with the administration of
public affairs.
The bill provides that the Cover
nor of the State shall appoint in each
county three citizens of known 10y /
atty, who shall be styled the county
Board of Registration. The county
Board then proceeds to appoint in |
each township one loyal citizen to be
styled the Registrar, whose duty it
is to register the names of all quail
fed voters within his township
And whenever he is not fully satisfied
of the loyalty of any person other
wise qualified to vote, he shall, be-
fore entering his name on the roll.
require such person to make and
sign al affidavit that he has never
aided or abetted the rebellion. The
township Registrar returns his list of
qualified voters, thus made up, to the
county Board, who have power to
revise the same and to strike from
the list the names of all persons who
may be proved to have been disloyal.
A copy of this list of voters thus re-
vised is deposited with the inspec-
tors of election in the respective town
ships, and no one shall be allowed to
vote whose name is not upon the list.
Penalties of fine and Imprisonment
are also provided against all persons
who shall obstruct or attempt to OBJ
struct the due execution of the law.
The above gre the principal pro-
visions of the bill and will give you
fair idea of what it proposes to ac-
complish. The rebel element of the
State pronounce the law unconstitu-
tional, denounce it as a species of
tyranny, and will undoubtedly do all |
in their power to defeat its execu-
tion. But the law was no hasty act
on the part of the Legislature. 1t
was fully discussed, and well weighed
before its passage, and may be taken
as the fixed and settled policy of the
loyal men OF the State, and as such
will be vigorously enforced.
The Legislature adjourned without
being able to come. to any decision
upon the location of the State Capt.