Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-05-23
West Virginia.

Special Correspondence Of the ~ y Herald
The Registration of Poters-Alleged Partisan
ship on the Part of the Officers Conserrd-
tees Stricken from the List-An er- Union
Solder is Not Permitted TO Register Because
He is Conservative German Colony, dc.
WHEELING, w. Va, May IA, 1867.
Registration in West Virginia is attracting
the attention of people in both sections OF the
partitioned Commonwealth. Thealleged partl-
sanship exhibited by the officers oil registration,
under the control of Governor Foreman, is
producing the bitterest possible feeling through
out the State of West Virginia.
The Boards of Registration have become
nothing more than mere instruments for the
purpose of securing partisan and radical DOM
nation throughout the State. Men even sus-
pected of holding conservative views have had
their names summarily stricken from the roll
of voters because their sentiments were adverse
TO the party in power These boards receive
their instructions from Governor Foreman,
and are, in almost every instance, Is stated,
the plant tools of this radical functonary.-
Three gentlemen in Barbour County resigned
their offices as members OF board OF registra-
ton because of being required to do such work
as even radicals themselves felt repugnant to
execute. Men of standing and responsibility
in the County have been stricken off the voters
list. and where sixteen hundred legal voters
are enrolled a little over four hundred will re-
main after the Board Of Registration gets
through with its programme OF disiranchisement.
II is not because these men have been rebels
that they have thus been deprived of the most
sacred privilege of American citizenship, but
simply that they feel unwilling to vote the
radical ticket 1t is believed that If many
more are stricken off there will hardly be
sufficient number left to fill the county Offices
In Randolph County it is reported every con-
servatiye name has been erased, and the radl-
Gals, having no company left, moved away to
Upshur County, West Virginia.
In Jefferson County n similar one-sided reg
istration prevails, common practice being to
serve notice on men of conservative sentiments
to appear within limited time and give salts
factory proof of being duly qualified, or else
be wiped off the registry of voters. Such no.
tices are generally served on men who 1--we IN
remote sections of the county, at such distances
| from the centre of registration as precludes
their making an appearance before the speci-
| fled time expires; men too, who have voted at
three and four previous elections. In Parkers-
burg Mr. James Woffindin, a compositor on a
paper, who had been honorably discharged
| from the United States service after term Of
three years, and, though offering to take any
oath required, was refused registration simply
because of his aversion 90 holding the extreme
views of the ruling party.
Turning from politics colonization, itisgrat-
flying to learn that Colonel Burton Despard
and other gentlemen have disposed of ten thou
sand acres to colony of German emigrants,
who are expected to arrive during the present
month.
The lands were sold at very moderate valua-
ton, and the hardy and industrious Teutons
were thus induced to come. If other landhold-
ers followed this example the most satisfactory
results might be expected to follow, and the
wild stands of West Virginia might be made
to blossom like the rose.