The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-08-15

'nc''nallon 10 do justice to oil without re
gard to race or color, "or previous condi
tion Of scrvitude."' .t.,.,-
The learned Attorney General seems
think there is charm about the word
without distinction ofrace, color, or pre-
vious condition of servitude, "as iutendiu,
to give exclusive rights, privileges an,
protection to the negro, and Withholding
them from the white man, when they bea
no such import reconstruction. They ar
merely used as words of force and stronI
meaning that there is to be no diaerenc'
or distinction between tho white and tn
black races, and that respecting the rigL
Of suffrage, what one is to epjoyis > to b
equally extended to the other, and not tha
the black man shall have rights and i'm
munties denied to the whites. ,,,g, ID,
Now, what is the simple meaning ant
import Of tho lst, Cd and Sd sections o
the act? Clearly, that the black and th'
white man should be placed on an equality
as to suffrage; and that the, facilities fol
obtaining the right should be the same tt
both, and that funciionaries: who denied
those rights should be punished, or 10
other words; that there should be fai.
registration of voters where registration
was required, and if,wrongfully withheld
from any one; white or black, tho party
might vote on his own affidavit Of the fact.
lfit had beon intended, ,as.supposed by
tho Attorney General, that the Sd section
was only intended to give tho right to vote
on the affidavit oftho party, when the
right ofiregistratioa had, been denied him,
on account Of his race, color or previous
conditioniof servitudo, it, should simply
have SO declared But unfortunately for
tho opinion Of the Attorney General, the
potent words without distinction Of race,
color or previous condition of soryitudo"
do not occur in she'ad section. bu. it in
substance provides tha, il registration is
required by tho laws Of State as a pre-
Il N
requisite to the right ofuuy citizen to vote,
tho offer Of the citizen'toibe registered, il
itfail to bccarried into execution, BY rea.
son 'cf'thc'wrongfaliuct OF omission Of tho
registrar, shall ;be deemed md held a
performance in law Of such registration,
and the party being otherwise qualified
shall be entitled toivote on his own affi-
davi.. Which means if a party is a quail
lied voter and by the Constitution and
laws Of the State en,itled to be registered. /.
and he applies and registration is wrong
fully withheld from him.. be shall vote on
his own affidavit Of the facts. Tho At
torncy,G General would have the section to
provide for the party to vote on his own
affidavit, in case, if a,ucgro. registration
had boon denied him on account Of being
black, but will not extend to the white
man the same right ifreeistration is denied
him because he is white. An alsurlity
which must be seen by all who are seeking
light and truth. aiy e&5 g :. aaiSel.i
This document is intended, no doubt,
to DO circulated under tho weigh. Of Off.
cial authority. and to bc the guide Of the
registrars and boards of registration, in
Withholding from mauyof our best ci,i
sens the sacred right Of suffrage, and the
Democratic party seeing what is to be the
policy Of tho rndiculpnrsy and their sup.
pie tools, tho registrars ,'ani boards Of
registration, should bo prepared to meet
such fraud and deception. and to resist. the
same by all lawful and proper means.
Every man who believes himself entitled
to vote should consider it bis duty, to his
God and his country to obtain his right
and not to beldeprived Of by the acts Of
fraud and oppression heretofore practiced
by registrars and boards of registration,
uppcinted'to tho dirty work by reason ol
theirirrcsponsibility and utter disregard
Of their solemn duties and oaths. One
whOwill quietly submit to bo cheated and
defraudcd Of bis birthright or his highcs,
privileges is unworthy Of home or
country. For the first time in the histor,
ofour State has there been any law tt
punish these functionaries for their corrup
acts. and he who is wronged by them ant
quietly submits 10 il should be anathen,e
dranaiha. And fortunately offenders ar,
to bo heldto account for their vile acts be
fore the Courts of the United States wter,
Justice will be fairly and impar.inlly deal
out to all. | hope that no ono who know
that he is not entitled to vote by the Con
stitution will present himself for registra
tion, but that all who believe themselve