The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-29
The Election in West Virginia
Institutional Amendment.

Constitutional Amendment.
AT the election in West Virginia last
Thursday, the amendment to the State
Constitution DISTINGUISHING southern men
was adopted. The vote, however, was no
test of the wishes of the majority of the
people, since it seems to have been secured
by downright bullying and brow -beating in
those counties in which radicalism is in
the ascendant. Quiet, inotiensivc men
We're kept from the polls. hOhio county,
including the city of Whceling,) the peo-
pie were better informed on the subject,
and better protected in their rights, and
the result in that county was large ma
iority against the odious amendment. The
ReqiSter announces the result in the fol-
lowing language: "All Right: Ohio
County Redeemed, Regeneratcd, Olsen
thralled! Democratic majority, S4i !-475
gain in seven months"
B. II. SMITH, Esq, United States Dis
trict Attorney for West Virginia, has writ
ten out an opinion, in which he contends
that the proposed amendment is of no force
even if adopted. He makes out strong
case; yet we suppose there is little ground
for hope that the Radicals care anything
about constitutional difficulties. He says
the constitution defines the qualifications
of voters; and that the Legislature, in vio-
lation of the constitution, provided that
ONLY a certain class should vote upon the
proposed change. To give the amendment
force, and incorporate it into the constitu-
ton, ii should have been voted upon by
all the voters and then, if a majority had
adopted it, the exclusion Of southern men
from the polls would afterwards have been
proper. This is undoubtedly the true view
of the matter; and if there were court
in the State of any ability or integrity, SO
the question would be decided.
The Wheeling Register asks the public
outside Of the State not to accept the re-
suit of the election as Il correct indication
of the Political sentiment of the people.
"The amendment was only voted upon by
ga portion of those citizens who can COM
"ply with the conditions of the registry
"act, and none at all of the large class
"whom the amendment is intended to dis
"franchise were permitted to vote for or
"against its ratification. Shameful out
"rages upon the rights of the people were
"perpetrated in Marshall, Marion, and
"other counties on the day of the cleo
"tion. Our people will yet achieve
"freedom in spite of all the disfran-
easements, the test oaths, registry acts,
sand other unjust legislation, the Radicals
"darc TO infict."
The Clarksburg Conservative also tells Of
similar outrages, and gives the following
story:
Isaiah Young, living on Lost creek,
committed suicide by throwing himself
into his well on last Tuesday night. Some
days ago he requested William Batten,
one Of his neighbors, to go round and see
his neighbors-that he was satisfied that
he had done wrong in reporting them and
having them arrested during the war, and
in reporting them TO the Registrar, and
having their names stricken off-and that
he wished they would forgive him, that he
could not die in peace, sc. Afterwards
his wife called in Ebenezer Bond and re-
quested him to 60 round and see his
neighbors and ask their forgiveness for
having reported them. He seems to have
committed the act in a tit of mental de-
spondency, growing out of his participa-
tion in these matters"
The same paper says that "Judgc c. ].
"STEwART, Of Richie county, on the 10th
instant, decided that the test oath re-
"quired to be taken by attorneys was un-
constitutional because it impaired the
"obligation of contracts; it was in conflict
"with the presidential power of amnesty
and pardon it was retroactive and penal,
"and therefore en post .facto, and that it
"deprived a person Of his property with
"out due process of law: ruling that a
"lawyer's profession and license was as
"much property as merchants goods, as
"he made his living thereby"
Cons titutional Amendments.