Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-05-12
For the Register.
PURGAToRY, West Va, May 5, 1866.

PUReAToRY, West Va, May 5, 1866.
Mr. ZIule.-As The voters of your
county will shortly be called TO vote upon
the ratification of Constitutional
Amendment" changing the organic law
of the Slate, we send you an article, CON-
piled from The columns OF the Uheeling
Register. presenting The question in lis
true light. which We hope you will pub
lish in order that your readers may be
fully informed on SUBJECT OF such Ultal
Importance 10 their interests, HUes and
property and 10 the peace OF the commu-
nifty; for, if this amendment be ratified,
an Outrage will be perpena,ed upon nIne-
teen-,wenGeths OF the citizens OF your
county, without any juslifcstion) that
would cause the barbsrOus nations OF the
earth TO blush and which may lead 10 Sc
rious results; for, men driven TO deSpera-
tion by ,Urongs become phrenzled and
will avenge themselves upon ihe perpe-
trofors of those wrongs, without regard
TO consequences.
1t is lengthy, but brevity would be a
crime when length would elucidale SUBJ
iecl, fraught with so much mischief and
evil. Lei no one fail TO read and ponder
well the following article and discuss ii
with his neighbor. that all may see lis
terrible import.
Yours, &C., ALPHA.
The Constitutional Amendment.
Much as has been said upon the sub
ject OF the proposed constitutional amend
ment which is TO be ratified or rejected
by lhe voters of the State on The 24lh OF
May, we find many persons who are not
acquainted with he terms of the amend.
ment nor the full exten, Of the enormlties
i, con,empla,es. For the information Of
such persons. we republsh me provision
which the radicals desire TO engraft in the
constitution.
|. is proposed 10 add 10 the first section
of the third article OF the constitution, the
following amendment:
mo person who, since the first day OF
June. 1861, has given or shall give vol.
un!ary aid or assistance 10 the rebellion
against the United States shall be citi.
zen of this Stale or be allowed 10 vote a,
any election he'd therein; unless he has
volunteered into the military or naval ser.
vice of The United States, and has been
or shall be honorably discharged there.
from
This amendment has been adopted by
a majority in both houses Of The leglsls-
lure at two successive sessions; first IN
1865 and second in 1866; and row awaits
only TIE ratification Of the people in or
der TO become part of the constitution Of
the State. Upon mis- question, fnal
vote will he taken on the 24h Of May.
We call The attention of our readers 10
the fac, that this amendment not only de
prive, all those who have aided the re-
beIlim of the privilege Of voting, but II
takes from them the rights of citizenship
also. 1t procaims them aliens who can
never become Daturslzed. LIS effect will
be to create in West Virginia body ol
fifteen OF twenty thousand men feltered
with al the disabilities of sliensce and ex.
cluded from the protection Of any govern.
meD,. Under the laws Of this Stale. as
they exist, an alien cannot purchase or
inherit, or hold real estate. until before
some court Of record. he declares on oath.
tha,he intends to continue 10 reside there
in and be al the time OF such declarations
an actual resident of the Stale. This is
preparatory 10 such alien becoming Cit
zen. Now must those persons embrs-
red in this constitutional amendment
make this declaration, before they can
purchase, inherit or hold real estate, and
if they do not, then can they hold, con-
vey or devise it. or dying inles,ate, could
their heirs inherit If they desired, could
they or would they be allowed TO make
such declaration But they are not
aliens. They are not subjects of for
eien State. They are neither alien ene-
mics nor alien friends. They are not
citizens. nor do they belong TO The freed
mems bureau. Then what are they
Is party 50 disfranchised, sbsolved
from allegiance to The State or the United
States
Is moi citizen, in exchange for his al
leglsnce, guaranteed all his rights. civil.
political and religious, by The Govern
men,!
Are no, the relations reciprocal ?
When foreigner comes 10 this coun.
try he snll owes allegiance 10 and is un-
der the protection of the monarch whose
dominions he has lefr. until he formally
renounces ihs, allegiance and declares his
desire 10 become an American citizen. Ii
Re is sggrIeved, or his person or property
violated, he appeals 10 the consul who
his home government and OBJ