Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-10-13
From the Greenbrier Independent. ]
West Virginia Despotism.

We have been surprised more than once al
the want of information abroad, even in the
adjoining States, concerning West Virginia des-
pOtlsm.
1t is fact of easy demonstration, that even
the Southern States, ruled as they are by the
sword are more free to-day than the always
loyal State of West Virginia
In this State there are not less than twenty
five thousand disfranchised citizens. No, not
citizens p for the amended constitution of the
State declares that they can never become citi
zens; although they were born on her soil,
have lived here all their lives, and heavily tax
ed to support the municipal, State and national
governments. They are aliens on their native
soil as far as the State constitution can make
them aliens
In this county alone, there are 1,4O0 dis
franchised men, comprising the wealth, intel
ligence, public spirit and moral worth Of Green
brier.
In this town, with population of ,2OO there
are only eight voters. And yet, in this county
there is not one disloyal man, excepting the
Radicals, who are all disloyal In West Vir-
ginia there are not less than $4,000 men who
cannot hold any Office, sit on jury or teach a
public school.
In West Virginia there are not less than Is
900 men who cannot obtain judgments upon old
debts due them, or enforce contracts.
In West Virginia the taxes for county and
township purposes are eight times heavier than
before the war.
In West Virginia we have five paid officers
now for one before the war
In West Virginia the salaries of county off,
GERS are double, and some of them treble of what
they were before the war;
In West Virginia, especially in the border
counties, the officers are, few exception, filed
by the most ignorant and vicious of the popula-
ton.
ln West Virginia three men in each county,
known as the County Board of Regisrrat ion, are
actually licensed, by an act of the legislature,
to enter On record that their fellow citizens are
periurerS!
In West Virginia the county board of reg
istration have entire control of every Office in
the State The board Of registration of Ohio
county can unseat Governor Foreman by merely
scratching his name from the list of registe ed
voters. The board Of registration Of Monroe
county can unseat Judge Nat. Harrison in the
same way. No man can hold office unless he
is voter No man can be voter unless he
is registered No man can register or remain
registered, without the consent of the county
boards ofregistration. Scratch Foreman name
or Harrison S name from the registry, and the
sceptre of power drops from their nerveless
grasp.
Did such state of things ever before exist
in any civilized community? Has as mean
contemplate, sneaking, cowardly. brutal des-
potism as that of West Virginia ever before
rejoiced the hearts Of devils, or called for the
avenging bolts of heaven!
"Mountaineers always free" Oh, what a
mockery of noble sentiment! What brazen-
faced lie There is no freedom in these noun
&c. II r.
villainy to lord it over intelligence and honesty.
WANTED AT THIS OFFICE-An able bodied,
hard-featured ad-tempered, MOTTO be- put off
and not to- be backed down, freckle faced, young
man to collect for this paper. Must furnish
his own horse, sadde-bags, pistols, whiSkey,
bowie-knlfe and cow hide. We will furnish the
accounts. To such we promise constant and
laborious employment Nrgmiam.