Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-01-16


tons is recommended. With slight alterations
the same will suffice for township Associations
and Clubs.
PREAMBLE.
We. the Democrats and Conservatives Of
- County, of the State Of West Virginia,
believing that the perpetuity of Republican In
situations depends upon the maintenance of
Constitutional principles in the administration
of the Government, State and Federal, and
that upon the Democratic and Conservative
party mainly must we rely to check the Radi-
caiSm now threatening u overthrow the Con-
stitutional Government of our fathers, blot out
sovereign States, and subvert the liberties of
the people; in order 10 secure such thorough
organization of our party, as will make 1t chi
cient in pr1mulgating its principles, and to de-
feat the evil Vaccinations and purposes of its
enemies, whether sought to be accomplished
at the polls or 10y fraud and violence elsewhere;
hereby pledging each to the other and TO the
world to devote ourselves TO the work of re-
claiming our beloved country from the misrule
of band of desperate fanatics, corruptonsts
and conspirators, and in this sacred cause mu
tually to support and protect each other, do
associate ourselves and adopt the following
CONSTITUTION.
ARTICLE /. This Association shall be known
as the Democratic and Conservative Associa
ton Of - county.
ART .. The officers of the Association shall
he a President, Vice-PreSident, Secretary,
Treasurer and an Executive Committee, con-
sisting Of one member from each township in
the county.
ART. 3. 1t shall be the duty Of the Presi-
dent TO preside at all meetings of the Club, to
preserve order: of the Vice-P President, to pre-
side in the absence of the President of the
Secretary, to record the proceedings of the
Club and to preserve all books and papers be-
longing to the same; of the Treasurer, to re-
ceive and disburSe all funds belonging to the
Club to keep an account thereof, and to make
such report from time to time as the Club
may order.
ART. 1t shall be the duty of the Executive
committee. forthwith to obtain correct list of
all the voters of - county, marked Dem
ocrat Conservative, Radical or doubtful, as the
case may be. and it shall thereupon be the
duty Of the President aud Secretary to return
true copy of said lists to the President and
Secretary Of the Executive Committee of the
State without delay.
ART. 5. A majority of members of the As
ISOLATION may at any regular meeting establish
such bylaws and rules as may be deemed
wise and proper.
ART 6. Any white male person, over the
age of IS years, who, the same being read
aloud in his hearing, shall give his assent to
the principles and purposes set forth in the
Preamble of this Constitution, may become a
member of this Association by signing the
Constitution and paying the Treasurer the
sum of --, but no voter shall be admitted
10 membership without pledging himself u
participate III the elections whenever be can
d. 81 conveniently and conScientiouSly. Ger
tificates of membership can be bad of the Sec
rotary.
ART. :. The Constitution may be amended
at any regular meeting by a vote, of two-thirds
of the members Of the Association
ART. 8. 1t shall be the duty of this Asso-
citation to give all possible aid to increase the
| circulation Of Democratic and Conservative news
papers and documents, and to hold discussions
| upon political subjects at their meetings, and
when convenient, to have essays read or lee
lures delivered to the Association.
ART. 9. II shall be the duty of this Asso-
citation to make faithful reports Of all its bust
ness to the State Executive Committee monthly
ART. 10. We acknowledge the Executive
| Committee as the head and front of the Demo
cratic and Conservative party Of the State OF
West Virginia, and will heartily cooperate
| with the same for the overthrow OF Radicasm
! Your Committee deem it of special import
ance that great care be taken IN the selection
| / Al =. = ls, oil
Ability to DO effective work should be the first
condition in the selection Of each and every Of
fcer, and those persons should in all cases be
/ selected who can best meet this requirement
Your Committee submit this plan of orsani-
cation with the earnest hope that it will meet
! your approval and that your Executive Com
nittee be directed to put in operation at once
1t is clear that by rigid adherence to the plan
herewith proposed, we will be unable to poll
our entire strength. and without some such
method concerted and effective action cannot
be had. We close with the declaration that
with proper general effort we see no reason to
doubt the ultimate success Of the organization
thus proposed.
The same gentleman, from the same commit
tee, reported an address of the Convention Il
the people Of West Virginia.
SECOND DAY.
The Convention came toorder at nine o'clock
President Benjamin Smith in the Chair.
The subject of memorializing the Legislature
was discussed, when the following proposition
passed:
To the Legislature Of Vest Virginia:
The Convention assembled at Wheeling.
January Sth 1868, and representing the Demo-
cratic and Conservative voters Of this State,
hereby ask your honorable body to repeal the
law providing for the appointment of the
Boards of Registration, the test oath for sutorS,
lawyers and teachers. and 10 enact that any
cunStitutionally qualified voter shall have the
right to vote a. all elections upon taking the
oath to support the Constitution of the United
States aud the Constitution Of this State.
At the afternoon session, Judge Kennedy, Of
jefferson, offered the following, which was
unanimously adopted
and that they provide by law that each
voter qualified according to the unamended
Constitution shall be allowed to vote upon TAX
ing the oath to support the Constitution Of the
United States and the unamended Constitution
of this State. aud that no registration officer
shall be eligible to any office during the time
for which he was elected or appointed.
After the transaction of other business, Graf
ton was selected for holding State Convention
next Summer, the time to be fixed by the State
l. Il.