The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-08-22
Enforce the Law.

Enf0rce the Law.
The reign ofirresponsible and unscrup-
ulous registrars is we'll nigh past. The
people Of West Virginia really owe nc
thanks to the radical majority in Congress
for the Law enforcing the right Of the citi-
zen to vote, for the trainers of the..a bad
no intention Of comforting any benefit upon
white men thereby. They have. however,
pat into tho hands of tho white people Of
West Virginia weapon with which they
can enforce their right 70 make their voice
heard in the government ofthe State, and
the registrars are being compelled to feel
its force. The day for such illegal, arbi-
trary and high-handed tricks as havo en-
abled the radicals heretofore TO bolster up
their waning power has gone BY. and the
heavy hand ofthe Federal Government can
noWreach The perpetrators Of these out
RACES upon the rights Of the citizen.
We have information that "old Joe
CALDWELL" Of Grccnbiier county. one Of
the most notorious Of the shameless scoun-
drels whom the registration law invested
with power, has been arrested and held to
answer in the United States Court fol
refusing to register two negroes who arc
legal voters. .gbutawho declared their in
teution to support the Domocratio tiokot.
We also learn that two registrars wore
arrested . few 2dsys!ago in Mineral county
for refusing 70 comply with the law, and
were TO be taken before United States
Commissioner Blackburn at Martinsburg
to-day. And We hope soon to chronicle
the arrest Of tho registrar fol. Avcrill
township, in Jefferson county, whose fail
ure to perform his duty was published in
this p.per . fow days ago,
! Tho Marion county cases are having :
salutarY etIcat. The township registrars
and Boards Of Registration must be given
to understand that tits, time for their out
RACES upon the rights Of citizens 70 cease.
The men who are legally qualified tovots
under the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments to the Federal Con, titutiou arc
going to cast their ballots this fall, and
the registrars vsuld better stand ont Of
tho way. ..,5,,.s q. q ~ - 4, '.''
Il is not claimed that the act enforcing
the right of The citizen to vote interte,es
in any way With the Constitution Of the
State, or enfranohiscs any one who is OK
cluded from suffrage thereby; but il does
put stop to arbitrary disfranohi,emeut
and restores The suffrage 70 all who have
been heretofore illegally stricken from the
books. II takes It ont Of the power Of the
registrar to crafty his own private gtudge
bylrefusibg 70 register . noighbor whose
right q. vote Il just IS legal and indefoas-
ible Is bis own, and compels him 70 obey
tho law. The effect Of its operation will
DO 70 add to tho registry the names Of sew
ieral thousand citizens who have been VIC
tins Of the tyranny, aud meanness Of the
..SSss..y despots whom Foreman and Steven
son invested nth sbsola.e power, twill
restore TO- the list tie >i;2ss Of men sfoe
whose disfranohise s.s paid iien she
i"oivil contingent fund = two dollan and !
half per head. l,,, ~.
Everywhere throughout The State where
registrars fail 70 act or refuse to comply
with the provisions Of The Law, they should
bo promptly arrested and taken before any
United States Commissioner for examiua-
ton. Let there be no mincing or hcsita-
tion about tho matter. The law secures
tho right Of the citizen and it should be
vigorously enforced. - Wheeling Register.
. 90 "