The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1871-07-27
To tho Voters Of Mason County.

| ueWtcWeH'--ln NY lHst communication
published sometime ago, | called your at
tenton to the vague and indefinite proyis.
ions Of the constitution in relation to gill.
ing vacancies in State Offices, and asserted
that there never had been an election held
to fill the vacancy CT Judgship in this
State, bat that all filing Of vacancies had
been by the one man election, executive
appointments. and that no appointments
had been made but from the bitterest class
Of proscripiOnists. | now propose to call
your attention to another part of the con-
tstitution and tho practice under il, to show
you that ii has been q mere nose Of wax
in the hands OF tho Radical leaders. -
Township officers were to be elected annu.
ally, consequently they would hold Office
for but one year, and by the act Of Nov.
18th, 1868, sec. "the annual election
shall be held on the fourth Thursday Of
April, 1864, and the same day in every
subsequent year" So that those elected
in 1864 would 20 out Of Office the fourth
Thursday in April, 1865. The war had
now ended, and on the 2Sth day Of Fcbru.
airy, 1866, law was passed changing the
election from the fourth Thursday in April
to tho fourth Thursday in May, thus elon-
eating the term Of all township officers
from twelve to thirteen months and at the
same time applying The iron-clad test oath
to the judges Of the township elections for
the first time. The circuit judges were
elected for six years to DO counted from
the lstof January, 1868, consequently
their terms expired on the lst'of January,
1869, and their successors we're to be cleo
ted OF tho October election in 1868. The
Governor was also to be elected that elect
ion and SO were the Congressman. The
Conservative party by this time began TO
make head, and; a little alarmed the lead
ing and aspiring Radicals. Fellow.citi,
zens what do you think that they done with
the constitution? Under this constitution
on the Sd day Of March, 1868, they pass
ed law changing again the annual elect
ion Of the township officers from May to
October, thereby again elongatiug tho
terms Of the township officers from one
year to one year and FIVE months. This
conduct so far as | could learn was unno-
ticed by the press Of this State, with one
single solitary exception, and that except
ion is locatable in Mason county. But it
is supposed that it was not merely to give
their understrappers and strikers little
longer lease Of power--the Spring election
against them in some counties, and in some
few townships in counties hopelessly Rad
ical, might bave made difference, for the
Radical majority was then diminishing
with, to them, alarming rapidity. Think,
my fellow. citizens, that the reason was
that they were afraid that some of their
judicial tools might be beaten. Twas told
at the time by o member Of the Lcgisla-
tare that this motive somehow leaked out
and that her Honor Of the now eighth
circuit was quite uneasy as to his re.elect-
ion. But Judges, the State ticket, Con-
grcssmen, the county ticket, and the town
ship ticket, were all brought together at
one election to help each other, and there
is but little doubt but that this conglomer-
alton Of partizans and partizan interest Of
Judicial and political, and police, and ed
ucationa interests, had the effect desired
and intended.
Fcllow-citizens, doyou think thata con-
stitution that admits Of frightening and
shortening terms Of Office to suit the pur-
poses Of a dominant party, l care not
which party is uppermost, commends itself
to your APPROVAL Do you think that a
constitution that allows changes in the
days of elections to suit tho exigencies Of
party wise or a fair instrument? Doyou
approve of an instrument that can be tor
tured into right to precipi,ato upon q
judicial election all the feelings, passions,
and hatreds Of a bitter political struggle?
Remember, that the fair administration
Of justice is Of vast Importance to all par.
ties-to all men-at all times, and under
all circumstances, and how to get men on
the bench; free from partizau feeling as
possible is greatdesidcratum. The pres.
nnt modes Of annnintmnnt nrn hnt ihrnn.