The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-02-05
A End Days Work.

who3e vo.es elected the so-cllled lib
ersl Republicans, who voted with the
majority yesterday, be surprised at
the return thai hSs been given
their confidence. By the aid of
the votes OF these members,
n bill has been ordered TO engrcss-
ment which retains in the Governors
hands the power Of appointing the
re gistrars for the coming election. IL
is provided, to be sure, that the
shall have one member
on each Board, but as a MA
jority upon the Boards is just as
efficient for purposes of prescription as
a unanimous vote, and as the Governor
is to select as representatives, the mi
nority those whom he may be pleased
to consider Democrats, the liberality
shown in this regard exists only in the
name. The provision for the election Of
registrars next October is Intellectual
for the simple reason that the Republi-
can registrars of the Governors appoint
ment can as readily elect themselves
hereafter, as they have elected Others
heretofore. No reform in registration
can be eifectual which does not, at
once, take the appointing power from
the Governor. Failing il this, the
"let-ups' who voted with the majority
fail in everything.
On Thursday night majority of the
liberals counsclled together, aud de-
tcrmiued to aid the bitter enderS" in
and ordering to eugrossment
the WELLS substitute, which will be
found 10 oar legislative report. Why
they did this, we are unable to state,
House Bill No. 81, a. reported by Mr.,
BOWER was much more suitable in
every respect, and, as We learn, had been
pledged the support of several of the
"let ups" who yesterday aided in de-
feating j.. With their aid either that
bill, or the FARNSwORTH substitute as
amended, wOuld have passed the House
bey ond the doubt. Without a single
reason, they abandoned
both when either could have succeeded.
The assertion that the Senate would
net have copcurred is not applicable
if true, because these liberals were re-
sponsible, not for the action of the
Senate, hut for the redemption of their
pledges.
WHAT were those plsdgesi We have
seen them in black and white, over the
of several "let up gentlemen
wEo voted with the "bittsr enders" yes
terday. They bound the makers to vote
for the repeal of the Test OIths for Law
yers, Suitors aud Teachers, and for such
modification of the registration law as
would take the registration power i'm
mediateIy from the Governor and place
it in the hands of the people. Some
were pledged to the repeal of the Voters
Oath, and one or two to the abolition
of the registration law entirely. The
pledges that the township reg
istrars should be required to register
every man who could take the Test
Oath, and that the Boards should not
be allowed to strike off save upon legal
proof of guilt of treason, were also
given to be adhered to, if no better
modification could he had.
By comparing the promise or October
with the fulfllment of yesterday, it
may readily be seen how far the just
expectations of the people have been
realized. But this is not the worst.
During the whole Of the days session,
which was nearly all consumed in the
registration struggle, a majority of the
"let ups united with the "bitter enders"
to apply the gag to the Democratic
members as we'll as to oTeTrule some of
the most unquestionab!e decisions of
the Speaker. After the WELLS bill was
put in place of the FARNswoRTn substi-
tute, Mr.. Davis tried to amend. The
Chair decided the bill amendable, but
in defiance of the rule Of the
House aud of previous practise the
Chair was overruled by the aid ofthese
same wet-ups' who never once taltered
when called upon to help cut of
amendment or debate. Last night the
"bitter euders" were free to admit that
the Speaker was right and they wrong,
but the mischief was done, aud repara,
tion was out of the question. How the
"let-ups" can justify their course in ap-
plying the gag law TO members OF the
party that elected them, violating law
and precedent for the purpose, we do
not undertake to say.
We now wish to make honorable ex-
ception in eur structures, of Messrs.
BOWER of Putnam, BALLARD of Mon
roe, WEIGH of Mineral, and WILKINSON
of Lincoln, four liberal Republicans,
who consistently and steadily opposed
the proscriptive performance of the
bitter enders." The manly and noble
fidelity to duty displayed by these men
throughout yesterdays Struggle de-
serves the kindest remembrance Of all
who appreciate integrity in public life,
Their course will be the more heartily
applauSed because of its marked con-
trast with that of others who were
elected upOn the same platform with
themselves.
From yesterdays work we infer that
no practical reform in our registration