Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-07-02


and have been Illegally refused, while another
large class have been legally enrolled, but, Ill
eea.Iy stricken from the lists. In order to and
all Of those persons to acquire the right to de-
p7,i. their votes on the fourth Thursday OF
october next, we desire to advise them how
ard when, and where they may be regis
tered
WHO ARE ENTITLED TO VOTE.
The Constitution, Art. s, Section l, says |
. the white male citizens Of the State shall be
entitled =, vote at all elections held within the
election districts in which they respectively |
reside To this rule, however, the same in
s,rumeat makes the following exceptions:
First. minors; second, persons Of unsound mind; /
third. paupers; fourth, those who are under
conviction of treason, felony or bribery in an
election; fifth, those who have not resided one
year in the State and thirty days in the county
where they propose to vote sixth, those who
aided the rebellion. All persons included in
these classes are held to be disqualified and
WI. be denied registration. As to the five
classes first named, there can be no question.
Parties thus disqualified are generally aware
Of their disqualification and seldom seek to
exercise the elective franchise. TIE only ques-
non Of importance in this connection then is,
What constitutes all to ths rebellion? In gen.
eral terms it nav be said that every man who
can c5nscieutious'y take the oath prescribed
Section - Of the Registration Law" is 'Loy-
al within the meaning Of It's makers and
therefore entitled 10 be enrolled. Every man
who can swear that he did not voluntarily
bear arms In behalf of the rebellion that he
lid not hold or Try to hold any Office under
reJs, authority. that he dill not advise any
person 10 aid the rebellion aud that he himself
never aided the rebellion by contributing
money. arms OF material to be used IN support
afHr CgrtFr1v. has right to be registered.
Contributions ofmoney, food, clothing. &c, to
r.Gra the personal necessities Of friends or re-
Ia,ires connected with tie rebellion DO not
constitute aid to the rebellion" Charity Is
not-,rcas1a. He who miujstered TO the imme-
date physical wants Of rebel soldier. not
from sympathy with his cause, but from
uu.a'v humane motives, Is not thereby dis
qualified ANY other view would djsiranchise
tie uembe, Of a Sanitary or Christian Com
mission who gave q cup Of water to dying
Confederate.
now ARE QUALIFIED VOTERS To OBTAIN REGIS
TBArIoSi
Ey applying on the first Monday in August
20 the registrars Of the townships in which
they respectively reside. This IS the day ap-
pointed by law for the commencement
Of registration. The regstrar is required
to give notice Of the time and place Of Lis
sitting FIVE Gays previous to that time by
notices posted io at leas. five public places in
bis township. II possible all applications
should be made upon the FIRST day. But if
from any cause, voters fu. toaTply upon the
f-,- Nor11vin August. the law provides fr
subsequent enrolment. Section % requires the
registrar to return his books to the clerk Of the
county on or before the frs, Monday In Sep
.ember" auIt provides that the registrar
shall. upon application, register the name Of
auy qualified voter in lis township OF ward, or
Of .rvrers1a who win become such rs afore-
said. afoav tan before returning his register
20 tie clerk Of the board Of registration; and
aoar-i register siag be returned before the
trmte.i dlgof AW,,, 10 mw gear This
then give, the voter from the first Monday in
Angus, TO the twentieth day Of August for reg
istrat.on 10y the township registrar, and if that
officer does not return his books upon the
twentieth, then the voter can be registered
upon any dry prior to such return, which may,
If the registrar so elect, be delayed until the
frs; Monday 10 September. This is the law.
jet las delays are proverJily dangerous the
voters first duty is to secure registration upon
the day on which the books are opened. Sec
ton 35 makes i; part Of the duty Of county
boards d. tle.s meeting on the first Moudy in
October to receive. act upon AMI decide or
i-.ua. applications for registration in cases
where the applicant shows good cause for not
having made such application to the registrar
of A.s township or ward Illness or una
vrilajlc absence while the township registrar
is completing his lists is about the only good
cause THAT can Toe at al relied upon TO sup
Did. -. ..r .r. rl.f -r,, ',.f-., I.rr go, --,,,.,.