The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-03-22
NO. 90.

lateS all principles OF natural right. 1t
is the principle of the oldSpanish Inqui-
sition, which the civilized worldnow re-
pudiate and abhors. The trainers ofour
constitutions, both State and Federal,
supposed they had eradicated it forever
from ourrepublican form Of government.
The second section of the second article
of our State constitution has declared
that nc one shall be compelled to be a
witness against himself. The constitu-
ton OF the United States, and it is be-
lleved, the constitution of every State
OF the Union, contains a similar prOvis-
ion. BY the common consentof civilized
men, this has been established as fun
damental principle that ought never to
be violated. However strongly you may
suspect Il man to have committed trea-
son, theft or murder, you have no right
to require him to swear that he is not
guilty of the crime with which he is
charged; nor can you punish hi.a, by
the deprivation of any right, because he
refused to take such an oath. If he has
been guilty, his guilt must be proved by
lawful evidence, and punished accord
the crime was committed. Such laws
as our Legislature have enacted, might,
perhaps, be excused, though they could
not be justified, if passed in the time Of
war and public danger, under the pres
sure Of excitement and alarm; but what
apology can be made for them when
passed in time of peace:
There is yet another principle involv-
ed in the test oath system which is equal
ly abhorrent to US, and it is this, that lie
ar)lo hos once erred shat nerer be forgiven.
The oath to support the constitution, as
we have already said, refers to the future
only. The man, land there are thousands
of such cases. who was deceived or mis-
led into voluntary support of the re-
bellion, or who joined the rebel armies
in the mere thoughtlsssness and hot
blood of youth, may have soon discov-
cred and repented of the error of his
ways. But there is no forgiveness for
him. He could take the oath to support
the constitution of the United States
and of this State, with clear conscience
and honest intention to become a good
and useful citizen, and to fulfill thereaf-
ter his whole duty to the Union and
the State. But he is to be prescribed
and DISTINGUISHED forever. He must
swear, in substance, that he has not,
since the first day Of June, 1861, volun-
tarily given any aid to the rebel cause.
If he will not commit perjury, no re-
pentance, however sincere, will be Ofany
avail. And yet we are all taught to
pray that our own trespasses may be
forgiven, as we forgive those who tres
pass against us. Nor do these laws rec
ognize any distinction in guilt. Allare
alike to be DISTINGUISHED. The man who
ignorantly or thoughtlessly supported
the rebel cause, because the community
in which he lived were doing so,-he
who gave any assistance to that cause,
however slight or whatever circum-
stances may have existed to palliate the
offence, is, under this system of legisla-
ton, equally beyond the reach of pardon
as the most inveterate conspirator and
rebel in the State.
There are, fellow citizens, 9th er pro-
visions of the registration act which de-
mand your attention.
The Governor is toappoint the County
Board of Registration, and he may re-
move any member of the Board !" for Off
cial misconduct, disloyalty Or other
coNses".-that is, whenever he sees fit to
do so. The Board appoint the Regis
trars, and may remove them for what
ever they consider "good cause" for re-
moval. The whole machinery, there
fore, by which this act is to be carried
the control of the Governor. These Off
ces are to be filled with his tools, select
ed to manage this business of registra-
ton in such manner and for such pur-
poses as he may appove. If any men,
Der of County Board prove refractory,
the Governor has the power of removal.
If Registrar become conscientious,
hint from the Governor to the County
Board that he had better be removed
will be sufficient. The people of the
county or township have nothing to do
about these appointments or removals.
We cannot, therefore, expect anything
else than that these men, in the execu-
ton of this act, will prove the servile in
struments of the Governor and his party.
But to complete the scheme, the tif-
teenth section of the act authorizes the
Governor, among others, to eximine the
registry books OF any election, State,
county, town or municipal, and reject
any returns that are contrary to the
provisions of the act. He is to be the
Grand Supervisor of Elections, smalland
large, with power to reject any returns.
Who ever heard OF such authority hav-
ing been given to the Governor of .
State: On the other hand, the provis-
iOno ff,r DrOtoctinCy tho riuht2 Of vOtNrA