The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-07-25

WESTON, WEST VIRGINIA
stood before its passage But if he is 10.
gally entitled to vote, and has been OF
shall be wrongfully denied that right, this
law Of Congress affords him the amples'
remcdy@nOt only for redress of griev-
apces in the Federal Court1by paymentto
him Of $780, by thoeperson injuring him,
but by making1his affidavit according to
the Sd section Of the act, ho is allowed to
vote whether bis name ison the register or
nOtsiAnd this proposition Governor Stew
enson does not attempt to controvert in his
iustruc,ions'tc the Registrars. ae' = ''
The error which many Of the Republi-
can editors and politicians Of this State
have fallen intoin the discussion of this act
of Congress is, that it is only intended to
enforce the Fifteenth Amendment to the
Constitution. which is negro suffrage
amendment; and that no citizen denied
suffrage could appeal bis case to bcFcderal
Court except con account of race, color or
previous condition ofscrvitudo." There is
not word said about enforcing the Eff
tccn,h Amendment in the whole act and
the very title of the uct itselfnegasives any
such narrow construction. ''H-
Any unprejudiced lawyer, who will read
tho Constitution ofthc United States and
then this aot Of Congress. will perceive at
once that the Flnsr, FovRrgEsru and Fir
TENTH articles to the Constitution are
looked to forits authority, and that'the act
i, perfectly in harmony with the powers;
conferred by these several articles, and is
not confined toenforcing the Fifteenth ar.
ticlc alone 1t is not pretended by DEM
ocratic lawyers that this act creates a single
now right the voters, but enforce, State
laws. and the right Of tho voter when ID.
'terfercd witlby corrupt rpartisan9rsgis-
trars and othor State officers or conductors
ofelections, to redress and protection in
Federal Courts and ifnecd be, by Federal
bayoncts s1il.g III 1i soj5Y 'as is'i'ig
Therefore any qualified voter who feels
himself 'sggrieved BY any registrar or
other ofieet lin rofusingito register him.
or by striking his'nulno,from the list ''of
registered voterss may. under this act of
Congress, take his case into the Federal
Court and have redress in damages againss
any and all oftlle persons then obstruc.ing
him in his right Of suffrage. a'ih'9s1 -ai I
Wa. x: ARSoLD. 'oi'
Tho writer's allusion to Governor Stew
'sinsructions toshe Registrars is out
iof.plaee,Rbccau:e ihc Governor docs nit
alludoto thissaot of Congress at all .io-g'
ssNowlctyus say once for all, that all7wo
have ever desired or coitendcd for is that
every man who is honestly entitled to vote
under our Constitution shall have oppor-
tun,sy to dose and.woliavc never desired
and have never beon willing That my pOr-
sou SO entitled should bc excluded by the
officers ofrcgistration or election This
is all We want now, and are perfectly
willing that il there be any persons
''wrongfully" denied registration, they
shall have the benefit of this uct Of COZ.
g'css toenfurcc theirright. isAt.thc same
time, whoever pcrjures himsclfto securca
vote under the Sd section Of this act, ought
to and will III every instance be prosecuted
with the extrcme rigor, Of the Law. Let.
every man register who is euti.l ed under
our constitution. Let no man register or
vote who is not 50 entitled and Let al
violations of law be punished whether on
one side or the other. Meanwhile let the
leading facts stated by Mr.. Arnold be re.
membered y lit .,.---r.
This act Of Congress creates no new
rights. Itsimply enforces tho State laws
| - - .
and protects rights which exist under our
State Constitution. D.
This law does not enlarge or change the
right ofthc-yotcr in any respect. 49,,
It's an error to suppose that purtici-
pants in tue rebellion can nov vote. I'D.
1t is the "qualifed voter" and him only
who is cntitled to tie benefit Of this act,
who may vote without registration in case
Of wrongful refusal, or 60 into The Federal
Court for redress. "a!
I GSQuIslrloS DAY, in FREQ America,
comes this year on the first Monday in
L I"