Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-04-24
ADDRESS OF MIR. LAMB.
The Registry Law.

VI q HuHlOei VI clIlZenS from almost every
section of the State of West Virginia, which
was held at Wheeling last month, has issued
an address to the people of that State, in
which ne reviews the Act of Assembly pro-
viding for the registration of voters. The
length of this admisable paper precludes our
publishing it in full. His arguments are all
clearly and strongly put, and would be read
with interest and profit by every man in the
State.
Alter admitting that tho constitution of
West Virginia gives power to the Legislu-
ture to provide for registry of voters, and
showing that such registry must be of those
who are voters under that constitution, viz
all white male citizens of the State who have
resided therein for twelve months, and in the
county for thirty days, shall be entitled to vote;
and only excepting minors, persons of un-
sound mind, paupers, and persons uuler con-
0tctton OF treason, felony or bribery in an
election, Mr.. Lamb proceeds to show that
the present act does not provide for any such
registry of voters as the constitution contem-
plates, and that its trainers never intended
it for any such purpose and that, by its pro-
visions, the first section of the third article is
virtually stricken out of the constitution
He says: Sour constitution has declared that
certain persons shall be entitled to vote, and
the Legislature, under the pretence of reg
istry law, say they shall mott" and he.comcs
to the conclusion, as every sane man in the
State has, that the law is absolutely uncon-
stitutional.
In speaking of the oa:h required by the
act, he uses the following language:
'' The registration act contains test oath.
This, of course, was to have been expected.
1t has been the favorite method of Legislation
OF late, and the statue book is filed with this
sort OF laws. The lawyer is deprived of the
means of earning livelihood for himself and
family unless he takes the test oath. You
cannot resort to court of justice, or sue be-
fore magistrate, to enforce any right or re-
dress any wrong, however aggravated or un-
Unsuitable, unless you are prepared to take the
test oath. The person in whom the people
have shown their confidence by electing him
to office, must take the test oath. Our legis-
lators tell their own constituents that they can
not trust them, unless they take the test oath.
At every turn, our dearest rights as men and
as citizens, are dependent upon our ability to
take such oaths as the Legislature from time
to time see fit to require. Such laws have
proved 4 constant source of ANNOYANCE to the
people, and Of perjury throughout the land.
Lead US not into temptation, is one of the IN, st
important precepts Of our religion, but the
Legislature have scattered the temptat;On
to commit perjury broadcast over the State.
Ihls multiplication of Oaths tends to cor
rUPt the public morals. They have been so
often administered that the socmnitv which
ought to accompany them is wholly lost
Men have become skjifuI in interpreting
oaths to mean just what suit themselves"
The only oath that the Legislature has the
right to require of any citizen is one ito sup
port the constitution of the United States.
and the constitution of West Virg;n;a;" AMI
even this cannot be required except sin time
Of war, instruction Or public danger" And
If any person, having the constitutional right
to vote, fails to take that oath, in the time
when it may be legally required OF him, he
does not forfeit his right of voting that right
IS merely suspended daring that time of :swar,
instruction or public DANGER" and when
that time is passed the right of voting again
recurs. This principle, Mr.. Lamb tells us,
was unanimously adopted by the trainers Of
the constitution and unanimously ratified by
the people. Yet in the face of this clear pro-
vision of the constitution, the Legislature
says that man shall vote unless he will
take this test oath when required to do so by
the Registrar
In speaking of that portion of the law
which provides for the appointment of the
Registrars, Mr.. Lamb says:
"Wc think the purpose and effect of all these
provisions is manifest. The registration act
places the constituency of the State under the
control Of Che Governor. The County Board
and the Registrars are to be the drulnmers of
has party. A great "Freedmen's Bureau
will be established in the Executive Office, to
manage elections and manipulate the returns
and candidates, before spending their time
and money in elcctioneering, Will do we'll to
enquire at that Office whether the Governor
intends them to be elected We are sorry to
say, fellow citizens, that VIC believe it is the
design ofthc dominant party that there should
be free or fair elections in West Virginia
1t is not intended, if they can prevent it. to
allow you to speak, write, print or vote in op>
position to the radical faction of the State.
Mr.. Lamb then appeals to the people to
exert themselves in this crisis of their affairs:
to register, organize aud vote, in order that
the Radicals may see that they have exhaust
ed the patience and aroused the indignation
of the people by their revolutionary schemes.
1t is surely the duty of every man to register
and to vote who can conscicntiously take the
stcst oath but, unfortunately, there are large
numbers of US who cannot say we have given
mo aid or comfort, countonance, counsel or
ENC nlirn nnmnnL to Tho CnnE,lnrnto 0.....