The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-16
CHARLESTON.
The Debate on Qualifications for
suhrage-Biography and Autobi.
ography-BuneOmbe and Balder.
dash-BrOwn and Martin lock
horns and Wiley and Ward have
n set 10.

As there is no journal Of the pro-
ceedings of the Convention during the
sitting of the same as committee OF
the Whole, l presume there is no other
way by which you can receive an &C.
count ofthe doings of the same than by
letter. The grea ter portion OF last week
was taken up by the consideration Of
the report OF the committee on Bill Of
Rights and Elections, and | must say
a great deal OF valuable time was
wasted. On Saturday last was reached
the third article Of the report, in relation
tc elections.
The first section of said article reads
as follows:
81. The male citizens Of the State
shall be entitled to vote at all elections
held within election districts in which
they respectively reside; but no person
who is a minor, or OF unsound mind, or
a pauper, or who is under conviction Of
treason, felony, or bribery in an election,
or who has not been a resident of the
State for one year, and of the county
in which he offers to vote for thirty
days next preceding such offer, shall
he permitted to vote while such disa-
bility continues"
To which Mr.. Maslin, of Hardy,
offered the following substitute
Every white male citizen OF the age
Of twenty-one years and upwards, and
such other persons as, at the time Of
offering, the Constitution OF the United
States shall authorize to vote, shall ex-
ercise the right of suffrage in this
State; provided that no person who has
not been resident Of the State for one
year and OF the county, city or town in
which he shall offer to vote for six
months next preceding an election and
who is returned, delinquent for his taxes
for the year next preceding such cleo
ton and who fails to produce receipt
for the amount for which he is so re-
turned, and no person who has been
convicted OF bribery in an election or OF
any infamous offence or who is Of I'M
sound mind or pauper, shall be
allowed to vote at any election in this
State"
The discussion substitute was par
ticipated in by Messr5. Maslin, Arm
strong and Brown in support thereof
and Messrs. Woods, Martin and Jack
son, of Wood, against it. The discus
sion became very animated, especially
between Messrs. Martin and Brown,
the former holding up the county Of
Preston Tor disparagement in regard to
its delinquent taxes. When the discus
sion had reached its highest point of
excitement, il was then noon and some
one moved that the committee rise,
which it did, and finally that the Con-
vention adjourn until Monday, which
was also done.
One would suppose that the holy Sab
bath intervening would have tendency
allay some of the bitterness of feeling
occasioned on Saturday. But not so;
it had only served to increase the ex-
citement and give others an opportu-
nifty Of charging their guns and shoot
ing them of on Monday. As soon as
the Convention had resolved itself into
committee OF the Whole Mr.. Brown
obtained the floor and commenced to
vindicate the substitute. His remarks
were interspersed with many sharp
illusions to Mr.. Martin as the poor
mans friend "buncombe speeches"
"demagoguery," &C.. &c. | may as
well say here that the debate on Satur-
day was confined principally to that
portion of the substitute in regard to
delinquent tax payers not being per-
United to vote previous TO paying their
taxes, which Mr.. Martin and Mr.. Jack
son very strongly opposed.
Mr.. Martin next obtained the floor,
and commenced to handle the gentle.
man from Preston, without gloves
He held up before the committee Mr.
Browns political record for the past
twenty years He charged him with
being a bloated bondholder, president
Of a National bank, and DESTROYS OF
depressing the poor man by a system OF
taxation in order to increase the finances
of the State, and thereby render secure
his Virginia bonds. He also charged
him with canvassing the State last tall
to defeat the call Of the Convention,
and he construed his support of the
substitute to the same effect. He also
spoke OF the first part OF the substitute
in regard to the introduction Of the
word white" and INDUCED in q con-
siderable amount Of constitutional law
concerning the Fifteenth Amendment.
After this the discussion took quite
different turn, and afforded the Hon D.
D. +. Farnsworth an opportunity to
display his loyalty and patriotism. He
was opposed TO the substitute. and was
willing that delinquent taxpayers should
vote, and would 60 farther and allow
paupers to vote. He was opposed to
ostracising any man, and that was
always his conviction, and when he had
voted any other way it was because he
thought the times demanded it. He
desired to bury the Ratchet and have
peace. Mr.. Martin was standing on
the same platform with him, and he
would not allow any man to steal his
thunder without letting him know it.
lie went into long dissertation on the
virtues OF the Republican party, and
claimed that, though the people OF
West Virginia may have taken a false
step, the sober second thought would
come to the rescue and adopt the prin-
ciples OF Republicanism, which would
be, in time, the principles OF the whole
country.
At this point the hour for recess had
arrived, and, upon the reassembling OF
the Convention, Mr.. Crisswell, OF
Moundsville, presented the following
resolution, which was laid on the
table:
"Resolvsd, as standing rule ofths COM