The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-06-17
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
TWO O'CLOCK p. M.

TWO u CBoCh 4. M.
House opened with prayer by Rev.
Mullenix.
Mr.. S. S. FLEMING, chairman of the
committee on Townships, &c, reported
bill in regard to the alteration of the
county lines between Mineral and
Hampshire.
The usual number Of applications,
with petitions, were offered for the re-
lisf of attorneys and school teachers
from the test oath.
Mr.. COLE offered u resolution giving
John Slack further time for the collcc-
tion of taxes.
Mr.. ARMSTRONG offered n resolu.
ton for the relief of John Jefferson,
late Sheriff of Marshall county.
Mr.. PINNELL, by leave of the House,
introduced bill in regard to "a turn
pike.
Mr.. BENDER asked and obtained
leave to withdraw House bill No. l70.
Mr.. BLAIR asked for ten days further
leave of absence for Mr.. NEWLIN,
which was granted.
Under the head of unfinished busi
ness, the third chapter of tue Code up
Oh its second reading came up, upon an
amendment to section Al, rs offered by
Mr.. STEWART.
Mr.. J. III. FERGUSON said be did not
intend to consume the time of the
House, but he wished it understood that
this third chapter of the Code was
framed precisely as the Legislature en-
acted the law, and the amendment was
q proposition to change the whole feal-
ure of the law by making registrars liza
BILE to individuals for every rebel they
might refuse to register.
He said that where one innocent man
was refused the privilege OF register
ing-ten had been permitted to regis
ter who were ineligible, providing the
proof could be obtained. If the regis
tration law could be strictly enforced,
instead of there being 1900 Conserva-
tive votes cast in this State there
would not be 1000. He said the rebels
did not complain of the register law,
but it was these stay-at-hope pretended
Union men who were raising the cry
against registrars, and the rebels hated
the Democrats more than they did the
Radicals. In case of the rebels being
allowed to vote, they never would vote
the Conservative ticket. &c.
Mr.. TOMLINS6N said the gentleman
from Cabell was remarkable for his
contradictions in saying, first, the Con
servatives were anxious to register the
rebels, and secondly, that the rebels
would not vote the Democratic ticket,
&c.
He thought the logic was too contra
dictory to be worthy of consideration.
Ali that the Democratic side of the
House wanted was simple justice, but
the way the law now stands it was one
sided in effect, largely favoring the Re-
publican party aud expressing the Dem
ocratic party, by allowing none but
Radical registrars to judge of the quail
ifications of o voter; after various
interruptions and contradictions from
the Radical side Of the House, he gave
way and took his seat.
Mr.. PARKER remarked that he was
surprised at the singular line of argu-
ment pursued by the gentleman from
Cabell. He had charged that the Dem
ocratic members of the House acted rs
if they thought that only Radicals
were permitted TO vote in the State.
We entertain no such erroneous impress
sion. Even in 1866, before the baptism
of the Radical party, of the 40, 600 quail
fled voters, who measured up to the
standard prescribed by the dominant
party, 1900 voted the Conservative
ticket, and since the opposition had
unmarked and shown their true fes-
lures their majority had almost en-
tirely dwindled away. 1t was no
part Of our duty to legislate to secure
the ascendancy Of any political party,
but to secure to every qualified voter
the right of suffrage aud to prevent and
punish fraud in registration and In the
ballot box. And he would punish with
equal severity the registrar who know
ingly and wilfully refused to register 0
qualified voter, and the election officer
who received the ballot Of IN unregis-
tered voter. Rogues and rascaiity
shonld beexposed and punished, whether
they belong to the radical or Democrat
ic party. And now sir, why should
not the people be trusted
in the election of Registrars The
standard bearer of the Radical party
affects supreme regard for the will of
the people. How is that will to be as
certained except through the ballot
boxi And yet the Radical Legislators
of West Virginia declare that while the