The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-05-16
WEST VA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 1866
Tho Test Question.

Tho Test Question.
j, Tho votc on the ordinance Of secession
determined tho political status Of sssrly
every msn 10 tho State. Since then,
men have been called rebels or loyalisss,
accordingly as they voted for or sgainst
secession. It wos test questiooi;S and
up to the present time the inquiry IS to
how i CO didate for any Office voted on ths
ordinance is always made with . view to
determine bis qualification inrespecs to
loyalty. There is nothing morefself.
evident than that traitor to his country
is unfit to be trusted with political :inau.
cnce. Voting ,toadiyide,she territory Of
tho nation, aud adhering to tho enonics
Of tho Union, sro prira iaeie evidence
Of want Of patriotism and idelityto the
institutions Of tho country. No better
proof could be Afforded Of 4 mans unfit.
ness to bo entrusted with ofios than his
uvowcd opposition to the geycrnmsnt
under which the functions Of that Office
mus. 10 exercised; aud, wore strict and
exaot justice meted out, no voter for So.
csssion could bo allowed to vote or hold
Office in tho State or Nation. But the
loyal people havo been generous and
msguanimous enough to assume that 10
most cases tbe act Of voting for disunion
was tho resul. Of ignorance Of its efeos,
and has been heartily repontsd Of; hence
they have imposed no legal disabilities
upon those who simply voted to throw
of their allegiance to the government Of
the United States. The refusal Of the
loyalist. to exercise their undoubtsd
right to disfr.nchiss every man who vo.
ted for the ordinance Of secession, is 40
act of msgnsnimity which is entirely
overlooked by the rebels and their sym: /:
pathizers. The Union men are charged
with being syranuical, and With enact
ing laws 10 tho spirit Of rovengc. Moth,
ing is farther from tho truth. Oa the
contrary, they have exercised 4 Christian
forbcarnncs towards the disloyal element
that has existed and itill exists 10 our
midst, Hhich challenges all his:oryfo =
parallel.
But to re.grant the forfeited franchise
and right to hold Office to such as were
engaged for four. years in armed rebel.
lion against the authority Of the United
States, who contributed to murder three
hundred thousand loyalists-sixty.tbou.
sand Of them by starYation-And to iu.
pose upon US national debt which will
require generationsssto ply, is not do.
manded by any considerations Of politi.
cal economy or State policy On tho con-
trary, solf.protcction impsrativeiy' de-
mands tha. known enemies to the State
bo excluded from any participation 10 ito
affairs. Magnauimity to : vanquishsd
foo cOascs whoever ho pre,umptuously
demands to be placed iu o position to
again assault bis victor. .
The number Of those engaged in tho
great conspiracy against the Nasiol's
life was 80 grea. as to render hanging,
the prescribed punishment for treason,
iupructicable: nevertheless, With Presi.
dent johnson, we say the crime should
DO made odiom for all time to como. The
way to do this in West Virginia is to
adopt the constitutional amendment, and
thus, at the same time, insure the perms.
nency and perpctuity Of tho State. Er'
cry vote for or against this important
measure, like tho vote on the ordinance
Of secession, will determine the political
status Of tho voter for many years to
como. Those who vote to make treason
odious endorse tho oft.repeassd dcolara
,ion Of Andrew johnson, and entitlt
themselves to be recognized a. members
Of the great Union Party Of tho State
No man can or will question such = 70
tcr's loyalty or devotion to tho integrity
and best interests Of tho State. On tie
othor hand, those who vote against th'
amendment, place themselves squareIJ
in the rebel party, and thereby declare
that rcbel-Jetf. Davis, svea-has Al
good right to the privilege Of 7o'ioi
and holding Office IS any soldier who
risked his life in defonse Of his country
A vote against the amendment j, as nest
an act Of di,loyalty to the State as II
possible, not to be in fact; because it
defeat will encourage manifestations o
disloyalsy, excite resistance to the laws
aud jeopardize tho very existence Of th'
State as a separate organisation. ST.
To sum up, wo repeat, that the te'
question hereafter, 10 determining
mans loyalty, will bo did you vote 10
or against tho Constitutional Amend
ncnt7" Yedete.
Tho Difference.