, 1872-09-05
The West Virginia Election.

The West Virginia Election.
Nh. EDrroR&In reading our Terri
torial papers observe that the election
which took place in West Virginia is
not properly understood; and q great
many erroneous statements are made in
relation to it. When this State was
carved out of the old State of Virginia,
during the late civil war, Constitution
was framed by minority of the people
of the territory composing the new State
This Constitution was obnoxious in
many Of its features snd prominent
among these was an article empowering
the Legislature to adopt Registration
law. The Legislature. composed al
most entirely of Republicans. did adopt
law which placed the elections virtu-
ally under the control of the Governor.
Under its operations thousands of Dem
ocrats were DISTINGUISHED, who had nev-
er in any way participated in the Rebel
lion. By its stringent provisions no
one who hal given aid or comfort to
the Rebellion could vote. 1t took away
the rights of citizens. who. when sum-
moned before the Board of Registration,
were supposed to be guilty of treason or
of sympathising with the South, and
compelled the accused to prove his own
innocence. Three men in each county,
selected invariably from the Republican
party, passed upon the right to vote and
from their decision there was no appeal.
If voters name was not placed upon
the registration books he could not
vote. Under this Infamous law the Re-
publican party controlled the elections
up to 1870. In 1869 Grant carried the
State by over 5000 majority.
There was also another objectional
feature in the old Constitution; under
it no one was citizen or could hold Of
fee unless he was white. The Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was in direct conflict with
the white clause in the State Constitu-
tion and this made q new Constitution
necessary.
In 1870 hundreds of fair minded Re-
publicans united with the Democrats in
support of the Democratic State ticket
and the result was that the State was
carried by the Democracy by majority
of about 1000. John J. Jacobs was the
Governor elected at that time. IL 1871
n Constitutional Convention was called,
after being first submitted to a vote Of
the people. The Convention elected
under this call was made up of the best
men in the State. 1t adopted liberal
Constitution; one that did away with
the distinction of color, provided foI
free school education and forbid forever
registration laws. Under its provisions
white and black, rebel and loyal, were
entitled to the same rights and privi-
leges. 1t was, in a word Constitution
of amnesty.
In 1872 the Democratic party refused
to renominate Mr.. Jacobs for Cover MOI
and nominated in his place johnson N.
Camden. Up to the time of the lueet-
ing of the Democratic Convention Mr..
Jacobs acted with that party. He failed
however to get the nomination; but took
the stump as an Independent Democrat
The Republican party made no nonlina-
ton for Governor. A few politicians
got up what was called a Peoples Inde-
pendent ticket, at the head of which
was placed Jacobs name. AS regards
National politics. both Jacobs and Cam
den are supporters of Horace Greeley.
If the new Constitution should be de-
feated none of the officers elected on the
22d of Augrst will hold office as they are
elected to hold under the new Constitu-
ton. In that event the regular State
election will take place on the 22d OF
October next.
1t is also proper to remark here that
the recent election, save the vote on the
call for the Constitutional Convention,
is the first at which rebel soldiers and
officers have been allowed to vote. In
the First Congressional District, Repub-
licans and Bourbon Democrats support
ed John j. Davis the present Democrat
ic member. who argues from the stump
the unconstitutionality of the Thirteenth
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments,
opposes both Greeley and Grant, Cam
den and the new Constitution, is luke
warm towards Jacobs and fraternizes
politically with Brick Pomeroy.
w. H. W.
T>O1ILR~EZx