The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-01-10

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general prescription system.
Mr.. J. NJ. Jackson, of Weed said he
regarded the present discussion as
tempest in q teapot. He regarded the
report of the committee as just what Ie
wanted; we wanted the odious laws re-
pealed or modified; what would be the
use of Registrars if every man could be
registered who would only take the
oath proposed by the substitute. ,
Col. c. A. Sperry, of Greenbrier, said
the petition would never be granted; we
we only desired it as a campaign docu-
ment; let every delegate go home pre-
pared to have his rights; let rs go hons
determined to fight. '.t .
/. Judge Kennedy said the committee
asked leave to withdraw their report.
Col. BENZ. Wilson said he was opposed
to sanctioning in any manner the va
lidity OF necessity OF the lawless acts
Row on our statute books; the highest
tribunal of the land-the Supreme Court
of the United States-had declared the
lawyers test oath unconstitutional, and
he would never tacitly admit that the
similar act now in force in this State
was right; he never wanted decent
white man to be subjected to any such
tyranny as was now exercised in West
Virginia.
Judge Kennedy offered an amendment
to the substitute.
Mr.. Charles Lewis, of Harrison, said
he was originally opposed to any peti'
tion at all; but as it seemed to be the
desire of the Convention to pass some
thing he favored the passage of the
amendment.
Captain j. S. Burdett, of Taylor, said
he asked no favors of party that ex'
listed alone by fraud and such tyranny
as was now practiced in our State. We
needed no new issues; we had campaign
documents enough; let us take the acts
aud frauds of the Radical party and &c
before the people, and we would be en-
dorsed.
Col. d. D. johnson, of Tyler, said the
sole object of the Registration act was
to perpetuate the Radicals in Office; as
the act now stood it was sunconstitution.
al; when in the Legislature he told the
members who voted for the bill that they
violated their oaths. Let us set ouI
heel upon such iniquitous acts, and make
a manly protest.
Mr.. j. j. Davis, of Harrison, said he
was not here to ask the Legislature
to grant what was guaranteed by the
Constitution; we came here to advocate
such measures as would enable US by
lawful means to overthrow Radicalism
in this State; he thought no good could
result from petitioning the Legislature;
let US condemn the lawless acts by res.
olution, and 60 before the people; he
therefore moved the indefinite postpone
ment of the whole matter.
Col. Benz. Wilson said he hoped the
motion would not prevail; what we
wanted was to ask the Legislature fol
our Constitutional rights; let US stand
up to our work and demand our rights
Mr.. J. NJ. Jackson said he insisted up.
on it that the whole matter was sum.
med up in the amendment offered by
Judge Kennedy: we were the equals il
not the superiors of the Legislature OF
West Virginia; let us demand OuI
rights and determine to have equal JUS
tice done to all Constitutional voters.
The question being taken, the Con
vention refused to indefinitely post
pone.
The question recurring upon the
amendment of Judge Kennedy, it was
unanimously adopted.
The Wilson proposition, as amended
was substituted for the original report
and then adopted.
The following is the proposition az
amended and passed:
To the Legislature Of Hest Tirginid:
The Convention assembled at Wheel.
ing, January 6th, 176o, and represent.
ing the Democratic and Conservative
voters of this State, hereby ask your
honorable body to repeal the law pro
viding for the appointment of the
Boards of Registration, the test oath for
suitors, lawyers and teachers, and to
enact that any constitutionally quail
fed voter shall have the right to vote at
all elections upon taking the oath to
support the Constitution of the United
States and the Constitution of this
State.
The President of the Convention was
instructed to forward n copy of the res
olution to the State Senate and House
of Delegates.
Mr.. Arnold, Of Lewis, moved the ap-
poinmeut of committee of eleven,
one from each Senatorial District, to
nominate delegates to the National
Convention. The motion was lost.
Thos. Sweeney, Esq, of Wheeling,
having some time since been chosen as
the representative of West Virginia
on the National Executive Committee,
. ~. 1,N- t,iT
confirmed the selection.
Adjourned until half past two o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Judge J. w. Kennedy, of jefferson,
said he had received from Colonel Ben
iamin Wilson, of Harrison, the follow
ing proposed amendment to the resolu-
tion offered by himself and adopted by
the Convention at the morning session.
He said he heartily endorsed the amend
ment, and trusted it would be adopted.
A unanimous vote passed the amend
ment.
"And that they provide by law that
each voter qualified according to the
unamended Constitution shall be al
lowed to vote upon taking the oath to
support the Constitution of the United
States and the unamended Constitu-
tion of this State, and that no rcgistra-
tion officer shall be eligible to any Office
during the time for which he was elect
ed or appointed"
Col. Benz. Wilsen, of Harrison, moved
that the Convention proceed to the
election of delegates to the National
Convention, making the basis of the
vote ten votes for each member of the
Legislature. The motion prevailed.
and the following named gentlemen
were placed in nomination: Messrs.
John Hall, of Mason, D. Lamb, of Ohio,
J. J. Davis, of Harrison, J. n. Camden,
of Wood, II. S. Walker, of Ohio, Benz.
Wilson, of Harrison, H. G. Davis, OF
Mineral, J. W. Kennedy, of Jefferson, c.
A. Sperry, OF Greenbrier, ID. d. job nson,
of Ty Ter, F. Smith, of Marion, and ]. S.
Burdett, of Taylor.
Messrs. Benjamin Wilson, d. Lamb
and Eontain Smith declined being can,
didates.
The Convention then proceeded TO
vote, and on the first ballot the follow
ing named gentlemen were elected
John ]. Davis, of Harrison, John ".
Kennedy, Jefferson, and II. s. Walk
.er, of Ohio. The four sue
cesssful candidates acknowledged
,ba cnu,nl n,anf naid than -