Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-07-12
Governor Stevenson's Instructions to
Registrars,

1890 N%-@S@SSSSH @NA 6SA@-S S-@--S 49,
Governor Stevenson had issued private cir
cular of instructions to Registrars, referring
especially to the Fifteenth Amendment and
the Congressional Law to enforce the pro-
visions of that amendment. Having come in
possession of the circular, we herewith print
it entire, for public information
Rheelimg Register.
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
CHARLESTON, June Is, 1870.
To the County Boards Of Registration and
Township Registrars
Accompanying this Communication will be
found printed copy of SO much of Chapter
III of the Code of West Visginia as relates
to the duties of your respective Offices. The
law in relation to the Registration of Voters
is very plain, and if it is carefully examined
blythe members of the County Boards and
the Township Registrars, they can hardly fail
to understand it.
1t becomes my duty to inform you that the
XIV Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States has been ratified by the requisite
number of States, and the official announces
ment of that fact has been made by the United
States authorities, and appropriate legislation
by Congress has been adopted to enforce it /;
hence it is now clearly the law of the land
and must be Dyed as such. Anything in the
Constitution of our State repugnant to the
XIV Amendment is null and void This is
manifest from Section of Article VI of the
Constitution of the United States, which de-
clares that the said Constitution and the laws
made in pursuance thereof "shall be the
supreme law of the land, x x anything in
the Constitution and laws of any State to the
contrary Notwithstanding" Besides this, the
Constitution of West Virginia provides in
Section of Article l that "'The Constitution
of the United States and the laws and treaties
made in pursuance thereof, shall be the SUI
preme law of the land"
The lst section of the XIV Amendment
aforesaid, declares that "The right of citizens
of the United States to vote shall not be de-
MED or abridged by the United States, or any
State, on account of race, color, or previous
condition of servitude."
It is clear from this Amendment, taken in
connection with Section l of Article III of
the Constitution of West Virginia, that all
the male citizens of the State are entitled to
register and vote at all elections, except
person who is a minor, or of unsound mind,
or pauper, or who is under conviction of
treason, felony, or bribery in an election, or
who has not been a resident of the State for
one year, and of the county in which he offers
to vote, for thirty days next preceding such
offer to vote, or who has since the first day of
June, one thousand eight hundred and sixty
one, given voluntary aid or assistance to the
rebellion against the United States, unless
such person has volunteered into the military
or naval service of the United States, and has
been, or shall be honorably discharged there.
from.
1t is the duty of the Board of Registration
in the several counties and of the Registrars
in the townships to execute the law as they
find it, tearcssly, yet strictly and impartally,
not permitting themselves in any case to be
controlled by prejudice or passion, not to be
influenced by interested persons or parties,
nor intimidated by threats of violence,
Ample power is given to the Board of Reg
istratien to preserve order and enforce obedi-
cnce to the law. This power should be cx>
ercised with discretion, and not upon any
slight provocation; but should be used prompt.
ly and to the full extent when the necessities
of the case demand it.
w. E. STEVENSON, Governor.