The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-08-16
THE REGISTRATION LAW JUDlcI.
ALLY CoNslDERED-CuARGE OF
JUDGE PERCUSSION.

THE REGISTRATION LAW JUDICI.
ALLY CONslDERED-CiARGE OF
JUDGE PERCUSSION.
( Below we print an article from the
l.RasGn County Journal, containing that
portion Of Judge Fergussons recent
charge to a Wayne county Grand Jury,
referring to thS Registration Law. The
points are Ill well taken aud will COM
mand general approval. The law must
no longer DO administered in tho interest
of ambitious ofic,scekers.n Voters
cannot be DISTINGUISHED upon mere sus-
picion. No man can be required toprove
his innocence. The registrars must es-
tublish guilt before they can strike the
name Of a voter from the lists. If they
fail TO do this, the voters oath must lie
taken as conclusive evidence of his quail
fication. Tie law protects not only the
officers but the voter. In cases of illegal
disfranchisement, the registrars must 10
held liable. They arc not to be allowed
arbitrary and irresponsible control Of tie
question Of suffrage.
Judge Ferguson being one Of the
great hish-pricsts of radicalism in the
State, and, by the way, the most able
one in the pack, makes this charge n
matter Of importance. He was one-if
not the leading author Of the law itself;
and such is the confidence placed in him,
that lie is preparing the new Code Of
Laws for the State
Some of our readers may be aware tia,
tho people of some Of the counties Of this
State have been most oa.rageously swim
died by Township Registrars and Board.
of Registration. In Wayne county, fol
instance, last year several soldiers were
prevented from voting by these officers
and nearly two hundred Of the best citi.
zcrs Of the country could not vote be.
cause, though they tried their best, and
done oil and more than the law requires
10 get their names upon the list Of voters,
they were not on the day Of election, and
none of the officers could tell WHY their
names were not there. They had disap-
pearcd in some mysterious way. IT. ont
township. where about sixty new names
we're registered, the whole lis. was throw,
away, because the Registrar did not take
tho oath before commencing tho duties Of
his Office. In short, the Whole bushes:
has been carried on in that and some 9th,
ercounties, entirely and in every respect
as though the law was made merely tc
continue tho party that enacted itip power
and like it was made for no ctller pur'
pose.
AT the last term oflho Circuit Court
for Wayne county. Judge James II. Fer,
gusson, in his charge to the Grand Jury
referred to this law and its administration
.ss followss
There is a great deal Of complaint abou'
the neglect Of registration officers by whiot
men who ought Ct right to be voters, arc
not upon the list and cannot voto. The
registration law should DO administered n.
carefully and couscieu,iously as any other
law, and with the rights and interests O
all parties in view.
1t is a mistake to suppose the regislra-
ton law was fyarpsd only to protect the
interests of apolitioal party. The right:
of citizens are guarded, and penalties pro
vidcd for officers who, by acts Of omission
or commission, deprive a qualified either
of his right TO vote. The law is SO framed
as to protect both the officer Who admins
tiers the law, and the citizen who claims the
right to vote under it. TIE voter who i.
wronged has Ills remedy under the law a.
much as he hasa remedy for any wrong
under aay law. The to Snship registrars
and tho members Of the county boards Of
registration GIN be nude to dc
their duty. Any wilful neglec. by the
township registrars in the performance Of
the duties Of Office, by which citizen.
suffer in the rights Of franchise, is indict.
able and punishable under tllclaw. a
Another mistaken idea which has be.
come common is, that in the registration
Of voters whose loyalty is questioned, the
burthen Of proof is by law forced on the
applicant for registration Some county
boards Of registration have benin the
habit oftelling men whose names they dc
not want upon the list: "Sir, we say you
aided the rebellion; now prove that you
didn't mid The rebellion" This is Ebai
their action amounts TO, fthey do not say
as in these very words. No man can DC
required to prove by others what it is i'm.
possible to prove 1tis hard to prove b
negative. None Of uS can prove that we
did not aid tie rebellion.
| The constitution and laws provide tha
every white male citizen, twenty lone
years of age, not panper. Of scund
mind. not under conviction of treason OIL
of bribery n. IN election, &C., who la,
been resident Of the State one year auc
the county one month, and did not ait
the rebellion, shall be entitled to vote
Now when the claimant to the right tc
vote appears before tie township registra,