The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-08-05
Intimidating the RegiStrars-.A Ro-
land for an Oliver.

SuC SS-GA ANO-
land for an Oliver.
A systematic scheme for the intimida'
ton of the officers Of registration through,
out the State has been set on foot, and
practical operations have begun. III
Marion county, as VIC are informed, two
commissioners have been appointed by
the Judge Of tho Federal Court, who arc
apparently appointed for the express pur'
pose Of assisting in this work Of intimi'la'
ton. Lilteappointmcnts have been made
for other countless In Marion, we Ilcar
that one Of these commissioners, after his
appointment, made public threats that
he would arrest and send to Jail registrars
who refused to make certain registrations,
The West ViIyinian, which came to hand
last evening, says Democratic speaker
recently said in that county that the U,
S. Commissioner would issue his warrant
and dappoint some good Democrat 10 bring
in old Henry Boggess, oncofthc registrars,
by the hair OF the head" 1t NlsOsays other
threats were made by Democrats there
"tO. arrest and imprisou the several regis
trars Of tho county, II they refused tn do
their bidding last Monday" We are also
informed by letter from FairInOnt that
lust Monday the Board Of Supervisors be-
ing in session, an ex.rcbel lawyer, after !"
consultation with tho Clerk Of the Board,
who Is the Democratic candidate for
Auditor, presented a paper to tue Board
asking the use OF tho Jail for the impris'
onment of officers Of registration who
might be arrested for intractiOn Of the act
Of Congress enforcing the 18th Amend
ment.
Now all this is clearly intended To
Irighten the officers OF registration out OF
proper performance of their duty under
tho laws Of the State; aud II telegram last
evening informed us that one of the regis
trars in that county had actually been ar-
rested.
Now It may be ,well for all the parties
engaged in this work Of intimidation to
examine the act OF Congress under color
of which they pretend to act, and see If it
is not double.edged. They will find that
severely as the law Furnishes any wrong
tul act Of IN officer Of registration it pun
ishes the unlawful acts Of other parties
still more severely; and there is no qucs'
tim If our information Is correct tint
several prominent parties At Fairmont
have exposed themselves to its penalties
in tho most unmistakablc manner. For
the benefit Of these parties, and of all 9th
ers engaged in the same nefarious work,
we copy the 20th seclionot the act refer
red to:
SEC. 20. and b it further enacted,
That Il ut any registration Of voters for 9i'
election for representative or delegate in
the Congress OF the United Suites, any
person shall knowingly pGrsonate and
register, or attempt to register, in the
name OF any other person, whether living,
dead, or fictitious, or fraudulently register,
OF frauduIently att0mpt to register, not
having lawful right so to do; or do any
unlawful act to secure registration for
himself or for ,lny other person; or by
force, threat, menace, intimidation, brlbe'
ry, reward. or olIrr, or promise thereof, or
other unlawful means, prevent or hinder
any person having lawful right to regis
ter from duly exercising such right; or
compel or induce, by any such means, or
other unlawful means, any officer OF regis
tratiOn 10 admit to registration any per-
son not legally entitled thereto, or inter.
fere in any manner with any officer 0i
registration, in the discharge Of his duties
or by any such means, or other unlaw.
full means, induce any officer Of regis
tration to violate or refuse to comply with
his duty, or any law regulating the same ;
or knowingly and wilfully receive the
vote Of any person not entitled to vote, or
refuse to receive the vote Of any person
entitled to vote, or aid, counsel, procure,
or advise any such voter, person, or otil'
Ger to do any act hereby made crime,
or to omit any act, the omission Of which
Is hereby made crime, every such per.
son shall be deemed guilty of crime, and
shull be liable to prosecution and punish
mCnt therefor, rs provided inscCtiOn nine.
teen of this act for persons guilty Of. any
Of the crimes therein specified: PrOrided
That every registration made under the
laws of any State or Territory, for Nny
State or other election at which such rep
rcscntative or delegate in Congress shall
be chosen, shall be deemed to hC q regis
tratiOn within the meaning Of this act
notwithstanding the same shall also hC
made for the purposes Of my State, terri
torial, or municipal election.
The pChalty inscctiOn 10 here referred
to is that the person committing any o
these offences
Shall be deemed guilty OF crime, nMC
shall for such crime be liable to proSecu
ton in any Court of the United States o.
competent Jurisdiction, and, on conviction
thereof, shall be punished by fine moi
exceeding five hundred dollars, or by im
prisOnmCnt for term not exceeding
three years, or both in the discretion q
the Court, and shall pNy the costs Ofpros
cCution.
Now, gentlemen, read that section care
fully, observe how accurate and comprc
hcnsivc its definition Of offences, and yol
will sec how dangerous it is to interfere, b.
threats or persuasion, with tho officers o
registration. Sections one, two and tllrc'
afford full protection to everybody cnti
tied to vote under the laws Of the State
and there is no question tho officers o
rc,ist,o,ion will do their duty under III,