Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-08-08
THE ISSUES INVOLVED.

Above all other questions involved in the
present contest, and to be decided on the 9th
inst. Is, EeM The people IF The State secure
Me"aselUes, Ly a constitutional precision, from
the possible imposition Of diyarnchising test
Oaths? Though We long for the time when We
may again feel secure in our personal liberty,
our personal rights aud property, it has not yet
come. While the Judicial triumvirate of West
Virginia, wiclds the sceptre of pOwvr,-two of
whom. it they have not turned aside for
lucre," have at least, "perverted Judgment"
there can be no security.
Men who, N defiance of the decisions of
the Supreme Court Of tue United States, have
held test Oaths to be constitutional, who have
never attempted tO'check the unconstitutional
and partisan legislation of the radical Legisia-
lures of this State, who are to-day, opposed
to the call of Constitutional Convention,
will not scruPEe, If the opportunity present
itself, to set aside tho Democratic legislation
o: last winter, and place the people under the
yoke of prescription which, for many long
years, they bore with Eortitadc and patience.
If the Court of Appeals should decide that
the intent and legal operation of the Flick
amendment is simply to strike the word white
from the Constitution, the DISTINGUISHING
amendment of 1866 will still remain in all
its proscriptivc vigor. Orifi should be decided
that the constitutional prerequisite of three
"'o"thsP"L'ic0tiOm Of the proposed amendment,
before the last general election, were necessary,
the same result will follow.
The radical programme is plain. Gov.
Stevenson failed to have the Flick amendment
published as the constitution requires, as may
be seen by the language OF his message, sub
mitted to the House of Delegates, Jan. 9th.
1871. 1t is as follows: "Of eighteen news.
papers which have sent copies of tho adver.
tisement, with their bills, to my Office, two of
them inserted the proposed amendment two
months and half previous to the last general
election, three of thew fox eleven weeks,
twelTe Of heE1 for twe)Ee weeks, or three
months, one Of them for three mouths and Eve
days. A few newspapers have not yet pre-
sCnted their claims" &c. Gov. StevSnson's
statement that twelve weeks constituted three
months, Is incorrect, Os Sec. il Oh. Is OF the
Code ct West Virginia says that 1.-The word
month shall mean calnRder month.
While the Constitution requires three
months publication in some newspaper, in
every county in tho State, in which news.
paper is published, it appears. by this mes
sage, that the Flick amendment was published
10 but one county ia tie State as the consti,u.
tiOn requires,
Why was it that proper publication was not
made! We think, for the very purpose of
enabling the Court Of Appeals to declare the
Flick amendment no part Of the Constitution
in case its language should have the eject of
eniranchising the disfranclrsed
AS long as n Constitutional Convention
hangs over them, they dare not invade the
rights Of tho people, bat il it fail, We will
again feel the heel of oppression.
Let every democratic and conservative
voter be up and doing. BE at the polls on
the 9th inst, and ''vote carly" Remember
that there is no registration law in existence.
Remember, too, that instead of radical cleo
ton officers, there will be commissioners. ap,
pointed by the Governor and his commission.
Grs, to superintend the election. w.