The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-09-13
THE "NEW MOVEMENT
INVyESTVlRGEVT.9.
Address 10 the Republican
Voters OF Ohio County.

y
On the 18th day Of mex, October you
will be called to elect your various town.
ship officers, and also three members Of
the House Of Delegates and onA member
Of the State Senate, The time for select
ing your candidates for these posi,ions Is
drawing uear, and this fact is tie only
apology We deem it necessary TO offer for
yenturlng, ut this time, to call your al
teutlon to some considerations connected
with tue canvass that We regard as OF
more than ordinary Importance.
You have all SO lar observed the signs
Of the times Us to be well aware thu, u de-
cided change has been, aud is now, going
on in public opinion all over the country,
III respect to the permanent disfrapcLise.
men. Of the great mass ofthose whoistaud
Implicated in the rebellion. You have
seen that tho Government has granted
them general amnesty and, following. its
example, that sucl, States as Missouri aud
Tennessee, which were mt long ago NOR,
extreme thap our OWL, have greatly re.
Taxed the risor OF tleir test oa,hs and ma.
terially enlarged tic scope Of their elect
i've franchise. y
1t is well understood that the admins
,ration at Washington aud the Leading
minds generally Of the Republican party
in all the departments ofthe Government,
favor and seek TO promote this liberalized
policy on the part ofthe States. /, isalso
as near certain as anything in the future
eau be, thu, the DAY Of complete enfrun.
ch,srmcnt for oil men, white and black, j,
close ut hand. This is tho manifest ten.
dcncy ofthe times, aud very soon we must
all accept the fact, willingly or otherwise.
Then session Of Congress will MOS.
likely sec all tie States once more res.
,ored to their places in the Union, with
representatives in both branches. and
there is scarcely doubt of the ratification
Of the 18th amendment to tie Federal
Constitution, which amerdn,er. forbids
all political Determinations in any ofthe
States on account otrace or color.
This being the situation throughout The
country, -does.it not. become Us, in Justice
to our cw,rttNsspd syfnpatliics, to adopt
a party p0licyjn-l,s1fmony with tits pres
vailing'tendfucy If the times. ifwedc-
sire aud expect to n,aiu,.in The ascehdan.
cy ofilie political organization to which
we belong?
We believe tia. the ties. oaihs adopted
in this State during, and at the close Of
the war, we're, in tue main, necessary, il
not absolutely. Indispensable. They pro-
tected tho weak and exposed counties
agains. the prescription aud aggression
that must have followed q return of tho
disloyal clement TO power and influence,
And, in addition, they have served well
throughout tue whole State, US u part Of
The great moral lesson taught By the war.
lSut, while all this. and iaorc. is true. yet
itis.nlso,rue that undo, the protection
thus afforded TO loyalty, abuses Of power.
10 some extent, have grown up. But this
is not the time, nor The place, to pariicn.
larize instances, even were il certainly
known to what extent power has been
abused in some of the counties in the
matter Of registration. The abuse Of
power is ms cid us the human race. and is
generally to be expected under farolina
circumstances. And while we do not for.
get the responsibility Of the rebellion it.
self for these abuses, both in the way OIL
preccpt and example, nor.ignore the prov.
ocations that have tended to excite pas
siona'c executions Of The law, yet We can.
not Oh that account, lose sight Of tlit
grea, truth that the just province of all
law is the protection Of society aud no,
the punishment Of the offender. And
therefore, no rigor, Or semblance of per.
secation, is excuSble after the pubtir
safety is reasonably assured. Aud as re.
CARDS the safety cf'our loyal people at thi'
time, even in the most exposed counties
orr information imprcsacs MS with the be
lief that we can afford to inaugura,c Ii,
necessary steps for disseminating every
thing known as war legislation.
On this pont sc wish to he distinct,
understood. MS follows: We do not udto
cate an instant asrogatinn Of tie disfrau
cllising clause in our Constitutions ~
that is impossible, but w d6fayor promp
steps by our next Legislature toward
putting it in process ofrcpcal--a process
hy tile way, that will consume upwards O
two years from rest winter. And, il
the meantime, We shah hope to see Il,
next Legislature take early opportunity t,
do away with the Test oails now Resin:
upon Lawyers, Suitors. anl School Teach
ers. These catlIs have had their day an,
whatever their service in the rlst, i!iei
future advantage to the State may well b.
doubted. Aud as for the voters oath; ",
presume That By the ,iinei. eau be legal
ly dispensed with Lnler the repeal process
alluded to, there would be few disinter
estcd citizens III our midst, however lit
ter their reinrlntrances Of tile war, vii,
will finally regret lis disconfinuance
And finally. as regards the prescIit regis
traitor law. while expressing our ea.res
attaclAient to the plan of guarding til,
purity Of the ballot-box BY registration
Of all the qualified voters Of the State
still W. shall recpitc with satisfaction n
the lmbds of tire Legislature such a lnoii