South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-07-29

they would have resisted as manfully as
tney resisted the tyranny Of the British
I Government.
he Republicans Of this State, though
somewhat behind the majority of their par
" as regards negro suffrage, are still in ia
Vor OF, and their political action tends d.
I reetiy towards negro cqualty-social rs
well as political. l know they argue that
a man IS not obliged to associate with
mean white man if he does not choose, and
! IS not therefore obliged to associate on
terms OF social equality with a negro
But when was it ever proposed to make
the social status of white men the subject
of Congressional legislation as it is pro-
/ posed TO do for the negro. Reversing the
/ Radical reading of the bred Scott decision,
they argue that white man has no rights
negro IS bound to respect and they pro-
7 pose to break down all social and natural
/ barriers, and have full, free and perfect
social equality between the races. In proof
/ OF this, Mr.. Jacob read Summers Equality
/ Bill as presented TO Congress, abolshng
/ all distinction between the races in regard
/ to social privileges, and said This infa-
nous bill, though not law, derives its
Importance from the fact that Mr. Sumner
is recognized as leader in the Radical
/ party; sonrco to whom they look for in.
spration aud to whose advanced" doc
| trines the laymen OF that party sooner or
later give their allegiance and belief lie
generally agitates until his doctrines arc ac-
cepted by his party, and his uttcrances may
usually be taken rs the ultimate result of
keeping the Radical party in power. If
that party is not beaten this fall, within
two years Sumner bill will be the law of
the land | know that Yves; Virginia Re
publicans will deny this, | know they will
say CHATS only one Of sumner crochcts."
| Did they not say The same thing in regard
to negro suffrage? Did they not deny that
nothing could be further from their inten-
tons than 20 allow negroes 10 vote Are
! you tcilow-cltzcns prepared 10 endorse the
/ propositions Of this bill and destroy forcv-
or all the barriers Of race, aud reduce at
one fell blow prosperous country to The
condition Of South American Republic!
! The Radicals say they won't do It, You
Enotc the Conservative Democratic party
will not and whore your assurances arc
strongest, with that party should your bal
/ lots bc cast
Let US ROW turn to the history of the
Registration laws Of this State laws which
take from the people their dearest right
/ that of sulfragc--aGd give il into the hands
OF one man, who has power to remove any
and all Of thc registrars or Boards Of Re
glsrralion who refuse to Do his bidding, or
/ who by simply failing to appoint Board
| Of Registration, under any spccious pre-
| text, can deprive all the people Of com
munity Of their right to vote.
West Virginia became n State on tho
! twentieth day of June, 1868, and if unhap-
/ PLY, the necessities Of war would furnish
m excuse for such Il law as our present
| Registration Law, there can be no such pre-
/ text advanced during the time Of peace for
! It's continuance. But while The roar Of
/ b9ttlc dcaloncd mems cars 10 the demands
Of justice, when angry passions warped their
| judgments when the knowledge of wrongs
/ inflicted ard received, blunted all sense of
/ right, 40 such proscriptivc measures were
/ thought Of II was reserved for the time
when reason was supposed to have resumed
/ her sway when passion was somewhat cool
/ Cd when the bitter hate born Of civil war
( had TING to give way to camor state Of
/ fecling, when the shock and clash Of arms
were all but gone, for this State to pass n
| law which i7a disgrace to civilization and
which has driven from her borders some
/ of her best citizens. The provisions Of
| the Constitution originally adopted did not
exclude mon from The ballot box except af-
ter conviction for crime. Treason is q
crime hut as in other criminal charges
man IS presumed 10 be innocent Of it until
proved guilty But in 1868, the disabling
acts were passed, and only passed f,r the