The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-08-20
Fourteenth Amendments.
Richie CoUSIY, WEsT VA,

! s#-Nees - y d
I Governor Stevenson IN his instruc-
ton 10 Boards OF Registration and
Township Registrars, dated June 18th,
$50 ssys. II becomes NY duty to
inform YOU that the 18th Amendment
to the Constitution of,the United States,
has been ratified by The requisite num-
ter OF States. and the official announce
ment OF that fact has been made. by the
United States authorities, and aPpro-
pirate legislation 10y Congress has been
adopted 10 enforce il hence, it Is now
clearly the law of the land, and must
be obeyed a, such. Anything in the
constitution Of our State repugnant 10
the 18th Amendment Is null and void.
Til, i manifest from section z, ofsrticle
Il of the Constitution of the United
States, which declares that the said
Constitution, and the laws made in pur-
suance thereof, shall he the supreme
law of the land, ANYTHING in the consti-
tuition, or laws OF any State 10 the con-
trary Notwithstanding Besides this,
the constitution Of West Virginia
movidel in section |, Of article |, Thai
the Constitution Of The Unlrd Slatr.
and the laws and treaties made in pur-
suance thereof. shall he the supreme
law Of the land. 80 that the word
white in our State constitution is rem
dered meaningless. and the negroes are
being registered and are entitled 10 vote
This he made clear
IL has SO happened that there is the
18th Amendment 10 the Constitution of
the United States, which has some re-
lation Ia white citizens, in which many
OF them GeelmuchiDterested, and would
lie mlrh pleased 10 havetlIe Governors
opinion respecting its bearingand effect
The first section If said Amendment is
a. follows Section ! All persons
born or naturalized in the United
States. and subject 10 the jurisdiction
thereof are citizens of the United
States and STATE ,~hrroH h5p reside No
State shall made or enforce any law
which shall ahridge the privileges or
immumitieS OF Citizens Of the I nited
States Nor shall any State deprive any
person OF lite liberty or property with
ont due process Of law, nor DENY 70
any person within IL jurisdiction. the
equal protection OF the law Now
what il desired "a he known from the
Governor j. whether tiie Amendmentto
our State constitution. which declares
that TO person who has since the first
Of June lH6l, given voluntary aid or
assistance to the rebellion shall be .
citizen Of the State. or allowed 10 vote
at any election therein, is rendered null
and void Lv said l4th Amendment or
not. 1t ], thought to he important that
the Governor should explain this mat
ter. al least 10 the Boards OF Registra
ZION, and instruct them accordingly as
the Attorney General OF the l nited
States has recently instructed the Mar
shals, District Attornies and Commits
sioner> to take prompt measures for the
arrest and prosecution Of officers who
violate the late act Of Congress, to en-
force the l4th and 18th Amendments
If the foregoing extracts should not
make il appear clear TO the Governor
that the Amendment 10 our State con
stitution Is repugnant 10 the l4th
Amendment and therefore null and
void Iwould then advise him 10 read
the 9TH and 9th Amendments, to the
Constitution of the United States,
which clearly show the only proper
way of dealing with crimes under
free Government as It's trainers be
licvyd this 10 be. JUSTICE