The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-10-03

Nu Pa'"J " N'N0'NHs' AhlEui W pIe'chH
any one from holding office under the gov
eminent who is disqualified by reason OF
the 18th amendment to the Constitution.
That the act was framed for more than one
purpose, is evident i,om the title ITSELF.
which is "to enforce the right Of citizens
to vote" as well as for other parpOses.
Atthis time,it is only necessary to consider
the act so far nsnpplicablo to the first two
objects named And here it becomes
pertinent inquiry to ascertain who is en-
titlei under this act to exercise the right
OF suffrage, or in the language of the act,
who is qualified by law to vote at any
election by the people Of this State" An
answer to this question necessarily involves
the consideration of the first section, anc
as preliminary to it. l assume, that all
persons born or naturalized in the United
States, and subject to its jurisdiction, are
citizens of the United States, and of the
State wherein they reside, whether white
or colored. The first section declares in
plain terms "that all citizens of the United
States who arc otherwise qualified to vote
BY the laws ofthe State in which they live,
shall be entitled to and allowed to vote at
all elections, without distinction Of race,
color or previous condition .fscrvitude."
This section provides who shall exercise the
right of suffrage, imposing no limitation
upon the laws of the State, except that no
citizen shall be disfranchisod on account
of race, color or previous condition of
servitude." The words without distinc-
ton Of race, color or previous condition Of
servitudc," arc general terms, descriptive
in their character, and arc not restrictive,
and do notlimit the preceding words, "all
citizens Of the United States who arc or
shall DO otherwise qualified to vote in any
election by the people in any State" The
language employed is plain and afirns
that all citizens otherwise qualified TO
vote" shall not be denied the right for the
reason Just assigned, Whilst the primary
object OF this section seems to DO intended
to destroy all distinction between white and
cOlOred citizens SO far as the ballot is con
cerned' by placing them on the same
equalItyln the exercise ofthe right of suf-
t"ge' yes = also u r SUBSTANCE declares 'na'
~ '"'-' -. ""V arc ~ Tue laws Oh the
",' qsa - 'O'e' S"a" Exercise ere, '. maj
''yD' puS 'ua' nOue a. 'nem 'naI' DC pre-.
eu''u '.'tn '-' e -NIt u u ~ reason ol
1V' 'V,o' previous oO' isi,IU o' sefai'
N"' ' ~ ' u4s, ~ CUT
~ S,., O az '4!'',su to,e u ~ tue
,, Alu 'u' i1Ss ~ .'u ''a'e, are
pO'1 - - '"' cN0ie's: .. 'n0 fisu' Oh
l'' ~. ''VI I'm u tI' -, i@" :,
~" y N'',' 'I' e.O''Ou u'C'.'es "HU snAi'
1s0 snV D"'i0' 'i' sevO"u % insena'u u
r'Vt.S ~ 'O'e' u 'Ie .A''''sv 'u1'
"rD9 Securing ~ ut I"'-."S, ""'t" ,
= NV Ia = ~ 80 ~ y .lO '"' "
'HG .''' '''YH A' 'u:''' S'l ~ ' ia''
au1 i.:p'.',Il Is"a,0"' ""'A ,ys's'i1,
=, -
~
IL declares 'haf "here any act Is or
nall DC required 10 DO done as aprerequi'
site or qnalilication Tor voting by the Con
stitu'ion and laws OF any State that the
persons or oihcers WHO arc charged with
the performance oil (such) duties IN iur'
nl'nlns 70 citizens "an opportunity 10 per-
form sucn prerequisite or to become quail
lied to vote, shall give to "alI citizens OF
the United States the same and equal op-
portunity to perform such prerequisite.
and to become qualified to'vOte, and that
no citizen sadH De denied the same and
eqta! opportunity 70 perform sucn pre-,
requisite, anu 10 pccomc 4uaiil'ea 10 Vo'e