The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-10-26
Repeating the Resi.,ra,io. Law

The IntelHgencer advocates continuing
the registration law as m cans of giving
effect to the disfranchising clause of the
Constitution. We fail to see the neces.
sity of this registry law even for that
purpose. Before the law was adopted
we had provision disfranchising men
convicted of crime, and this was readily
enforced by challenge. And when the
registration law Was adopted it was not
for the purpose of giving effect to the
DISTINGUISHING Amendment. That law
was passed prior to the Amendment, not
to make it effective, but to compel its
ratification. And while this registry
law remains, there, is little reason to
believe that those who manage it Will
allow the Amendment to be repealed.
As that Amendment was adopted by
means of registry law, 50 the repeal
of the law would very naturally be fol-
lowed by the repeal Of the Amendment.
But the Republicans represented by
the Intelligenoer appear to have no
notion Of admitting the disfranchissd
masses to the ballot. They have gone
back upon all their fair professions in
that direction. They oppose the re.
forms asked by the Democrats because
las a matter of e1pediency among
themselves" they fear the result. They
think that these new voters might not
to the perpetuity of the Re-
publican party.
It's all very we'll for the Intelligencer
to talk about the sanCtity of the Con-
stitution. But we shall not 60 to that
paper or its party for lessons upon that
point. The 'loyar" theory of acting
"oatside the Constitution" whenever
the occasion required it, is too familiar
to the public to need more than ref
erence. The 'loyal' practice in that
line has long shown that "loyap' news
are poor sources of instruction
upon the question of Constitutional
sanctity.
Let our cotemporary be consistent
Just the other day, he turned sharp
corner by declaring the decitizen-
izing clause of our Constitution null
lity. Now he gravely rebukes the
REGISTER for what he styles its "pur-
pose of nallifying the Constitution"
We believe that the provision in our
Constitution which denies citizenship
to rebels is just as much in harmony
with the Federal Constitution as the
DISTINGUISHING clause. If the Intelligen-
Ger insists that one part is null, it can
not claim validity for the other. Its
the other day was virtually
destructive of the entire Amendment.
When the REGISTER goes that far, it
may be ready to receive lecture on
publication.
The intent of our registry law is not
to give effect to the Constitution but to
violate it. The Republicans claim that
It was designed to protect the legal
voters and exclude the illegal. Its OPP
Grafton has produced results the very
reverse of this. Legal voters are DIS
illegal voters are admitted
to registration. The whole system is
full of fraud and corruption. 1t was
devised to enable the party in power to
cheat the people at elections. If we
would have honest elections we must
DO away with law which is nothing but
a protection for roguery.
September Goth, the Intellgencer made
the following statement of facts, which
are about the strongest reasons that
could we'll be offered for wiping out the
registration law:
Then we deny the class of citizens de-
scribed, who are often among the largest
property holders in their counties, all
voIce in the selection of their officers,
from highest to lowest, who levy the
taxes and control their disbursements.
And to enforce this exclusion we main
.aix feature of registration which |
puts the control of suffrage in the hands
Of irresponsible and sometimes unscru-
Ions agents who do not always stop with |
those who are excluded by law, but
who to CRAFTY personal di8likes or merce
nary ends deprire of the ballot men of their |
Own political faith who hare right 10 rote
under the lar. Ind the practical operation
Of this restriction on suffrage in many
is to pat the entire control Of tara
ton, disbursement and representation in the
hands Of one-hdlf, one fourth, one-eighth,
and erea less, Of the tar paying citizens Of
the country. Now these are facts which
we cannot ignore.
This condition Of affairs, the Republi-
can party in Ohio county propose to
continue by the registration law. The
Democrats want it abolished through
the repeal of that law. Choose ye be-