The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-06-27
DEMOCRATIC VOTERS, ASSERT
YOUR RIGHTS.
sound the Loud rinbrel DER Egypt's
4 Dark Sea.

+ r Dark Sea.
The act Of Congress to "enforcc the
right of citizens Of, the United States to
vote in the several States of this Union,
and for other purposes" is now undergo
ing newspaper construction throughout
the State.
The Wheeling LuteHioeacer, the lead
ing organ of the republican party of this
State, limits is construction of tho act to
the reading and power conferred by the
Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution
alone-the first section Of which reads
"'rhe right Of the citizens of the United
States to vote shall not DO denied or
abridged by any State or the United
States on account Of race, color or preyi-
GUS condition of seryitudc;" and con-
tends that the law was made to enforce
the right of the negro citizen to vote
where bis right to do so is denied him on
account Of race, color or previous condi-
dition Of Of scrvitude: and for that rea-
son maintains that the law does not apply
to or include the white citizen.
If this act of Congress was wholly de-
pendent npon the Fifteenth Article for its
authority, We would readily agree to its
unconstitutionality. md say that the In
felligencer was right in its construction Of
the law.
But tho title Of the act, much less the
act itself, shows that Congress was not
governed or confined in passing the law
by the Fifteenth Article to tile Conslitu-
ton, but looked to that rholc instrument
for its authority. The words "all cili-
zens of the United Statcs,""- the first
section oft act,-"who may be other
wise qualified to vote according to State
laws" are broad and comprehensive, and
are not limited or restricted by the after.
following words, "on account Of race,
color or previous condition Of scrvitude,"
as is fully shown by the Ind aud 3rd Sec
tons Of the act. And the close reader Of
statutary law. in his examination Of the
ehole act, will have no difficulty in per-
ceiving that it embraces in its breadth
and scope not only tho powers and au-
thority conferred upon Congress by the
18th and 18th Articles to the Constitu-
ton, but the FIRST part of the 4th section
Of the LIST article Of the Constitution Of
the United States, wherein It comedies to
tho States Mepoper to ''regntatc the time.
manner and place If holding elections,
but expressly reserves to Congress the right
at any time 10 make or alter BY lao such
regulations. Therefore, under the au-
thority and power of these several arti-
cles to tho United States Constitution,
Congress passed the act in question
placing all citizens Of the United States,
who may DO otherwise qualified to vote
under The Constitutions of the States in
which thy reside upon an equal footing /;
and i'll the language ofMr: Davis, rcpub-
lican member of Congress from New
York, "for tho purpose Of conserving the
purity Of elections, entered into The States
by this act, by declaring pains and pen
altis against these who violate the laws
relating to elections" And for the pur-
pose Of still further showing that We are
not mistaken in our construction Of the
act, NC quote from the speech of Judge
Bingham, republican member of Con-
grcss from Ohio, in the House Of Repre-
scntativcs; on the 9th Of May, 1870.
In reply to.Mr. Beck, Democratic mem
Der from Kentucky, Mr.. Bingham used
tho following emphatic language
every section Of this bill applies alike to
all citizens Of the United States, 1RRES.
PECT1yE Of race, color or previous
condition of servitude, who are or shall
be otherwise qualified to vote"
The argument now advanced by West
Virginia radicals, that lawful voter who
is denied The right to vote could only ap.
peal his case to tue United States Court
on account Of race, color or previous
condition Of servitudc, is fully met and
exploded by the speeches of republican
lawyers in both branches Of Congress,
who took part in, tho discussion Of the
measure, before its passage.
Tier efore, as we said last week, VIC
again say to-day to Democratic voter
entitled to vote under the State Constitu.
tiou, and who have or shall be by the ar
bitrarj and corrupt action Of tho regis
trars denied their right, register or pro
al.