The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-08-01

WESTON, WEST VIRGINIA,
people expressed at the ballot. box, We
find the Fifteenth Amendment declared to
be ratified by the legislatures ofthe States,
in defiance Of the people and their rights
and privileges. The leaders Of the party
in power have taken tupon themselves to
say who shall and who shall not vote, for
the sole purpose of pcrpetuuting radical
rule. The right of saying who shall be
the citizens of State is taken from the
people of that State and given into the
hands of tho Congress an assumption of
power the fathers of the Republic were
careful to guard against, and which they
would have resisted us manfully as thcy
resisted the.tyranny of the British Gov
ernment.
The republicans of this State, though
somewhat behind the majority Of their
party as regards negro suffrage, are still
in favor of, and political action tends
directly towards negro ciuality-social as
well as political. know they argue that
man is not obliged to associate with a
mean white man if he does not choose,
and is not therefore. obliged to associate
on terms of social equality with negro.
But when was it ever proposed to make
tae social status Of white men the subject
Of Congressional Legislation as it is pro-
posed to do for the negro. Reversing the
radical reading of the Drcd Scott decision,
they argue that white man has no rights
negro is bound to respect, and they pro-
pose to break down all social and natural
barriers, and have q full, free and perfect
social equality between tho races. In
proof Of this, Mr.. Jacob read Summers
Equality Bill as presented to Congress,
aboli,hing all distinction between the
races in regard to social privileges, and
said: This Infamous bill, though not a
law, derives its importance from the fact
that Mr.. Sumner is recognized as a lea
der in the radical party; a source to whom
they look for inspiration. and to whose
advanced" doctrines the laymcn Of that
party sooner or later give their allegiance
and belief. Ho generally agitatcs until
his d,ctriues arc accepted by his party.
and his uttcrances may usually be taken
as tho ultimate result Of keeping the rad
ical party in power. II tliat party is not
beaten this fall, within two years Summers
bill will be the law of tho land. know.
th,. West Virginia republicans will deny
this, l know they will say "that's only
one Of Sumnor's croclcts." Did they not
say the same thing in regard 10 negro suf
frage? Did they not deny that nothing
could be further from their intentions than
to allow negroes to vote? Arc you fellow
citizens prepared to endorse the PROPOSE
tions Of this bill and destroy forever all
the barriers Of race. and reduce at ono
fell blow prosperous country to the con-
diiiou Of South American Republic :?
The radicals say they wont do it. You
knop tho Conservative Democratic party
will not, and where your assurances are
strongest, with that party should your bal
lots be cast.
Let us now turn to the history Of the
Registration laws Of this State; laws
which take from the people their dearest
right-that Of suffrage-and give it into
The hands Of one man, who las power to
remove any and all Of the registrars or
Boards Of Registration who refuse to do
his 5iddiug, or who by simply failing to
appoinsu Board Of Registration, under
any specious pretext, can deprive all the
people Of a community Of their right to
vote. ,..f
West Virginia became State on the
twentieth day Of Juno, 1868, and il, un-
happily, The necessities Of war would fur
nish an excuse for such law as our pres.
ent Registration Law, there can be no such
pretcxt advanced during the time ofpeuct
for its continuance. But while thc roar
Of battle dcafencd mems cars 10 tho de.
mands Of justice, when angry passions
warped their Judgments, when the knowl-
edge of wrongs inflicted and received
bluuted all sense Of right, no such pro
scriptivc measures were thought Of. Il
was reserved for the time when reason wa.
supposed to have resumed her sway when
passion was somewhat cooled, when The
bitter hate born Of civil war had time Il
give way to acnlmcr state OF feeling, wher
The shock and clash Of arms were all bu
| 49,, f,r t1,;e Stafo IN mace n Inv which il