Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-10-15


Let US now, for few moments, dwell upon a
single subject relating the intei nal affairs of
own State and see whether ats legslat ON Las bcen
IN accordance with the dictates of justice. iuhu.
enced by that same Partizan spirit, which threat
throughout the land refer to the policy ola one
man government; to that policy, created by tho
registration law, which pla"cs within the hands of
the Governor of Stale, the entire control OF the
elective franchise
The frst section Of the act of 1867 entitled can
act providing for the registration 0i the qualified
Votcrs OF this State,'' authorizes the Governor to
appoint Board OF Registration Tor each county,
Consisting OF three u,tIbcTg " no shyI hold Ih,jr
office uuti! their SUCCessOTS cuafi.
he'd They may he removed by the Governor for
official misconduct, disOyalIy other good cause,
These boaIds U TegistTRtiOn have the power of mp.
pointing township rrCisIraTs. whJ hold their OH.
cesaI ihc pleasure Of the bOa'd lu order for the
S+eh :" 'esls'Tr' ils necessary IOr hIInIO appear
bei"ie tue township registrar and subscribe to tue
Following anld"vit; provided, the registrar doubts
ms Oy'ily ("biC 10 not apt to be the case II II IL
asceTtaIned that lac will role yiEht) 4. do sol.
Sinn!y swear Cor atlTI.) Irtdicals geue'aily at.
N'in') tat since the trst day OF JuEe, 1861, have
MOT voluntarily borne arms against the United
States nor accepted or exercised attempted to
exercise, any otilcC or appointment Whatever, un-
der any authority, or prerondd authority, in r. bel
loI against the UuiIei States, cUunseird ad-
vi=ed any person to @ into or aid rebellion aCairst
the United StatCs, or IN any other way Whatever,
aIGcd or ASSISTED such rebellion aud that take
tn oath freely, without any mental reservation ar
purpose 81 evasion. After this IL done, the kOly
TTlIiy Of the board of registration, Can summon a
man before them, If hsy Lt!ttre h" s qualified
TgGicG! cascs) and II he fail To appear strike his
name from tue register The ica, that thesc three
Individuals should nave the pc CT Of deciding Whe.
'L'r '"hh' hy ms uaihs commits n perjury, Is
IHuustTu sIty, hich in my opinion can fnd no sup.
PorteTs where honesty prevails Did ever the ia
NCHNe genius Cl vitality. IN all lis iUu and helm
Gus engineering, perfect scheme, that had clear
'r claim Ioihe bac Nened symbol "f hell We know
TOO we'll what has been its operation with We
have submitted its arbitrary p-oVisiors, until
i'TOtarancs has almost ceased to be virtue. Num-.
beers OF best citizen have been deprived OF their
blN l. q asun tban
rJsl"E radical rule. Men have been summoned
before the Board Of egisration withou their hav-
ING the hTst charge against them; but simply be-
cause their poverty would not adult OF the ptnsc
necessary to take them to the county scat to meet
tue b"N'd; whcrcupou their names have been trick
en- from the register The last act, which has Just
been pcTpttratCd upon people is sufficient Of
l;sr!I' To stamp the present ruling party, tho
''S' PoiiiiSaI thi'V's who have ever infested Our
Uflccs The Ih section of the registration sa VS.:
Zach registrar shall be fuTui-hcd by the board OF
ms county with copy OF the preceding register
OF MS township ward, and shalt sit ON the ivst
AI"nd' y ia April and September If each year.
september has passed, and not book or an Office
has been opened III the townships Of Harpers Ferry
or Bolivar an" lnm Informed lite same through
OUT the county; but we told those who .cgal
No'crs aud desire to register. must travel TO the
county seat,-twonty miles distant from sou.c
points for that Purpose How long are the Sc things
To continue: VIII men who claim BE- hun, It,
continue support the party that pcrp' these
IIu"hG's: Or, VIII they say, now that its ciUvcn
"Jtls no longer hidden. get thee be hind Sa M
shall not enter n'o thorough invcstiga of this
act, a our peopi" have become so intimately ac-
Z
suCha course would be entirely uunCCcrssary.
! have referred to two acts; one by the Congress
"i the UhIicd States the other by the turs
our own State. My object in doing has been. to
show by their own acts. that the proscriptivc
spirit that CharsCtsTzcs TadiCa ism in Congress
TYPICAL of It's unjust and tyranuIcul actions, whcr-
ever 1t exists; that what IL means in Congress. il
means ia the legislature; aud he who supports
'h," al all 'Lust support tn IN entire
linisht wei appeal To your own pCCUniRTy inter
est, ia CunGcmnatIgn Of the caI party, thruuCh
t"sc pcrnlci"us measures, which make the rich
i.ch'r' ana thcP poor, poorer; which enable ia"
uiac'uFcT To realize Il hundred per profit on
ms investment, while the employee rec, ives only
wages enough to keep life and sou! thcr; which
enable the wealthy band holder 20 keep his millions
In hs sale, whlc the poor of tho land pay is iutc.
CT IN gold; which offer nducemcnt to thieves
and snIuE"Icrs, and throw the national treasury
open toll aud and plumber; but am content rely
alone "Lon your patriotism, believing that the time
has come when the shhckIcs of passion which have
80 i"ng i"tter ed judgm' inland reason. must be
tfed aud then, we look aruund over the storm
t"sstd waves OF recruitment, rise above IICiI
roaring tuWuN aud bdthCm, pcacc, be still!
lsh"ud be Picasrd meet either. or both Of wy
P"i!'' "PP"m"nts ia open discussion Of the present
political questions.
F. WILLIS WILSON.
uaIPcI's Ferry, October IL, lSCT.