The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-02-06
An Act to Abolish Elections by the
People.

House Bill No. Sc, entitled "a Bill to
regulate the registration ofVoters," viii
come before the House of Delegates on
its second reading to-day. We earnestly
hope that at least some of the Delegates
will read the bill carefully and reflect
what its operation will be before they
consent to permit it to pass unchalleng-
ed. 1t is really bill to abolish elections
by the people, and under its provisions
the Governor of the State is clothed with
the power of Dictator. This is no e2-
aggerated statement begotten by politl-
cal animosity; it is absolute truth and
must be apparent to any man who reads
tho bill. The Governor appoints IN each
county three men who constitute a
board Of registration, and this board ap-
points one man in each election precinct
to record the names of those who are en-
titled to vote The applicant for regis
tration must be qualified voter accord
ing to the constitution of the State, and,
in addition to this, must take the So
called test oath with the added clause,
That i will, henceforth, to the best of
my ability, preserve, protect and defend
the integrity of the State of West Virgin
ia, within her present territorial limits
and boundaries, misunderstanding and
resisting all attempts to alter
the same;'' and, if he be natnralized
foreigner, he must produce his naturali-
zation papers for inspection by the regis
trar. And, after all this, after the APP
plicant has complied with all these con-
ditions, it is still optional withlthe regis
trar whetyer he record the applicants
name or not if he suspects him OF dis
loyalty" he need not record his name.
But not content with putting the
whole registration scheme into the hands
of the Governor and giving him power,
by means of the appointments he may
mako, to control the election according
to his will, the act now bsfore the House
goes even farther, and gives to the Gov
ernor authority, after the election has
been held, to examine the registry books
and reject any returns that may seem to
him to be contrary to the provisions Of
the act
Do the members of the legislature
know that this is the character of the
bill Are they aware that it takes away
their liberty along with that of all other
citizens of the State? 1t makes the
elections merely record the DEGREES of
the Governor, and virtually abolishes
whatever of political freedom still re-
mains in West Virginia.
The bill is fatty unconstitutional; it
is true The Constitution, article 8.
section II, declares that The Legisla-
ture may provide for registry of
voters" and the lst section of the same
article defines who the voters are. The |
Legislature has no power to provide for
a registry of voters embracing only |
those who can take certain oaths or who |
come up to the standard of loyalty" |
fixed by the temporary Governor or
some OF his appointees. The twelfth |
section of article Sd, of the State con.
stitution is certainly not intended to
nullify and make void the first section
Of the same article, which would clearly
be the case if the twelfth section au-
thorized such registry of voters as is
contemplated by this bill. We have |
certainly had enough of unconsti-
tutional legislation, and enough trouble
and discord has grown ont of it already
without adding to and intensifying it
by the passage of this bill We entreat
the members of the Legislature not to
act hastily in this matter, but examine
it carefully and see for themselves
whether this proposed registration act
is net obnoxious to all the objections
we have pointed ont, as we'll as to many
others which we have not mentioned.
WantFd-A Street Railway