Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-09-23
From me WAseliag Rsgisfer.}
Sample Registration Outrages.

without any difficulty. This the Radicals OF
that region are striving to prevent. Heretofore
they have generally succeeded by rejecting re-
turns from Democratic townships IN having
Jefferson represented by Radical members
But that game has been played so often that
il can hardly be repeated. Since their Radical
members from Jefferson cannot be got into the
House by hook or crook, the next best thing,
it is thought, will be to prevent any election
at all. This can easily be done by preventing
any registration.
Governor Stevenson has aided this shame
ful purpose. Through isdereliction the Board
Of Registration in jefferson County has never
been organized. There have been no township
registrars appointed. There have been no
steps taken to prepare the registration books
for the coming election. And vet without that
preparation no election can be held Can hui
man ingenuity devise a dirtier trick to thwart
the viii Of the people.
Ia order that our readers may understand
the case, we present an extract from letter
written by gentleman of standing, influence
and responsibility in jefferson County, whose
name we will be happy to furnish Governor
Stevenson if he desires to investigate the mat
ter with a view to allowing the people Of JEFF
lerson County to hold an election this Fall
The old board Of registration
composed Of Onderdonk, Turner and Traynor,
was re-appCinted some time since, but from
the fact OF Onderdonk being postmaster at
Shepherdstowu, he could not serve or refused
to DO so, aud as am informed the others either
refused to serve or resigned, and up to the
present no others have been appointed in their
places. The motives for this mastery mac
tiyity on their part am at q loss to account
for. except that it is the only way to prevent
an election in our county, and thereby by some
means only known to themselves secure the
return Of a Senator and Delegates from old
Jefferson.
We are n.the dark and can't fnd out any
thing. The Governor and some in our county
are surely responsible for this state Of things
out Of which no good can come Ii there is
any other county in thcState misrued and mis-
governed to the same extent that we are, Goo
help is people
The above statements are corroboratcd by
another letter from an equally respectable gem
teman In a different part of the county We
quote:
The County Boarioi Registration appointed
by bis Excellency. Governor Stevenson, have
81 far failed to meet or take any action. In
fact it is generally conceded that they will not
act Oudcrdouk is disqualified, being Post
master Another Charles Traynor, is ASSiS-
taut Postmaster. aud in reply to my asking
him when the Board would sit answered that
there voHld Ne no election in Jefferson County
I that there was no Board or books. ! remon-
strated at such language, on account of the pc
culiar status Of two townships Harper Ferry
| and Charlcstownl being consolidated with Boil
var and Grant, giving the Radicals all the adj
vantage being both large Conservative town
| ships. But he still argued no election, which
/ I loukcl upon as q trick, they knowing full
well that the Conservatives can elect both Dele
\ gates even with the very Scant registration that
voted last Fall.
Q
/ / have urged our friends here To- Join me II
\ a letter To- the Governor, stating the facts in
\ our county and askiu" Board 10 register tn,
| legal voters. ut least ioa or 500. that are no
on the old books, which still hope will be &C
compiishcd.
We ask tho candid consideration Of thes
statements from the f,ir-miudcd men Of al
parties If there is any doubt as TO their cor
rcc;ncss. the records in the State House vii
verify them so far as to show that there is n,
Board Of Registration in jefferson County
The registration law itself clearly renders i
impossible to hold elections without books o
registration. What the motive of the Jeffer
son Radicals is in desiring no election we car
understand very clearly. But we cannot I'M
lerstand why the power Of the Executive ofiic
should be exerted in flrtherance Of such
moustrous scheme. The people Of Jefferson
are Just as much entitled to an election mex
month as are the people of Ohio County.
Governor Stevenson can wink or conniye at
fraud in the one case he can in the other. I
he allows his subordinatcs to cheat the peopl,
out Of their franchises and elective privilege
in Jefferson County this year, why may memo
do it in Ohio County next year?