The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-02-12

in their new vows of fealty. Did they
sir. / ask, ever want in honor, even dur
ing the wari No, sir, they fought rs
brayely; we applauded their heroism;
they endured every sacrifice willingly,
and for this we praised their fortitude,
and never, sir :. during the whole war
was their honor assailed. Shall you
now seek to do iti And shall you now
tauntingly rebuke every good intention
shown by them, and revile all our prop
ositious towards unity with them !
They, sirs, l repeat, have made no
traitors promise, and the last syllable
and letter will be carried ont. Their
noble conduct in Tennessee, where re-
taliation would, if ever, have been JUS
tiiable, stands boldly out TO confirm
this assertion. Then, l again repeat,
that policy and justice, patriotism and
religion, all concur in demanding that
these violent measures be done away
with; that the charities of peace should
follow the havoc and rayages of war.
But if you adjourn finally without ma
terially softening the rigors of this reg
istry law, what must aud will be the
verdict of these honest men you repro
senti 1t will be this: That you sold
your principles and pauperized your in
tegIity for party ascendency; that you
have been unfaithful in your steward
ship and shall no longer occupy places
in their confidence. And you will
richly deserve the obscurity TO which
they will consign you.
Mr.. Speaker, my feelings have led me
greatly astray from the main subject,
yet Icould not refrain from asking for
all that these prescribed people by
right, should have, and what this bill
by proper amendment should give them.
But consider that if the punishment
of prescription ia to contiuue-if this
registration is to be kept up in viola
tion of constitutional authority-then
the bill offered by Mr.. Lamb is greatly
preferable to the present registry law.
II is by far the least Of the two evils.
It's most important features are that IL
takes the power of appointing the reg
istrars from the Governor and gives it
temporarily to the Boards of Supervisors
of the counties. These Supervisors are
representatives Of each township, elect.
ed by the people, and having their To-
cal interests to serve, are mostly gener-
ally chosen without respect to party.
This of itselfis very wholesome change
of the old law. But this bill goes fur.
ther: it provides that at as an early
day as practicable the people themselves
of each county shall elect their Board Of
Registrars. As to this provision, if the
law in any shape IS to exist, none dare
object who are the friends of the peo-
ple's Government. To object is but to
admit that your own constituents are
incapable OF being trusted, that they
are incompetent to choose proper rulers.
l am willing that the people of my
State should say who{Nhould execute
this law, and if the voice of the people
say that there shall be a majority Of
Radical registrars, so be il, but if, TO the
contrary, we expect you to acquiesce in
the popular will. Yet another salutary
change is made in the old law-that the
minority shall be represented. The
provision also that requires vacancies
to be filled by the Board of Supervisors
makes complete overthrow of the zone
man power" in the State and
should commend itself 10 the
Judgment of all disinterested parties.
There is another and by far the most
liberal provision in this act, aud that,
is that oil persons shall be ENTITLED to
voc who can subscribe to the test
oaths of the State. This prescribes
simply, plainly and positively the duty
OF the registrar. Tboro IL no way lefG
in which to escape his duty, no crochet
ting, no lodging TO be allowed in the
terms Of the act You cannot here sum
mon man to prove his loyalty, to pre-
sumo his guilt and reverse the inten.
tions of all laws human and divine, in
compelling him 10 prove a negative.
All is explicit and comprehensive. This
provision would OF course DO wholly .n-
adequate eandinoperative were not penal
ties attached to the disobedience or VIC.
lation Of the duties prescribed in the bill
Yes sir, | contend that were there any
necessity for laws of this kind amongst
us, were prescription still expedient-to
guard the government of our State
this la| would be commendable. To
give complete and absolute control of
the rights, privileges and liberties of all
our people to one man and his deputies,
| care not honest he may be, sets pre-.
MUM upon fraud and imposition. 1t
leads to excesses and abuses, of which
we have numerous examples, and is in
utter cOntr2vention of every form of 70.
publican government and at war with
all just and righteous administration of
public affairs.
This original bill, reported from the
committee on the Judiciary, barring
tho Tighta nf fha al. Crono obisal ,,,,.,
necessarily guarantee hereafter free,
fair and impartial elections throughout
the State. There are no inducements
held out for eyasions of and disregard OF
duty. And as every one who is entitled
to n vote, or can take the test oath,
shall be registered, and as appeals are
granted to those feeling themselves
wronged, to n legal tribunal, there will
unquestiouably be but few abuses OF
the new law. Punishment is also pre-
sCribed for all violations of this law.
Summary remedies being thus within
the easy reach of all who may be ag-
grieved, and all persons knowing that
justice is theirs and jealous fthe rights
which have long been invaded. they
will make efficient guardians oft, and
see it enforced TO the letter. By this
law no Governor can foist himself into
the United States Senate-nor can his
hireliugs ride into offices of trust and
honor against the wishes of the people.
Sir, by this law the people win here
after be the judges Of the merits Of ali
applicants for political promotion. The
conduct of our rulers by this law is 10
bear inspection. IL must be free from
moral rottenness and above suspicion,
or if not, the blame will lie nt their
own doors. Mr.. Speaker, thus far /
have tried to show the fairness Of the
committees bill. / have tried TO show
that the best interests of the State, as
well as the rights Of the present quail.
fed voters, demand q measure OF this
kind, and hence have urged the adop-
tion Of the original bill for these reasons
alone, insisting, however, that it does
not cover all that wish.
Iendorse this bill only so far as il
goes. Yet this endorsement does not