The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-02-20

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or,tionary powers, we cast tho consti.
tnt;on behind us and go witneIsosNel
ws will. If we should CLAIM tnat we
na riabt in the exercise OF cOnstluc.
uau ;s,isaes OF any kind, to say that
I'VE Sf"nld be thirty years old, we
Seuatoi 81 exercise of such privileges,
mignsS, - he should be one hundred
say I'D Id and thus abolish the Legisla-
M for the want of qualified members.
~ con see, Sir, that the assumption OF
sOy power outside of the delineations
~ the Constitution is perfectly ridic-
nious. and must therefore be, as q meas.
nrs of safety, eliminated by the delinea.
tiops of the Constitution. And, Sir, if
the rule holds good in one case, it must
hold good in all similar cases. therefore,
Sir. in view Of the fact that the qualiti-
cations and disqualitications Of voters,
are clearly delineated by the Constitu-
ton, we can see at once that to impose
a single disqualification in addition to
those imposed in the Constitution is, in
reality, an assumption OF power not
granted, and therefore unconstitutional
and void.
Now, Sir, before proceed to show the
effects of this bill, l will simply remark
that, entrenched as l am, in the posi-
ton have taken, behind bulwarks of
unanswerable argument, have no fear
of my position being stormed by legal
argument; but Iexpect to be hanked by
those who are coutending for place and
power But, Sir, let the hankers under
stand that they have an entrenched gar
rison i'll the rear of sufficient strength
to cut off their supplies and compel re-
treat.
Now sir, will briefly take practical
view OF the subject, and undertake to
show the legal effect of this bill upon
other matter. take it, that the passage
of this registration bill is intended to
secure the ratification Of the Constitu-
tional amendment; but sir the registra-
ton law is.the very measure that will
defeat the legal ratification Of the Con
stitutional amendment How sir will it
defeat the ratification of the Constitu-
tional amendment? Simply this, the
registration law being unconstitutional.
invalid and utterly void it renders al
elections invalid and utterly void that
N other words abrogateS elections
Sir, In this argument | have not al
iuded to the retrospective OF er post JdCtO
features OF this measure deeming it
wholly unneC esssary to do So because
this measure oversteps the accurate de!in
estioRs OF the Constitutions and that is
enough to condemn it, Sir this is not y
controversy between rebels and union
MEL. ii is not controversy be-
tween democrats and republicans
II it is not Il controversy bet
Ween conservatives and radicals,
But Il IS C controversy 6eftreeH The C0nstifH,
ton and aRti,cOastitdtiOH And if there is
such a thing as passion OF political pre-
iudice in the heart of any member OF
this House, would enlreat him 20 cast
il from him and embrace the Constitu.
ton Of his country once NOR. and Ior-
sTer.
MI. HoInbr0ok, vi Ohio said the Bill
lid not propose IL distranchise a loyal
man, but It did intend to disfranchise
all the rebels and traitors Who were
the gentlemen who opposed the bill de
tendlng} Did they stand up fol The mar
tyred dead Of the Union army and their
widows and orphans! No. They st0cd
here to defend rebels aud traitors and
their sympathizers AllusIons had been
made to the Methodist Church; he could
say that the Methodist, were more loyal
than any other denomination Oh, if |
had the olOquenCe that some men on this
floor has ? I would take the opportuni
IL OF using il to a good use | was elect
cd by the loyal people Of Ohio county
the city Of Wheeling occasionally polls
i vote against us, but Ohio county is ali
right, and would tomorrow ratify the
registrar law if the question vas sub.
nittad
Mr.. johnson, Of Tyler. said be had
spoken againot the bill ana III defence of
the liberties of the people-not in de-
fence of the rebels He was astonishea |
TO find the gentleman from Ohio CMr |
Hornbrook) so ignorant OF the history of |
his own country as to take one of Amer |
ica's great men for a Frenchman He
said be had spent three of the best Years
Of his life 10 battling for the liberties OF
the people on tho field, and be would
never desert his principles
The question being taken. che foIia-
ing vote was recorded
Teaa.-Messrs. Pinnell (SpeaLer.D Bal
iard, Bee, Beeson, Bell, Bennett, Bristor
SroWn' Carroll, Cassidy, Cunningham.
curtis. Davis, Dolly, Dyche, Fleming.
toff, Hagans, Higgins, Hiuchman, Hook
er' aornbrook, Koonce, Little, Lock
hart, MARS, MCOy, MQuilkir, MWhor-
YER Riddle, Smith (of Hancock Smith
tot Berkeley Stidger. Trainer, vii
hanson, Witcher, Workman and linn
-3S.
Nays.-Messrs Cooper. Darnel. john.
Bon, Kellar, Maxw ell aud MCurdy
Absent --Messrs Camden. Combs.
Cook, Given, Hiuklc, Kyle, RAIDER aud
Spencer.