The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-07-25

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,1'oa ,TOiREGIsTRARs. NJ, = =. % ;. ,
Judge James H. Ferguson's Charge to
"a a Wayne County Grand Jury, on the
! Enforcement OF the Re gistration Law
and the Duty of Registrars. "a, q, ~
, Atthe last August term Of The Circuit
Court for Wayne county, Judge James
H. Ferguson, in his charge 10 the Grand
Jury, referred to Tie registration law and
its administration, as follows ,. ,!.s1
Z Z, There is q grea. deal Of complaint
about The neglect u registration officers
BY which men who ought Of right to be
voters arc not upon tie list and cannot
vote. The registration law should be
administered as carefully and conscicn-
tiously as any other law, and with the
rights and interests Of oil pa,t::es in view.
It's mistake to suppose the regi.tra-
tion law was framed only to protect the
interests Of a political7patsy. The rights
Of citizens arc guarded, and penalties pro-
vided for officers who, by acts Of omission
Or q commission idcPrivea qualified citi-
zen 1t his right 10 vote. The law i, 10
framed as to protect both the officer who
administers holaw, and the citizen who
claims Tho rightYto vote under it. The
voter who is wronged' has bis remedy un-
der the law as muctfa is be has remedy
for any wrong under any law. The
township registrars aud the members Of
the county boards ofregistration can be
made to do their duty. ANY wilfull neg
lcct BY thotownship registrars in The per.
formancc Of tho duties Of Office, by which
citizens suffer the rights Of franchise, is
indictablo and punishable under the Law.
Another mistaken idea which has be-.
como common is, that in the registration
Of voters whose loyalty is questioned, the
bulthcn Of proof is by Law forced on the
applicant for registration. Some county
boards ofregistration have been in the
habit Of telling men whose names they do
not want upon the list Sir, We say you
aidedthe rebellion now prove that you
didn't aid The rebellion" This is what
their action amounts to if tLey do not sny
il in these very words. No man can be
required to prove by others what it is iu-
possible TO prove j 1t is hard to prove a
negative. None Of US con prove that we
did not aid therebellion.
The. Constitution and laws provide that
every white male citizen. twcnty.one
ycars Of age, not puuper, ofsound mind,
not under conviction Of treason or ofbrib-
cry at au election, &C., who has been a
resident Of the State one year and Of the
county one month, and did not aid tue
rebellion, shall bo entitled to vote. Now
when tho claimant to the right to vote ap-
peatsbeforo the township registrar, he
must satisfy the registrar that he is quail
fled to vote according to the provisions
just mentioned. And he has a right To
show1by bis own evidence, and It must bo
such as will sutisfy any reasonable, un-
prejudiced mind. A respectable mans
statement, under oath, is generally con.
sidered evidence that should satisfy any
reasonable mind, not prejudiced.. '1
Then If q county board of registration
notify him to appear and show cause why
he should not be permitted to vote, it
amounts to The assertion that hc is not
qualified to vote. Those trho dllege that
headiY,mlifei must prore IL them'elre'.
I1f they charge that he is disqualified by
reason of having aided in the rebellion,
they must prove it before they have any
right to take his name from tho list
Tie county Board Of Registration has nc
right to strike mans name from Tie lis
merely because charges have been nadt
against him. He is TO be considered in
nocent until proved guilty Of tho charge
The law itself makes ii the duty Of III
Judges Of the circuit courts to give the Ia,
specially in charge 10 the Grand Juriss
II is no. supposed you will have any cas-
under that law before you now but !;
think it proper to make these remark
that you may all DO prepared BY ful
understanding Of what will be your dut.
us jurors whenever case may come DO