The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-21
N.
The Mode OF votinE--Proposition to
Disqualiry Negroes from Holding
Omce-Able Debate Thereon.
Special Correspondence ofthe Register.l

CHARLESTON, March 16.
We have had during the past two
days the most interesting exciting, elo-
quent and able debate that has yet
occurred in the Convention. and, as 1t
is likely to create much comment and
the result arrived at will probably exert
a good deal ofinfluence upon political
affairs in the State, I send you tolera-
bly, full report Of the principal speech es
on each side Of the question at issue.
As | stated in q FORMER letter. motion
was made by Mr.. Basel, of Harrison,
to insert the word white" in the Con-
stitution among the qualifications rem
dering the citizen eligible to office.
This was the opening of the Pandora's
box that produced all the trouble.
But before proceeding further with
tina. subject, l must mention the
amendment that was effected in the
clause of the Constitution relating to
the method Of voting and, having I'M
burdened my mind on that topic, | can
then give you the history Of the big
fight that ensued over what one OF the
members of the Convention styled IAN
effort to keep an imaginary negro out
Of ~ pothetical Office"
On Friday morning, that section Of
the third article OF the Constitution
which requires the mode OF voting to be
by ballot being under consideration. Mr..
Mof1ett, of Pocahontas, moved to strike
out the word ballot and insert viva vOce.
After some debate, a vote was taken
and resulted in 90 ayes and Sc noes.
Mr.. Hoge then moved to amend the
section by adding to it the words "but
no law shall be enacted requiring the
ballots 10 be sealed or secret" This
being submitted without discussion and
without calling the ayes and noes, and
being probably misunderstood by some
of the members, was decided to be
adopted. Mr.. Warth then wanted the
section further amended so as to require
the voter to put his name on the back
of his ticket; this was rejected, and Mr.
HAMMOND moved to amend the section
by adding to it, But the voter shall be
LETT free to vote by either open, sealed
or secret ballot as he may elect" The
vote by which Mr.. Hoge's amendment
had been adopted was then reconsider
ed, and Mr.. Haymonds substituted in
its stead, and the section was finally
adopted in that shape. 1t provides,
therefore, that the mode Of voting shall
be by ballot, but the voter is left free to
make it either open or secret as he may
choose, and the Legislature has no
power to declare that it shall be either
one way or the other. This will proba-
bly, be acceptable to both the ballot
men and the viva voce men and no sep
arate provision relating to the manner
of voting is now likely to be submitted
to the people.
During the discussion upon this sub
ject Mr.. Pannell, of Wheeling, made
one OF the most effective speeches that
was delivered in favor OF the ballot
system. 1t was short, emphatic and
directly to the point. He preferred the
language Of the present Constitution in
relation to the subject and feared that
the proposed change might have bad
effect and lead 10 some undue influence
or intimidation being brought to bear
upon the voter. He declared that, had
it not been for the ballot system. the
city of Wheeling and the State OF West
Virginia would still be in the hands Of
the "abolitionists" The people OF the
rural districts could not understand as
those of the manu- featuring city did, the
extent TO which the intimidation OF
voters might be carried under the old
vica vocs system, and he hoped that the
Convention would make no change in
the provision in the present Costitution
concerning the method Of voting.
Both Mr.. Pannell and Mr.. Daven-
port were highly complimented by Mr..
Woods, who is chairman of the Com
mittee on Bill of Rights and Elections,
for the earnestness with which they
have insisted upon the retention OF the
ballot and acknowledged himself inf1u-
enced to some extent by their preseuts-
ton of the subject.
The word white" is the most trouble
some word in the English language to
American politics. Somebody is con-
tinually putting it in places where it
raises a row, and others spend their
lives in constant effort to take it out,
throw it away, punch its head and
exterminate it if possible. 1t has con-
vulsed the whole nation and it threw the
Constitutional Convention into singular
fits this week. On last Wednesday, the
Convention had under consideration the
report of the Committee of the Whole
on the article of the Constitution relat-
ing to Elections. The report provides
that ANY citizen entitled to vote, may
be elected or appointed to any office"
Mr.. Basel moved to amend the report
by inserting the word white" between
ANY" and Citizen" Some debate
occurred, of which mention has been
made in a former letter, and, on Thurs
day morning, by general consent the
further consideration OF the subject was
postponed for the present The PROPOSE
ton was almost universally regarded as
an exceedingly unfortunate and lily
considered one, and most of the
members regretted its introduction. 1t
was looked upon as disturbing element
to the harmony Of the Convention; as
likely to develop an unfortunate division
of sentiment among the Democratic
members OF the Convention; as &C
complishing no practical good, and as
giving rise to a very Improbable poll.
teal debate. Accordingly. thirty-five
Democratic members Of the Convention
united in a written request to Mr.. Bas.