Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-02-28
West Virginia Legislature.
FEB. l9.


Substitute for Senate bill No. q establish
ing State Normal School for cOlored pupils
at Storer's College, Harper's Ferry, was laid
on the table and ordered to be printed.
In the House of Delegates resolution by Mr..
MISUNDERSTANDING into the propriety of
reducing the license paid by hucksters.
In the House Of Delegates on Monday, Mr.
Beltzhoovsr called mp the resolution instructing
our Congressman 10 get liberal construction
Of the act concerning the sale Of the Govern
mcnt property at Harper's Ferry, and it was
agreed to.
The bill to amend the charter Of the Martins
burg and Potomac Railroad Company coming
up was put upon It's passage, and received the
following vote; Yeas 48. Nays none.
Every member voted for the bill, but when
Mr.. Davis pointed out the clause allowing ne
groes 70 vote on the question of subscription
to the capital stock Of said road, large num-
Der changed their votes
III, vote as announced after tho changes,
stood, % yeas to 20 nays. So the bill was re-
jccted.
Mr.. DAVIS said, if the phraseolosy Of the bill
were changed he would vote for II, and moved
a reconsideration of the vote rejecting it
Agreed to- lie moved to amend by inserting
white" before male With this amend
ment he would vote for It, Mr.. Peirpoint said
with that amendment he should vote against
it. Mr. jackson said, if the proclamation had
been issued announcing the ratification OF the
18th Amendment, and authorizing negroes to
vote, he would vote for it. If they would
amend the bill so as to submit the question to
the qualified voters" whoever they might be
when the question was taken, he would vote
for IT,
Mr.. Beethoven said the bill had been word
ell lust as those interested in the question wish
ell il; and if members were disposed to favor
this local measure they could doit best by voting
for the bill inst as it was. He said the object
was to submit il 10 the taxpayers, and num-
Der Of the black people Of Berkeley were large
taxpayers The bill had been prepared by
those who were opposed to the 18th Amend
ment and to negro suffrage, but yet favor Civ
ing the negro taxpayers the right Of saying
whether their property shall be taxed for
particular parpoSo when they are the party
affected by it, lie didn't understand that be
committed himself to the negro suffrage by yo-
ting for such bill.
Mr.. jackson wanted to know how gentle
men would get over the constitutional provi
si5ns limiting the suffrage to whites who were
not rebels If they would wait . few days un-
| Ill the 18th amendment was proclaimed the
negroes would he voters. At present they
were not. But even then be did not see where
they got authority to let the rebels vote at all
under this BILL tie thought the provisions Of
/ the Constitution forbade.
! SIR. Peirpoint said the provisions Of the Con-
stitution referred entirely TO political matters
to voting for officers.
Mr.. Jackson replied that it did not say SO,
and quoted to show that the Constitution for
/ babe certain persons 10 vote at any election. -
Mr. Davis declared himself unalterahly and
unequivocally opposed to suffrage for negroes
under all circumstances. and he gave notice Of
/ the fact Even if the 10Th amendment should
/ be proclaimed as having been ratified and made
/ part and parcel Of the Constitution Of the Uni
/ ted States, he would not be willing n admit
/ that the rights Of this State were affected in
any way whatever by the adoption Of that
/ amendment Whether the State would be
/ obliged TO respect that amendment wasa ques-
| tiou that woud come up hereafter. He would
/ not place the State in position where she
,,,,Il W., s,,. tho ,,,a, l,o,,+ ,.,s forced rno,
~. -. -, Ior,,rso,,,
NJ T,,i,s,, sa:i Lo ,,os ,r;liio - ,;o,l and
/ aCQuioSCe in any decision Of the Government
Mn,'m We S C,G,, "' SV a ,'. bo,o5 t -, ra}I
Wv C.a,ar,..,or; IS ,io
I;o5 &C., rS , ~ ,o sLo,J bo i7,n,sod
-, 10 r,aTis IT, yro,JI vierl 70 !, Lc,,n!, the
,ocros. -rln rn4er tbo mower Of tlo Govern
won't ,ro,,j he entitled ~ vote He won'1 IN.
,,,.o' G., lone, rs orrosit;an was arairno- lint
,ybs, II ,e,ssl m he :, 10 wound surrender.
NJ r.irna;n, remarked that that WAS the
/ ~.,t,l;,l If, s,ir;,
~. -, L,,,,.,l .,.,, - ,r.o ,,.,,o,,,
.,..l;l 81, ,.,;,,,, g., :, ,r,,r5 ,.o,o
f,'.,t ASIDE the evi.,ir, nr.vi,i,rs IF the Com
.,;.nt;,r l.,l as =, NEGROES and a. IN rebels
Sir. B.'tzho,ycr said if the insertion Of
(. white" was satisfactory to the members from
Berkeley jt would suit him.
Mr. Flick replying u Mr. Peirpont's re-
mark that the Constitutional provisions only
applied t0 political elections. said they certain
~ applied to elections involving the right Of
/ taxation. as this dill The people who have
/ the tight % tax must surely he the dePositary
&C the constitutional right of suffrage. Even
c white were placed IN this bill it still an
I thcrile class to vote who are DISTINGUISHED
hy the Constitution. He moved 70 commit the
bin 70 the judiciary Committee and It was
. agreed a..