The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-09-13
THE REASON WHY OUR STATE
-, CANNOT PROSPER.
The Right Of Suffrage Reg.
uIatcd by AsascaIs.
READ-C[0NysIDER-yOTE!

uIatcd by Isascals.
READ-C0NSIDER VOTE!
LrwisnuRo, W. Va, Aug. 9, 1860.
LEWIS BAEEs, Eso.,
Wheeling, West Virginia.
DEAR SIX Having promised you
while here to furnish you with a state.
ment of facts in reference to the proceed
ings ofthc Board Of Registration Of thi,
county, during the last year or two,
avail myself Of the present opportunity Of
fulfilling my promise, hoping that it may
have some influence in bringing to the
knowledge of the people in your section o.
the State, and particularly to the official:
belonging to my own party, the anamuou.
condition Of affairs in this county. The
Board is composed of Dr., j. L, Caldwell,
! President, DR.. G. a. Thatcher and john
Williams Dr. Caldwell has been resi-.
dent of.his county, for, believe, some
forty years, and during that time has
earned for himself the reputation Of being
an unmi,iga,ed scouudrel, totally devoid
Of oAc spark Of honesty, pol.ical or other
wise. There are hundred Of our best.
most substantial aud truthful citizens, liv-
ing within mile ofLim, who have known
him long and we'll, who upon their oath.
would say, that in any matter in which lie
| is interested they would no, believe him
upon oath. The community a, large
would say the same thing Both saint and
sinner regard him With utter abllorrence
and detestation, not because he is re.
publican, but because Of bis utter corrup.
ton and mendacity.
Dr.. CA. Thatcher. another member Of
the board. is . bitter partisan, but canno,
say Of my own knowledge, that lie is dis
posed to act dishonesty. lie is a man Of
very moderate intellect and it he ever
makes any resistance to the mandates Of
the President of the board (of which |
know nothing he has a. last to yield to
the stronger will and acquiesce iu what
ever the president determines. OF Mr..
! Williams, the rc,naining member, know
but little. lie sits but seldom upon the
Board and appears to care but little about
the matter. So you perceive that j +.
Caldwell in point Of fact constitutes the
Board. The proceedings before the board
are conducted without any regard TO reg:
ularity or fairness or propriety, and pain
fully impress the looker.on that each case,
us il comes up, has been already disposed
OF in secret session before any evidence is
heard The examination appears to be
conducted, not for the purpose Of ascer-
tanning whether tue party accused was
guilty Of giving aid and comfort to there
bcllion, but to ascertain what political
party he belongs to, whom he voted for, to
What church be belongs. and questions are
frequently asked by the Board to ascertain
these facts. The Board will allow unreg.
istered men to testify again:, party on
trial, but W Il not allow them to testify in
his favor. None can testify for him but
registered voters. No fair record of the
mr., Q .edipps of the Board is kept. aud
when they pretend to take down the evi.
dcnce gwen on any trial. it is rart)ed. and
,ucb ,ar,s ms do no, suit the Board SUP.
messed The accused knows nothing Of
| The charges against him, nor what he has
10 cou,royert lie is simply summoned
10 prove his LOYALTY and that not on,y
once, bu. in masy cases persons have beet,
summoned from remote parts ofthe county
| three or four fines bringing large mum.
lbers Of witnesses at heavy EXPENSE. for
Ills same purnose. In short tho Board
appear TO ucv UPON the sutposi,ion that
Inv are nluena|Ie to no law and beyopd
the fear Of auy punishment, no matter how
yross their outrape uvou individuals or
| The cimmuuity. Their actions in many
cases arc without warrant or Inv. unjust
fund villnllv so. mud outrageous to cy.
ery sentiment ofkouor and fairness. Men
yIo are dearly entitled to be registered
arc denied The privilege, because, either
they are in the way Of tic political prefer.
ment of the President of the Board, be.
longing to the same political party or
because lie wishes to visit hi. n,aligu,y
upon them for some ac, done or word ut.
/