The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-11-29
M'hteliaga gesistrf.a
Terms, by Mail, in Advance
DAILY REGISTER.
What May be Done.

She oopy, yr..SzWi rlVecOpleS, yr.N 6W
One copy, 9 mos LOO Ten copies, / yr.. l8O(
what May be Done.
Editors Of the Register:
Since the late election devolved on
the Democratic party, the important
duty OF correcting the evils prevailing in
the State government, the minds of pa
triotic citizens OF all classes have been
earnestly exercised on the subject. II
is eminently proper that thoughtful men
should frankly communicate what oc-
ours to them for the consideration Of
each other, and more especially for the
reflection of those who will act as the
representatives Of the people. In this
spirit the writer-a private person
ventures to make few suggestions, not
as indicating his personal preferences,
but for the consideration OF others.
The citizens allowed by the party in
power to exercise the elective franchise
have unequivocally declared against the
arbitrary abuses practiced by the regis
tration officers appointed by the Cover
nor, to exclude qualified voters from the
polls, as well as against the constitu-
tional or legislative denial to large
class of intelligent tax-paying citizens,
the right to participate in the govern
ment Of the country. Both the classes
so disfranchised concur heartily in the
sentence.
REMOVE BOARDS OF REGISTRATION.
Elected under such auspices, it is pre-
sumed the new Governor will remove
the corrupt Boards of Registration, ap-
pointed for the unrighteous purpose al
ready mentioned, who have so faithful
" performed the nefarious duty assigned
them, and will substitute others that
will rather secure TO good citizens who
contribute to the support Of the Govern
ment, the enjoyment Of the cherished
right of suffrage. Doubtless he will
appoint Boards composed of gentlemen
Of intelligence, character and RESPONSE
bilitv, before any election whatever Is
held. Even if the Legislature were
disposed to pause in the midst of other
labors on subjects that demand imme-
date action to provide for the election
of registration officers by the people, 1t
could not with any propriety require
that an election should be held for these
officers before the qualified voters are
registered. Till upright officers are ap-
pointed who will honestly register the
voters-unless registration be dispensed
with-there can be no fair election for
any purpose.
MODIFY THE REGISTRY LAW.
But no one who values our insttu-
tons can consent that the Legislature
shall delay to repeal the arbitrary pro-
visions of the registration law, so cum
ningly devised for the successful disap-
pointment of the right of suffrage.
Under the constitution and laws, no
person, without a certain charge of a
specific fact, verified by the oath of a
credible witness, can be tried for the
most trivial offense, even before a JUS
tice, nor unless he be confronted by
witnesses, who shall prove the fact 80
charged beyond reasonable doubt can
be fined to the amount of cent. Sure
" a Legislature, a majority Of whom
revere the principles Of the bill OF
rights-if it recognizes the late pre-
tended amendment to the constitution
will require that an accurate charge
of a deliberate fact shall be made by a
responsible and credible person, upon
oath, of which the party accused shall
have notice, and shall be proved by
competent evidence, without the expur-
CATION of his own oath, before the
Board of Registration or some proper
tribunal, before a citizen shall be con-
yicted of a grave offense and conse-
ouently condemned to be deprived of
that fundamental right that underlies
all others.
Such executive and legislative re-
forms would promote the enfranchise-
ment OF all the citizens of the State not
in terms excluded from the polls by
the pretended amendment to the Con-
stitution, but only kept away by the
lawlessness of registration officers. 1t
is supposed this would secure such
amendments to the Constitution as the
citizens of the State demand.
RIGHTS OF ALL CITIZENS.
But the Constitution declares that
"the powers Of government reside IN all
the citizens of the State, and can only
be excused in accordance with their
will and appointment" And that
every citizen shall be entitled to equal
representation in the Government"
And the Constitution Of the United
States, in the fourteenth article OF
amendment, declares that "all persons
born or natnralized in the United
States and subject to the jurisdiction
thereof, are citizens Of the United States
and of the State in which they reside. "
In accordance with these principles, SO
utterly disregarded by the party in
power, it is earnestly desired by intelli-
gent persons that the citizens Of the
State now excluded from voting shall
have representation in the Govern
ment' and express their will when
the amendments Of the Constitution so
much needed shall be made.
Is THE AMENDMENT OF 1866 VALID?
An important question for the con,
sideration of the Legislature, will be,
whether the pretended amendment OF
the State Constitution, excluding a
large class of citizens from representa-
ton in the government, shall be recog-
nized as valid or not.
A Legislature either has the power
to declare who shall vote on an amend
ment to the constitution, or it has not.
If any Legislature has such power
the one hat will soon assemble may
provide trat all citizens who were quail
/ 4. Il IL. n UNn m