The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-06-21

By the Democrats the SVo-
ter's Oath has always been regarded as
an unwarranted and most iniquitous
Furnishing men for crime
legal trial. and subverting the
provisions of the Constitution that
were designed for the protection zofathe
citizens. 1t was sufficient for the Re
publicans to know that this Oath was
productive of Republican majorities,
Beyond this they have neither. inquired
nor cared. BY the Democrats the reg
law has always been regarded
as an arbitrary and fraudulent meas.
ure, not contemplated by the Constitu-
ton, designed for a partisan purpose,
and, although ostensibly enacted To
protect one class, vet capable OF being
used TO prescribe any class that might
be obnoxious to the officers OF the law,
and to enfranchiSe any that might Sc
cure their favor. Ii was sufficient for
the Republicans to know that the reg,
istration law elected Republican local
officers, Legislators, Judges, Governors,
Congressman and United States Sena-
tors. Whether il accomplished that
result through the medium of "loyal
voters or of rebel voters, was question
about which they have never felt con,
cerned.
Last winter Il few Republicans call
ing themselves Let ups, attempted
the reformation of the Radical party
by assisting the Democrats in the repeal
Of the minor Oaths,--those applying tc
Lawyers, Teachers and Suitors but
the Voters Oath, through which the
other obnoxious oaths may be re-enact'
cd next winter, if the Radicals are con
tinued in power, was carefully retained
in force The registration law, through
which the most dastardly enormities
are every year committed, as these same
liberal Republicans confessed, was con
tinued on the statute books in all It's
obnoxious features-and every effort al
amendment which aimedto secure even
the Just and impartial enforcement OF
the law, was voted down 10y these pre-,
tended "lct ups The same rascals
who have been harrassing the people
Of the State for the last five years by
the manipulation Of the law, were made
to retain control OF the franchises OF the
State. They are allowed to work out
the purposes of the ambitious dema-
gogues whose facie tools they are. The
of leading rebels they
thought TO quiet with the liberty OF
suing and of practising law, but the
thousands OF the rank and file who
have no power for harm are kept in
their political degradation; the distran-
chisement of Union men is continued
as heretofore; and the Radical party
is secured, as they toolishly suppose,
in another lease OF power
Tie candidate ,chO receives tie suPpor'
Of any Democratic roter IN West Iijr-
gi;nia ought to be pledged to tie immediate
repeal Of tie chols batch Of prosrripfi'e
Legislation.
The argument that the Voters Oath
and registration law are inseparably CON
nected with the DISTINGUISHING Amend
mcnt is a ridiculous dodge Both Of
them existed before the Amendment;
ii they were not constitutional from the
start the Amendment itself was never
adopted If they were thus constitu-
tional they exist independently Of the
and may be repealed with
out impairing its validity At any rate
there is no reason, save those OF par
tisan character, why set of registrars
should he the only tribunal to determine
whether man has aided the rebellion
II men arc to be d&tranckiSed far trcaSoD,
they hdcc a right to be di&trmch;sed IN
he same manner as for other CRIMES let
o,r Constitution be amended as Il may, no
man can be di&irUckiScd tor crane ,mtti
coarictcd By jury Of his peers. This is
the position occupied by the Democratic
party of West Virginia, a position not
of protection and sympathy for rebel
lion, but of reverence for the indetfasl-
ble right of trial by jury. The regi>tra-
ton law and the Voters Oath heing
wrong in principle, and their repeal
being entirely consistent with the Con
stitution itself, they ought 10 be ahol-
shed at once Both wings Of the Re
publican party insist and will insist
upon maintaining them to the latest
hour possible. Their position places
the party above the people and above
the Constitution. If We compare that
position with the ground held by the
Democracy, We readily perceive the
difference between a party based upon
principle and party organized for
power and plumber. . ..
LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS. By DR.
K. SHELTON MACKENZIE. With Papers,
Recolleciions, Anecdotes and Letters, by
Boz" never before collected. T. B.
Peterson Il Brothers, No. 800 Chestnut
TnJs