The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-09-04
GIreG'tteuias {
Tho 0rcenbrlcr Registration cases


known az the "Greenbrlsr RsgIatrRtIor
Cases." These are so peculiar and th'
facts brought out 30 extraordinary, tina
something more than passing notice II
due the public. A brief sketch Of thesl
cases will illustrate what we said yes
terday touching abuses under the reg
istratlon law.
Four officers In Greenbrler county
some chosen last Fail, after they hat
qualified and entered on the discharge o
their duties, were stricken from LhI
registry Of voters In January las
at special meetings Of The board
ut some OF which but one mem
Der was present, that being the Presi'
dent OF the Board, one Joseph +. Oald
well, who was appointed by Gov. Bore
man and has held the place contin
uously, we believe, ever since the coun
" was organized. A motion was theE
made before Nathaniel Harrison, Judgl
OF that circuit, 10 remove these oftlcerl
on the ground that their names did mo-
appear on the registry OF voters. They
were accordingly removed by him and
their places filled by appointments
Their appeal 10 the higher court was moi
against the action Of the Board Of Reg
lstratlOn (Eor there is no appeal from
their decrees, bat against the action oI
Judge Harrison removing them. The
cases In detail were these:
One was that OF Joel Mcpherson,
Clerk OF the Circuit Court, who was
duly registered as q voter when the
law first went into effect In that county
aud remained 90 till stricken of In
January. lie was first appointed
Clerk by Judge Harrison In 1866, there
being no question about his loyalty
and rendered willing and valuable aid
In reorganiZlng civil government In
that county, enioying:the confidence ol
the State authorities, and 30 lar as we
know, deservIngit. He was afterwards
elected to the position by the people ol
the county and by that tenure held It
when removed.
Another was that OF George II. Lowls,
who being registered voter was elect.
cd Recorder last Fall, had qualified
and entered upon his duties.
Another was that Of Wallace Robin.
so :, who had been registered voter
since the organization OF the county
In 1855, who held the Office OF Sheriff,
FIRST by appointment and afterwards by
election, holding the Office by that ten
ure ut the time OF his removal.
The other case was that OF Alexander
Walker, who removed from New York
TO this State In 1865, was registered in
GreenbrIer county In 1860, was elected
Supervisor last Fall, had qualified and
entered on the discharge OF his duties
at the time Of his removal.
We do not propose at this time 10
make any comment on tho action of the
registry officers striking the names ol
these persons from their books, further
than to call attention 10 the facts. They
had all been previously registered by
the same board. Two OF them had held
important offices iuthe county for four
years, receiving them Grst by appoint.
ment at the hands Of the loyal authorl-
ties. These two, Joel Mcpherson and
Wallace Robinson, were Republicans.
Alexander Walker, who came from
New York, claims to be one also
There could certainly be no pretence
that he was disqualified by being a
rebel. George II. Lewis was conscript-
ed Into the rebel army, was bought
ont ofthe ranks by his father, passed
north Of the Federal lines and remain
ed there TIL tho end Of the war. He
was allowed 70 register because not
having rendered voluntary" service
TO the rebellion, The Constitution did
not exclude him. It Is very hard to
believe under this state OF facts that the
Board OF Registration had Just ground
TO strike these men from the registry.
Upon this point we desire only TO add
1t Is a we'll known fact that DR.. Cald :
well, the President OF the Board, Is yir.
tuaily tho Board. That Is, he being
self.wllled, arbitrary man, while The
other members are rather, negative,
lie has pretty much controlled
Its action as he pleased. a very
striking commentary on his action
ln the present case ls the fact thai
his son, D. @. B. Caldwell, now holds
the place Of recorder vacated by the
removal OF Lewis, and 1t Is claimed
that some OF his favorItes hold the
other positions. Another very striking
commentary on his action In general 10
the fact, most positively asserted, that
In Lewisburg township, so remorseless.
ly has the scratching process been
pursued, only four registered voters
remain. oneof these Is DR.. Caldwell,
another his son, another Captain G. A,
Sperry "a Dsmocrat,) who was sum.
moned before the Board aud only
saved himself by producing an honora'
BILE discharge from the Federal service
Who the fourth Ia we do not know.
While we are assured there are In the
township large number Of persons
about whose right 10 register under
the Constitution there can be no ques.
tionI many Of whom would be Republl'
cans II DR.. Caldwell would allow them,
Indeed we are assured that the admin
istralton Of this board, or this man
perhaps we should say, has been SC
obnoxious 10 the Union people there
that Governor Stevenson, desiring to
Improve on the material left In the
place by his predecessor, has, We are
informed, found II 40 far practically
impossible to get anybody at for the
place to accept It. '
This Is somewhat OF dIgresslon from
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