Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-04-30
[FOr the spirlt Of Iefer.on.l

III ~ I1D1Ioh - most extraordinary pa
per has been served on me- 1t requires me
TO appear In Shepherdstown, the very incon-
venlent and almost inaccessible location of
our county seat, to prove that / am a qualified
voter Pray, sir, eulighten me as to this sim
gular summons. "a qualified voter p Why
1 was qualified voter, and voted for PRESS
dent before some ofthose who propose to settle
the right of franchise in these parts were born.
1 am getting old now, with little left to love
but my country. But / cannot, old and fee
Die though be, allow my right of voting to
pc lntertered with, without knowing Why
My notions, am afraid, are becoming lit
tie old fashioned. / believe the man who
has the right to vote and does not exercise it.
Is useless citizen-a rotten branch ON the
political tree. And the man or the body of
men, be they simple citizens, or clothed with
authority, who attempts to interfere witfR
that right, are not only traitors, but traitors
OF the deepest dye, since they strike at the
very corner stone of our republican structure.
There was time, before the war, when the
qualification for the right to vote was citizen
ship. But, alas how times have changed
L am citizen, property owner even, and as
true and loyal in every pulsation of my heart
as any man that breathes; and yet, now at
the end of my days, am invited to travel
across the country, to its remotest and most
lnconvenient corner, to prove that 1 am
qualified voter.
But, in addition to the proofs which are
within the knowledge of the Board of Regis
trars, namely, that am a citizen-have an
'swered satisfactorily every question that was
put to mo by their local registrars taken
every oath that the law calls for, and the. en-
try of my name in their books as voter,
what proof do they want, or can offer that
am a qualified voter. "A certain rumor i
have heard, but it is too shocking to be any
thing but "a rumor. And yet, it comes to me
through friends that are well informed. Its.
that to be properly qualified to vote, YOU
must be of what is termed "the right stripe
OF politics; ;" and that the summons served
on me is simply that should ''prove my loy-
atty. The man does not live who can truly
lift his fngerin disparagemento of my loyalty.
Nor, let me add, would it be safe for him to
dose, old as / am. But to be called on to
prove my loyalty is not 6nlya novelty, but
presents difficulty which might appal the
purest patriot in the land. Does any one
charge me with disloyalty? Then what are
the specifications and proofs? I shall, 1 pro-
mise you, lose no time in meeting them. But
to prove my innocence of crime that un.
derstand no one has charged me with, is alb
and necessarily loyalty, are, am told. pre-.
sumptions of law in favor of every man, and
"no one" to use the very words of Horny
Clay, "has right to put forth a positive as
sertion, that political crime has been COM
mitted, unless he stands prepared to sustain
by satisfactory proof of some kind, its actual
existence" And again he says, ''if the ae-
cuser of political offence is absolved from
the duty of supporting his accusation, every
other accuscr of offence. stands equally alb
solved. Such principle practically carried
into society would subvert all harmony, peace
and tranquility. None-no age, nor sex, nor
profession, nor calling, would be safe against
its baletul and overwhelming influence 1t
would amount to universal license, to uniyer-
sal calumny."
am very much inclined to think that an
explanation OF this matter lies in the inter-
probation of the word s'loyalty." And that
while loyaltyto the Union and the Constitu-
ton, and. to the best interests of the whole
country, are very convenient things to talk
about, to be properly qualified to vote in these
parts, your loyalty must be to the small mi
nority of narrow minded, selfish and evil dis
posed persons, who at present control Affairs
in West Virginia.
On the first Monday of May, if it please
God, / shall be in Shepherdstown. Accord
ing to law, as sound lawyers inform mo, a man
cannot be called on to prove a.negative, and
logicians, 1 know, go so far as to assert, that
negative cannot be proved. But L shall
have with me such evidence of my civil and
political character and conduct, that if dis
qualified, shall at least know the reason why,
and of reading it in the bushes of the trium-
yirate who have to settle the question.
In conclusion allow me to make remark
or SO of personal nature. Understand that
Judge Kennedy and Mr.. Wants are among
those summoned. A young kinsman of mine,
an officer in the Union army, was quartered
at Judge Kennedy's house during the war
He is in the habit of speaking of the Ken
nedys, and making this distinction between
them: "Both," he says, ''are good fellows,
Andrew is rebel, but the Judge is thor
oughly loyal man." Moreover, have more
than once heard Mr.. Alexander Kelly, of Har-
Per,s Ferry, an undoubtedly loyal man, speak
LOT the sacrifices and suferings of Judge X.
during the war, on account of his devotion
10 the Union cause. Mr. Yantis I have
known long and well, and if he is not loyal
man, there is not loyal man in the State. Tt
is alleged, understand, with what truth, I
know not, that he sold goods to rebels during
the war Well, what of that Killino is
not always murder. And in this particular
respect l should like to see the man, what
ever his opinions, who had the opportunity.
and yet can to-day throw stone at Mr.. Yam.
It's While, as for myself, were 1 on my dy-
ing bed, my last gasp would breathe unutter-
able, unqualified devotion to the
UNION.
HARPER's FERRY, April %, 1867.