The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-06-20

WElay before our readers this voet
the full text Of the recent act of Congress
to enforce suffrage in all the States Of tho
Union-Wcst Virginia included. va
invite the particular attention Of onr Re-.
publican friends tothis act of Congress.
and especially our registrars and State
Judges, who have been giving intcrpreia.
ton to or State registration laws, and
the object and meaning thereof.
i 1t will be seen that this act of Congress.
which is the supreme law of the land.
somewhat inlcrferes with The past action
of our Radical Boards Of Registration.
and gives remedy to an aggricved voter
without having to appeal bis case to a
Radical State Judge, by going into a
United States Court.
The first section Of the act defines thu
qualification Of a voter; which briefly
may be. thus stated: Is he citizen Of
the United States, and qualified to vote
according to tho constitution Of the State
where lc resides, and this FIRST section OF
tile act of Congress? If SO, he can no.
be deprived of his vote by any arbitrary
act of the registrars; and where an cHot
is made to so deprive him Of his vote, tho
second section Of the &C. gives remedy
in damag against the registrar; and lha
third section gives him right to 60 before
a Notary Public or Justice and mako IN
affidavit that he has been wrongfuly Do.
prired Of his right to haye his name
placed on the register, and the Notary OF
Justice will gire him certificate tha.
such affidavit has been made, and upon
presentation ofsucb certificate to the con.
ductors Of election in his township, they
will be bound to receive his ballot, wheth.
or hi, name is on the register or not. and
If they fail to do SO, they will be liable to
pay him $500 damages, and to pay to tia
United States $500 more, md tho Judge
of the Federal Court is required to confno
him. in Jail for not less thar ono month,
and no! more than one year.
Every citizen Of this State otherwise
qualified to yotc-,hst is. has been in the
State one year anl the county thirty days
prior to voting, and is not pauper nor
convicted Of any Infamous offence, and
did not roluatarily aid the rebellion, has
right to vote, no difference what may bs
bis politics. J.
This oct Of Congress was intended
mainly to enforce negro suffrage in tho
Southern States, but with all its horrors
and innovations upon the rights Of The
1 States and the past regulation Of suffrage,
tit brings home to oppressed aad down
troddcn West Yirginians, who have been
deprived Of their right to vote by corrupt
Boards Of Registration, backed up by still
more corrupt partisan State Judges, .
rt,.eay by which to right themselves, and
correct an evil which has well nigh ru-
incd anil bankrupted the State.
We hope every voter in this State who
can register will do so, and when hc is
denied his rightto do so, that he will i'm
mcdin,ely take steps, pursuant to this act
OF Congi css. to punish the ohcnder, anu
ro,e, according TO tho third section Of tho
act.
We have enough legal Democratic vo-
ters in this State 10 elect al our candi-
dates-in word,io sweep from power
the most corrupt and estravagnnt horde
Of officers that ever cursed and disgraced
any State or people.
In conclnsion We can now confidently
say to our Democratic friends throughout
tlle State:
"NIE, the day and nou' The en- hour lv :.
amy. and from chains and slavery"
Let the wsrk commence, md let it 90
on without censing; and d,mhed be tho n,
man who first cries. "hold, enough" tIll
tho victory will have been won, and tho
last tyrant under our feet.