The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1871-04-27
Prom The wheeling Iutslligoaecr, ]
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Election.

Il
be called on to declare ut the polls wheth-
or they will ratify or reject the pending
Amendment to the State Constitution,
popularity known ns the Flick Amend
ment. This measure has now been be-
fore the people Of tho State for considera-
ton more than two years. We presume
there are few, ifany. who co not under
stand what it proposes; yet as there may
be some who through neglect or forget
fulness arc not aware Of its precise effect.
we will cndcayor to explain in a few
words Just what the amendment is. Sec
tion Of Article III Of tile State Consti.
tuition is now as follows:
I. The rhtte male citizens Of the State
shall be entitled to vote at all elections
held within the election districts in which
they respectively reside, but no person
who is minor or Of uusound mind. or a
paupcr or who Is under conviction Of
treason felony or bribery in an election,
or who has not been resident Of the
Estate for one year. and Of the county 10
which be offers to vote for thirty days,
shall be permitted to vote while such dis
ability continues. Noperson who since the
LIST day of June, 1861, has given, or shall
give voluntary aid or assistance to thcrebel-
lion against the United States, shall be q
citizen Of this State, or be allowed to vote
ut any election therein, unless he has yolun.
tecrcd into the military or naval service of
tue United States, and been, or shall be,
honorably discharged thercfrOm.''
Tie Amendment proposes to strike
that section out aud insert in place Of
il the following:
II. The male citizens, Of the State shall
be entitled to vote at all elections held
within the election districts in which they
respectively reside; but not person who is
minor or Of unsound mind, or pauper,
or who is under conviction Of treason,
felony or bribery 10 an election or who
has not been resident Of the State for
ono year, and Of the county in which he
offers to vote for thirty days, next proceed
| ing such offer. shall be permitted to vote
while such disability continues.
The effect Of this. it will be perceived,
is to eliminate from the section as it now
stands in the constitution. helalter clause
The word ",rhits" is already virtually
stricken out, it having been rendered null
md raid by tho XVIII Amsndp,en. To- tho
Constitution Of the United States. Tue
only question in regard to that's whether
our people will recognize the national au.
thority as ''the supreme law Of the land, :"
and thereby put themselves in accord with
the cnlightend progress Of the times, or
whether they will adhere to ancient preju-
dice and defy the Constitution of the Uni
ted States by retaining discrimination in
our State Constitution which cannot be
enforced and which cannot harm the black
man but which will harm the white people
aud,the whole State. There are some persons
SO wanting in sense Of political justice, and
SO unconcious Of anything higher and
broader than their own contracted prejudice
and arrogant bigotry, that they will vote
against this amendment because it expun-
gcs the scnseless discrimination against
those who are not white" although that
discrimination long since ceased 10 have
any existence except on paper. We hope
for the credit Of the State and Of human
nature, that the number Of such persons
may prove to be small.
In regard to the elimination Of the pro-
vision denying political citizenship to per-
sons engaged in rebellion, that whole qucs-
ton has been traversed over and over
again in our columns, for two or three
years. We are satisfied, as We have
long been, that tits q judcious and ncces-
sary measure; and the public opinion Of
the state has come to be about united in
support of that view. Men Of all par
ties arc pretty well agreed upon that; and
nothing appears more certain than that the
Amendment will be ratified by good
majority.
As the question is ono Of abstract priu-
ciplc only, aud there is little to excite an
interest in the election, we may expect to
see light vote cast oil over the State. 1t
would be we'll if this could be other
wise. This measure is cminontly one Of
peace. 1t puts oil men in the State on an
equality before the law, and gives every
ono the equal voice in the government to
which the theory of our institutions Gu
titles him, aud which is necessary 10 insure
justice, harmony aud good government.
Every n.au WHO is willing to coucedc to
others tho rights be demands for himself,
will accept this measure as a complete and
enduring settlement Of all questions inyol'
wing political rights in this State; and it is
in this view of il that VIC would like to sec
the Amendment confirmed By an emphatic
vote.
The West Virginia Silver Mine,