South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1868-01-24

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Tneir existence procaims q mode of gov
eminent here which business fears, and en-
terprise avoids.
Upon our own people, the effect Of their
proscr;ptive measures is to produce dissatis-
faction and bitterness among those who re-
main here, and to hasten the departure of
such Of the prescribed as can get away.
Abroad, they destroy the reputation of
the State; at home, they effect the Danish
ment Of honest and useful citizens.
TIE REGISTRATION SYSTEM.
We call your attention to the operations
Of the Registration system. Its details
must convince all men OF its enornity.
The ostensible purpose of the law is to
enrol the qualified voters of the State.
The actual intent is TO disfraEchise the
opponents Of Radicalism
Under its operation, Union soldiers have
been DISTINGUISHED, and men who have
served in the Southern armies have been
enrolled as Radical voters.
The law provides that voters must be mott
fed, tiled, and found guilty Of treason before
their names can be stricken from the lists.
Nevertheless, numbers have been dis
franch!scd without notice, without trial,
without evidence and without offence.
The law contcmplates special investi-
cation of each case.
Nevertheless, hundreds have been dis
franchised in each of many counties by
wholesale proceeding, the entire process be-
ing limited to the work Of erasure.
The law specifies certain days for the sess-
ions Of the Registrars, and requires their
work to tc completed ten days before the
election.
Contrary TO this, the Registration Boards
have held their sessions, and prosecuted
their work up to the very day Of the election
The law aud common justice require the
proceedings to be conducted in a spirit Of
fairness, and with no attempta intimidation.
In disregard Of this, the Registration
Courts have called in the AID of bayonets
and employed the military power to over
/ awe ami prevent the appearance of the peo-
! 10 whom they propose to victimize.
/ Voters whose "loyalty had stood the test
Of three successive registrations and six
I years scrutiny, have recently been arragn-
/ Cd Ivy hundreds and DISTINGUISHED without
/ the establishment Of single charge
/ Old men, whose years and location rem
/ lercd their guilt impossible, have fallen un-
,
( Young men Of known and active fidelity
to the Union cause have been DISTINGUISHED
( without tie shadow Of justice.
/ In some counties, voters have been dis
/ frarchised because they voted wrong in
1865; in others, their names have been
/ stricken from the lists because they did not
( vote at all in 1861.
/ So far as we can learn, in not single in-
/ stance, has a man Of present Radical pro-
+ c.ivi;ies, whatever his past course, been dis
fIuchi<ad, while in many counties, scarce
/ Iy a single opponent Of Rldicalism, what
f ever bis record rs to 'loyaIty," has been
permitted to register.
Propriaty would dictate that the Regis
trar7 h. men Of integrity. capacity and re-
sponsjuiity. Governor Foreman dictates,
that they shall, wherever necessary, be men
/ Of bitter partisan preiudices, convenient
I conseicnces, and in all things sabscryient
/ 20 jhe purposes Of their supcriors.
From these facts We conclude that the
registration system Is a political engine,
managed in partisan interests, and designed
To- secure the perpetuity of Kadicalism in
West Virginia.
Can i. l., wondered that Immigration
-huns West Virginia, and that enterprise
avoids our State as men avoid the charnel
house and the postilcnce
TIE GOyERNoR's WAR CRY.
Othercauscs operate to prevent our growth
and prosperity.
The Governor has been pleased to declare
in lis messages that certain portions Of
West Virginia could only be governed by
military force
The injustice Of this declaration is not
understood abroad as it is among us
People tr1m other sections decline to set
de in West Virginia because her Governor
asserts that she is still in state Of war.
The absurdity &C the assertion is lost in
the seriousness Of It's effect.
Western aud Southern land agents quote
tho Governors messages to cur prejudice
Foreign immigrants are deferred from To-
eating in our midst.
The brains, the muscle, the money and
thc energy needed % develop our resources
arc kept away by representations, which re-
caivc from The position Of their author. as
much weight rs if they were actually true.
THE FEAST oF FRAUD.
The official system Of West Virginia is
extensive, cXiravaCant and corrupt.
Once holders swarm like the 0custs Of
Egypt 20 eat out the substance of the land.
Petty places, all costly and nearly all
useless, have been provided 10 such lavish
abundance that The people sicken with the
sJsicjt.
Dishonesty thriyes upon our State i'm
provcmcnis.
Investigations are demanded in vain.
The idcn obtains that wherever tho pub