The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1871-10-19
77HE WEEKLY REGISTER.
To the People Of West Virginia.

4 To the People Of West Virginia
Elaor Register
! The Fourth Thursday of October will
soon be here, and am indeed sadly sur
prised to sec people, whose condition is
so critical, as that Of the people OF West
Virginia. 50 careless and Indifferent about
a matter Of such vital importance to their
future prosperity. There never was q
time 10 the history Of this State, when it
impcls the voters TO reflect more seriously
and consider with more care, for whom
they will cast their votes, than in the COM
ing election Certainly it is apparent to
every one, who reflects for moment, that
measures of the most awful magnitude will
come before the next Legislature, and per.
haps the whole policy Of the government
will be changed by the Convention which
meets in January. Since we conceive
this to be as important an election as ev.
or tho voters were called upon to assert
their franchise in, VIC cannot allow this
opportunity to pass by without making
known some things that press themselves
heavily upon my mind. Before going
further, let me ask, to whom the freemen
of Yves. Virginia will in.rust this conf
deucc? The clarion voice Of the people,
from every portion of the State call aloud
for men Of excellent learning aud un-
blemishcd integrity" To question the
qualifications or character Of any candi-
date in the field would but be only an un-
pleasant task, but transcending the pur.
pose in view. repeat, that We do no.
wish to speak uukindly Of any, but on the
contrary. we are ready to accord true
friendship to every man Yet, when we
see men, by whose iustrumentality, and at
whose suggestion, young men, whose
hearts beat with patriotic zeal. were drag.
scd to prison where their suferings were
unknown or forgotten, so presumptlous as
to come before an intelligent people asking
their support at the polls, We cannot re-
frain from asking: Are they crazyf Is it
not fresh within the memory Of every one,
that during their ing'orious career of d.
rcc,ing the iron hand Of the military, old
men and women whose heads werc heavy
with age, we're driven from their homes,
made to walk, guarded by petty tyrauts,
who assumed the name Of brave soldiers,
but whose acts, demonstrated beyond con-
tradic,iou that they were opprcssors. Will
the people forget ths' such q wrong was
perpetra,ed, and will they not remember
BY ,ghome VIII they gradually let these
things fade away?-or will they remember
with Indignation that their sacred rights
were invaded, and q most fragrant Unjust.
ice was done thom' and in calling these
things to mind, ask yourselves if they are
the proper parties to inaugurate the fun
damenta| laws of your government? Cor
tainly, as intelligent people rs those of
West Virginia, will not place their libcr-
ties in the hands of those that trampled up
on and destroyed them once They love
them too dearly, they regard them too sa-
credly. Let the military directors make
no mistakes. for | tell you, you have been
tried aud will not do, In my Judgment,
md in my fond hope, the time is at hand,
when the people will rise up and cry out
in behalf Of the "old land marks" Of lib
erty aud Justice. OBSERVER