The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-01-25

ian act to prevent the destruction OF
small game"
Mr.. BOWER on leave introduced a
bill to incorporate the New River rail
way company.
THE TEACHERS TEST OATH.
Onmotion of Mr.. FLICK, House Bill
/ No. 7, repeating the Teachers Test oath,
was put upon its second reading.
Mr.. WHEAT moved to amend by pre-
fixing preamble, reciting that a di-
versity Of opinion exists among the
County Superintendents as to what
constitutes loyalty" many deeming
the Oath the test, and that masy per-
tsons known to have aided the rebellion,
having taken the oath, we're engaged in
teaching. The effect of this preamble
the Teachers Test Oath had become
imperative through the perjury of the
teachers.
Mr.. LAMB stated that the preamble
simply expressed the opinion Of the
member from Morgan, that his
(Mr. Lamb's) side of the House
being in q minority they must put
up with such liberal measures as they
could get, and that if no better could
be done, he supposed they would have
to swallow the preamble for the sake of
the repeal.
Mr.. GOFF said he was not particular
about preamblcs and technicalities.
He wanted a clean sweep made of all
these Test Oaths and in tended to vote
steadily in that direction. The men,
ber from Ohio county had spoken Of
"his side of the House." The speaker
did not know to what side of the House
hehimself belonged; he hoped he belong
ed to the right side, but Of one thing
he was certain-he was in favor of the
speedy and thorough removal of disa-
bling oaths. Such had been his posi-
tion for moro than three years. Look
ing around him he felt that he was
about the only man in the House who
had been a member in 1866. At that
time he had tried to inaugurate meas
ures repeating the Test Oath system.
He had failed in the attempt but the
views he then entertained he still held,
and now that opportunity offered, he
wanted the House to come squarely up
to the work and sweep these Test Oath
laws from the statute book. He hoped
especially that those who acted with
him politically would stand by him and
help push the work to conclusion. Mr..
GOFF continued at some length in ad-
vocating q general repeal, and in de-
claring his purpose to give them
hearty support.
Mr.. WHEAT urged the adoption of
the preamble out of courtesy to the
gentleman from Morgan. He wanted
the law repealed because it was inopera.
tive. But for no other reason would no
vote in that way. Unless his preamble
were prefxed, he would vote against the
repeal, maintaining the Justice of the
principle involved in the law. That he
would never surrender. He wonld not
stain his hands with treason and the ''let
up" doctrine. He did not approve the
message of the Governor recommending
q removal of disabilities.
Mr.. FLICK said preambles were pre-.
fixed to laws to assign reasons for the
passage Of those laws. Mr.. Wheat's
reasons were not his reasons. He should
vote for repeal on very different grounds
from those contained in the preamble,
and SO would large majority of the
mem DGISs TIC UUBT6lOT6 pTOIeSJCu
against tue member from Morgan being
allowed to thrust his reasons down the
throat of tho House. He was willing
that Mr.. Wheat should spread upon the
record his own reasons for the repeal of
the Oath, bnt he should not place the
whole Houeo upon record rs voting Tor
repeal for reasons which they did not
entertain. Besides this, he feared the
preamble was proposed to defeat the
repeal and he hoped ID would be voted
down.
The question being put upon the pre-.
amble it was voted down by large ma
jority.
Mr.. FLICK then offered an amend
ment to the bill, striking out all after
the enacting clause and inserting pro-
vision requiring every teacher to take
an oath to support the Constitution of
the United States and the Constitution
of West Virginia, and to faithfully dis
charge his duties as n teacher, no other
oath to be required. The amendment
was adopted and the bill as amended
ordered to cngrossment and third read
ing.
BILL PASSED.
House Bill No. 3, Changing the time
for holding the Courts in the Third Ju
diciaL Circuit. Yeas, 50; nays, none.
Adjourned.