Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-06-15
For the Register.
LETTER FROM CHARLESTOWN.
June 4, 1872.

June 4, 1872.
Mr.. ZIrrLE-It is manifest that the
late convention which sat at Charleston
to frame new constitution for the State
Of West Virginia upon whose work the
people are to sit in Judgment on the
fourth Thursday in the coming August
failed to do their whole duty and shirk-
ed most important part, when they Re
solved to give to the people TO Sd! y!
their sovereign vote, whether the CO..
ed man shall be permitted to noia , oi.
fee in the State. 1t was cle"! .:'el'
prerogative to determine TINS qu ti ~
for as q sovereign assembly they had TO
desl with and decide all questions be-
long;ng to the organic law. TO tai! or
refns. to do this, when they so PLAINLY
had the power and throw 1t upon 'ne
people to decide, shows that they were
s;,ber afraid to so order or that they
sh;-Lsd the decision. The argument
on tbe question was pretty much on one
"a IN favor of the colored man and 1t
: olso true that the great lights Of the
Convention were arrayed on that side,
and their speeches were not answered,
nor was their logic overthrown by the
cnposition. Ii strikes me to be true,
that the Convention in so ordering went
back on It's own decisions. 1t struck
dec:sively and boldly and am free to
say wisely too, at what is termed class
or special legislation, and yet by its
course, it would favor or establish this
very kind of legislation. For if the col
ored man be citizen of the country,
lsnd it is too late in the day to deny
this, for he is SO made by the Constitu-
tional amendments, ratified by power
from which there is no appeal, the
sword,) to debar him citizens rights, is
TO discriminate against him rs a citizen,
which is manifeStly class and special
in its nature, which this very Conven-
ton sought to prevent. Idiocy, felony,
etc, are universally regarded as suffi-
cient impediments TO vote, and are so
fixed, but all citizens of sound mind and
without the faint of felonious crime,
stand equally before the law and any act
of legislation to take from them their
magma charta right is wrong and must
fail when properly tested before the
great tribunals of justice in the country.
have always regarded legislation that
Disseminated against ministers of the
Gospel, debarring them from holding
civil office was of this class and could
not be predicated on righteous princi-
ples, that is such as are embodied in the
organic law. 1t would have been far
better for the Convention to have deter
mined this question itself, i'll the exer-
else of its sovereign right and not have
imperiled the final passage of the Con
stitution, which it does, forcing the solid
antagonism OF the negro voters and
their abettors think the Convention
scted wisely in determining the ballot
system of voting rerSu: the viUd Uoce
one. The former being the one univer-
sally praoticedi in the States of the union.
Notwithstanding certain wisc-acres slur
it as the SNEAK vote way" an nd cup
tundunl style of dcnunciation, when ar
gulnent is not in hand or head.
The political conspirators of this To-
calitv are somewhat sore from the sum
mary manner Ia when 1ne 1 'tAeisoHS
Convention ignored tn claims OF the
eastern Panhandle 1t does seem hard
treatment Indeed that so large portion
of the State, possessing so much talent
and making SO large part Of the tax
paving element, should have been com
plctely thrown overheard The "Spir-
it." which claims to be the "organ OF
the Democracy and simon pure paper
of that ilk par excellence, is rampant
souints at bolting-threatens generally,
and even throws bait to the JacObites,
intimating a union with such wing to
defeat the Parkersburg ticket. Well :!
have only to say blessed are those who
don't expect much for they shall not be
disappointed, and you might advise
YOUR neighbor confrere to submit pa
tiently for it is a recognized dogma of
the democracy that the majority rules.
We are having to day those beautiful
and bountiful rains so long wished and
uravod for-man, beast, and herb are
made glad thereby. 1t is enough to
make the disappointed politician feel in
good humor How good and faithful
kind Providence is ? Do you connect
our fasts and prayers with these refresh
ing showers Why not Are we not
taught to ask or pray for what we want
or needi And ii We do so in faith be-
lieving, the promise of fulillment is
made us, Yes, when the great necessl-
" is upon us as it has been, let us fast
and pray, for this We are taught to do,
and the great Father, the giver of every
good and perfect gift, will assuredly
hear and answer. We have so little Of
the exercise of these christian virtues
that bring us as people i'll close prox-
unity to our Father God, and make us
feel and own our entire dependence up
on Him. The meeting in the Presby-
terrain Church to which | adverted in
nv last was held-a large congregation
gathered and the exercises were very
impressive and 10 the BOTTLES of Hea-
ven are unstopped' and the thirsty
earth is replenished. La's Dec.
The ladies' of the VI. L. Church South
here. will hold on this Tuesday and
Wednesday evenings Strawberry Fes
tival. to raise funds to assist in paying
for the contemplated improvements to
their Church building.
Mr.. little, what creature IS woman!
WHIT - ,,or+ sha ,lavS in the affairs OF