Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-07-05

this State whose names do not appear upon
the registration lists. Some of these have
never applied for registration; others have
applied and have been'illegaly refused, while
another large class have been legally enrolled,
but, illegally stricken from, the lists. In order
to aid all of those persons to acquire the right
to deposit their votes on the fourth Thursday
Of October next, we desire to advise them
how, and when, and where they may be regis
tered:
WHO ARE ENTITLED TO VOTE.
The Constitution, Art. 3, Sectien I, says
"the white male citizens of the State shall be
entitled to vote at all elections held within the
election districts in which they respectively
reside" To this rule, however, the same in
strument makes the following exceptions
First, minors second, persons of unsound
mind third, paupers fourth. those who are
under conviction of treason, felony or bribery
in an election fifth, those who have not re-
sided one year in the State and thirty days in
the county where they propose to vote; sixth,
those who aided the rebellion. All persons
included in these classes are held to be dis.
qualified and will be denied registration. AS
to the five classes first named, there can be no
question. Parties thus disqualified are gem
orally aware of their disqualification and
seldom seek to exercise the elective franchise.
The only question of importance in this con-
nection then is, what constitutes aid to the
rebellion? In general terms it may be said
that every man who can conscientiously take
the oath prescribed Section 27 Of "the Reg
istration Law" is Loyal" within the meaning
of its makers and therefore entitled to be en-
rolled. Every man who can swear that he
IL. y
rebellion, that he did not hold or try to hold
any Office under rebel authority, that he did
not advise any person to aid the rebellion and
that he himself never aided the rebellion by
contributing money, arms or material to be
used an support Of The Confederocy, has
right to be registered. Contributions of
money, food, clothing, &C., to relive the per-
sonal necessities of friends or relatives con-
nected with the rebellion do not constitute
"aid to the rebellion" Charity is not treason.
He who ministered to the immediate physical
wants of a rebel soldier, not from sympathy
with his cause, but from purely humane mo-
tives, is not thereby disqualified. Any other
view would distranchise the member of
Sanitary or Christian Commission who gave
cup of water to dying Confederate.
HOW ARE QUALIFIED VOTERS TO OBTAIN ,
REGISTRATION!
BY applying on the first Monday in August
to the registrars of the townships in which
they respectively reside. This is the day ap-
pointed by law for the commencement of re-
gstration. The registrar is required to give
notice Of the time and place of his sitting, FIVE
days previous to that time, by notices posted
in at least five public places in his township.
If possible all applications should be made
upon the first day. But if from any cause,
voters fail to apply on the first Monday i'll Au-
gust, the law provides for subsequent enroll
ment. Section 30 requires the registrar to re-
turn his books to the clerk of the county son
or before the first Monday in September" and
it provides that the registrar "shall, upon ap-
plcation, register the name of any qualified
voter in his township or ward or Of any person
who will become such as aforesaid, at any
time before returning his reGifer to the clerk
of the board Of registration and no SwcA reg
ter SAdN be returned before the t,oemticth duy
of august in any ycar'' This then gives the
voter from the first Monday in August for
registration by the township resistrar, and if
that officer docs not return his books upon the
twentieth, then the voter can be registered
upon any day prior to such return, which may,
if the registrar so elect, be delayed until the
first Monday in September. This is the law,
but as delays are proverbially dangerous the
voters first duty is 10 secure registration upon
the day on which the books opened See
ton 80 makes it part of the duty of county
boards at their meeting on the first Monday in
October "to receive, act upon and decide or
iginal applications for registration in cases
where the applicant shows good cause TO: not
having made such application to the registrar
of his township or ward" Illness or una
Voiduble absence while the township registrar
is completing his lists is about the only "eood
cause" that can be at all relied upon to sup
port an original application before the county
boards. Even then there is risk to be run.
ment before the township registrar.
- When the township registrar refuses to
enrol voter, the fact should al once be brought
to the attention of the proper authorities, and
the registrar be placed under arrest under the
Congressional enforcement bill.
A voter heretofore stricken from the lists
has the right to apply to the county board at
its October session for registration. This is
the obvious meaning of the last paragraph in
Section, and the board is required to consider
the claim of the applicant as upon original
application. Should he show that he is emit
tied to vote under the law, the board is clearly
authorised to enrol him. Otherwise, there
would be no remedy for an erroneous decision
by previous board.
When the voter is summoned before the
county board, as provided in Section 81, ''to
show cause why his name should not be strick-
EN- from the register of voters" his only alter
native is to appear aud make his defense
But if he shall appear and then shall be illeg-
ally stricken off, he has his remedy in the Fed
eral Court Wheeling Register.
THE TRANSIT OF VENUs.-A rare and