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

''o''i CtiN ltIStl uiItiit VI tIit I<kCCutINc
to another equally subservient. If a
Registrar tcjIt3HLg or moliciously reject
any person from registration he NAV be
lined. But You must prove that it was
WifullN or maliciously done, and notify
mistake or error of Judgment. And
how. when YOU find your name omitted
from the register, will you be able to
'uftisl the proof Can you search the
mans heart and drag forth the hidden
purposes OF his decision? But even this
provision, insufficient as ii is TO protect
.he rights OF the Voter, is nullifed by
ahother act passed during the recent seS-
sion, which provides that no officer. act
ing III the discharge Of his official duty,
uhder any act of the Legislature, or am
of0e,' or proclamation of the Governor.
sIt'if be personally responsible An.
other section of the registration act re-
peals the twenty-fifth section of the act
10 regulate elections, passed November
18TH 1868. This section thus repealed
required the officers of elections, when
they rejected the vote Of any person. to
enter his name. if he demanded il. in A
sePerate list upon the poll books, and to
seai up marx and preserve the ballot
winch he offered. As this has been re-
pea'ed, these officers NAV hereafter re-
Jeet what votes they please, and no re-
eofd OF their acts will appear against
them.
we thlnk the purpose and effect of all
tneee provisions is manifest The regis
lratlon act places the constituency of
the State unier the control Of the Gov
ernor The County Board and the Reg
lstrars are to be the drummers of his par
". great " F'reedmen's Bureau will
be established in the Executive office, to
manage the elections and manipulate
"a u ia !,
spending their time and money in cleo
tioneering, Will do we'll to enquire at
that office whether the Governor in
tends them to be elected. We are sorry
10 say, fellow citizens, that we believe it
Is the design of the dominant party that
there should no longer be free or fair
elections in West Virginia. 1t is not in
tended, if they can prevent it, to allow
you to speak, write, print or vote in OPP
position to the radical faction Of the
State.
BY other acts of the Legislature pass
ed subsequent to the registration act,
the registration of voters is to be COM
pleted on the tenth day of May next,
and on Thursday, the twenty-fourth of
that month, the proposed amendment Of
our State constitution is to he submitted
1or ratification or rejection, not to the
voters of the State. but to those whom
the Legislature and the Governor have
permitted to vote. If majority is east
at the polls in favor of ratification, it
will, no doubt, be claimed, that the
amendment has become a part of the
constitution of the State.
The registration act of February 10Th,
1866, fseetion twelve provides that no
person, unless he has been registered ac-
cording to the act, shall be allowed to
vote ut any election that shall be held
after the first registration is completed,
and this provision remains in force. If
you intend to vote at the election on the
twenty-fourth of May, in which YOU
have so much at stake, it is necessary
that YOU should be registered by the
tenth of May at farthest. 1t is true,
that by comparing the sixth and sew
enth sections of the registration act, we
may infer that the County Board, or the
Registrar, may extend the time Of regis
tration until the fourteenth of May, or
ten days before the election. But do
not rely upon this. 1t is optional with
them to do so and such faVors will not
be granted unless their own party is to
reap the advantage.
Under such circumstances, what
course, fellow-citizens, ought we all to
pursue? Must we tanely submit to
such iniquitous legislation, and suffer
OuISclNcS 10 te bouIlu IldIlu ana lOOl lOF-
ever: The proposed constitutional
amendment is the completion of the
radical system. Ii is the very keystone
of the arch which is to give strength
and solidity to their power over West
Virginia. Shall we allow it to pass by
default: If we can defeat it at the polls,
even under their own registration act,
their rule in this State will be ended for
ever. If we suffer it to pass by default,
what redress or resource will be left us
against the malignancy and prosecutions
of these men? Their drummers-
County Boards and Registrars-will
see TO il, that every person is registered
upon whose vote they can rely. They
expect, blythe measures which they have
adopted, to brighten from the polls
enough of the voters who are opposed to
them to secure their own ascendency.-
Shall we permit this expectation to be
realized: Shall we assist them in ac-
comprising their object by refusing to