The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-18
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Concluded from LIST Page.)

C0Rcfuded from Isl rage
ton was made under the superintend.
epee of the Clerk Of the House Of Dele
gates, aud the duty has been performed
with diligence and care, while the work
ofthe Public Printer is all that could
be desired, and has invariably been
promptly done. Is.
..a. REGISTRATION LAW.
Considerable difficulty was expert
enced during the past year in securing
the proper execution Of so much OF
chapter III, Code Of West Virginia
as provides for a registration Of the
qualified voters of the State In most
of the counties, have reason to believe,
the law was fairly executed; in few rig.
idly; while mothers 1t was disregarded
to such an extent that almost the entire
male population ofthe requisite age,
who desired to do 90, were permitted to
register without much regard to other
qualifications.
In many counties the law was render
edsinoperative 10 consequence OF the
arrest and Imprisonment, by United
States officials, OF registrars and mem
be:s Of boards of registration, under
what was deemed by the State authori-
ties a mistaken construction OF certain
provisions Of the act Of Congress en-.
tilted ian act to enforce the right OF
citizens of the United States to vote,
&C." commonly known as the enforce,
ment act" These proceedings, carried
ON under color Of authority of the
United States, were potent in prevent
ing the registration officers from dis
charging their duties under the State
law, Besides, the opinion had become
prevalent tina" the policy inaugurated
at the last session Of the Legislature,
looking to the enfranchisement Of per-
sons who had been identified with the
rebellion, would be passed by the pres
ent one and soon after ratified by the
people. In anticipation of this event
there was q very general letting W" in
many counties in regard 10 the restric-
tions placed upon this class Of our citl'
Zens.
There ought certainly to be some
. means devised by the Legislature to pro-
tect the rights OF legal voters, and to
preserve the purity Of elections. A fair
registration law is regarded by many as
the most effective measure for this pur,
pose; but If the one at present upon our
statute books cannot be so modified as
to be more strictly enforced hereafter,
than was possible,at the recent general
election, the sooner il is repealed alto
gether the better. 1t is certainly more
desirable to have no law at all upon
the subject, than to have one that is
butpartially obeyed or utterly dlsre-
garded
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CoNsTI-
TUITION.
The Legislature at its last session
passed joint resolution proposing to
amend the State Constitution, so as to
strike out the clause in Article III, sec.
ton /, which DISTINGUISHES persons who
gave voluntary aid to the rebellion, and
10 further amend the same section, SO
as to make the language therein con,
form to section |, Article XIV Of the
amendments to the Constitution Of the
United States. / see no good reason
why this joint resolution should not be
passed at the present session OF the Leg.
islature, and provision made for sub
mitting the. amendment for vote Of
: OF the people'for ratification or rejection
at an early day.
= That part Of our Constitution which
makes eolor.a qualification Tor suffrage
ia ALREADY rendered nugatory by the
ratification OF the XVIII amendment OF
the Constitution Of the United States;
Z 90 that the only question to be deter
mined by action upon the joint resolu.
ton, is the policy Of re;investing. with
political power those who gave aid to
the rebellion. -. ..,.- c
The conviction has become very gen
eral among our citizens, that we are re-
mote enough from the scenes OF strife
which belonged to our civil war, and
have sufficiently outgrown the bitter
ness which for a considerable time sur
vived it, to justify us in removing all
political disabilities from this class OF
our citizens. 1t is not to be denied
that there : are still to be found in
the State a considerable number
Of persons who continue to cherish
a feeling of hatred toward the.
government of the union, and to
manifest a spirit Of intolerance to its
friends-a spirit which developed itself
during our recent political contest in
several cowardly attempts to assassinate
leading citizens Of the State. This
class, however, is made up chiefly OF
persons who. during our civil troubles
professed devotion to the federal gov
eminent, and of those who gave aid to
: the rebellion, indirectly, and always at
q safe distance from scenes Of actual
conflict and danger. With few excep-
tions, those who were in the armies Of
the confederacy are law abiding citi-
!. Gems. ...
This state Of facts seems TO demand
favorable and immediate action upon
: the proposed amendment. Another
! reason for. speedy action is found in the
.fsotythat.thesmore dishonest and I'M
sefdpul6as Of those who aided in the
wayagAihst the government, are already
in conesaaence Of gross peryersions Of
LAM, exercising the right to vote, while
the more ;caadid and conscientious
steadily decline to do so, until tthe ,pri-
vileeesris conferred supon$ them in "a
legitimate way under the Constitution
and laws of the State. In this sthe.
persons composing ;theaatter class; have
shown q principle Of honor (which we
should not fail to recognize; and GER,
tainly no stronger reason than their
conduct, could be urged to show that if