The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-02-22

ZenS over tne age OF II 10 NUto aV sHOi1
corporation elections.
BY Mr.. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
citizens of Kanawha county against the
annexation Of any part of that county
TO Putnam.
BY Mr.. GOFF-Resolutio inquiring
into the expediepcy of changing Chap.
ter 81 of the Code relative to the re-.
demption of forfeited and delinquent
lands.
By Mr.. FISHER-Inquiring into the
expediency of abolisbing the office OF
school trustee, and comforting the dut
ties of that Office upon the Board OF
Education.
By Mr.. WELLS-Petition of citizens
of Tyler county for an appropriation OF
$500 to help build school house.
House Joint Resolution relative to
the application of the proceeds OF the
sale of the Government property at
Harper's Ferry was called up by Mr..
Bsltzhoover and adopted.
By Mr.. FLICK-Petition of John De
La Camp, relative to expenses connected
with fixing the Maryland, and West Vir.
ginia State Line.
By Mr.. BELTZHOOVER-Inquiring
into tue expediency of amending the
law in relation to the rights of inher-
itance by husband and wife.
By Mr.. STURGISS-Petition of citi-
zsns of Morgantown asking change In
their corporation law. Also, remon-
itrauce against such change.
A resolution from the same gentle
man, inquiring into the expediency Of
appropriating $4,000 to repair the Nor
gantown and Fairmont turnpike, was
lost. q
ON LEAVE.
Among the bills introduced on leave,
Mr.. BOWER introduced bin to take
the sense of the voters of the State on
the question of calling Constitutional
Convention. +.
ByMr. STURGISS-A bill to establish
a homestead exemption. Mr.. STURGISS
stated that the former homestead law
had been omitted in the present Code,
by oversight.
on SECOND READING.
Substitute for House Bill No. 43,
locating the county seat of Mercer.
The substitute authorizes the Super
visors of Mercer county to submit to
the people the choice between Prince
ton aud Concord Church, q majority of
the voters sufficing to locate. Ordered
to epgrossment; yeas 35, nays IL.
House Bill No. Al, the Publishers bill,
after long debate was referred to a
special committee. The Chair appoint
ed as such committee Messrs. Brsnnon,
Howard, Flick, Summers and Sturgiss.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
Senate Bill No. 10, Incorporating the
MartinSburg and Potomac Railroad
Company was put upon its passage.
Nearly every member voted for the bill,
but when Mr.. DAVIS pointed out the
clause allowing negroes to vote on the
question of subscription to the capital
stock of said road, large number
changed their votes.
Mr.. DAVIS announced as his reason
for changing his vote that he would
never recognize the validity of negro
suffrage.
Mr.. EARNSWORTH voted for the
bill because it allowed both negroes and
rebels to vote, which he approved.
Mr.. JACKSON said that he spoke for
himself alone, and that he would &C"
quiesce in the Fifteenth Amendment
when its adoption was proclaimed, be-
cause successful opposition would bo
cut of his power.
Mr.. PIERPOINT said, "Mr. Speaker,
1 intend to do right, and will allow my
vote to remain"
The bill was rejected, yeas23, nays &c.
Mr.. DAVIS moved a reconsideration
to allow the bill to be put in prope
shape and passed. The motion pre-
vailed. The bill was then referred.
BILLS PASSED.
House Bill No. 107, amending the
charter of the Parkersburg and Sandy
Railroad Company.
House Bill No. 30, incorporating the
New River Railway Company.
House Bill No. 81, authorizing Circuit
Judges to dissolve .injunctions in yaca-
ton.
House Bill No. 50, relating to sales
under deeds of trust.
The House took recess until P. NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The greater part of the afternoon was
taken up with the second reading OF
bills.
House Bill No. 1913, amending the laws
in relation TO the elections and qualifi.
cations of Mayer and trustees for the
town of Lewisburg, occasioned consid-
cradle discussion. This bill allows all
white male citizens over the age of 81
except paupers, perso:s of unsound
mind and those under conviction of
some infamous offeuse, to vote at the
Lewisburg municipal elections.
Mr.. WHEAT moved to strike out the
word white. Lost.
Mr.. STURGISS moved to amend so as
20 allow none but registered voters to
participate in the elections. Lost.
Yeas %, nays 2s.
Mr.. FLICK moved to strike out the
word male Lost. Yeas Il, nays %.
Mr.. WHEAT moved to amend so as to
require the corporation officers to take
the Test Oath. Lost.
The bill was then ordered to engross.
ment.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
The Joint Resolution offered by Mr..
FLICK, amending the Constitution SO
as to enfranchise both rebels and ne
groes, came up on secsnd reading.
Mr.. DAVIS offered a substitute, re-
storing the ballot to all who were dis.
franchised for participation in the re-
bellion.
Mr.. FLICK spoke in opposition to the
substitute. 1t was offered when the
ratification of the Fifteenth Amend
ment was certainty. 1t proposed, not
universal suffrage and universal amnes.
ty, but universal amnesty without uni
versal suffrage.
Mr.. DAVIS discussed the proposed
amendments at length. He had offered
his substitute to meet the requirements
of the people of the State. Mr.. Flick's
amendment was offered in view of the
alleged ratification of the Fifteenth
Amendment. He denied the ratifea-
tion of that Amendment. His argument
covered the following points:
The Federal Constitution could only
bs amended within the scope OF
IL