Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-10-13
THE RECORD.

When candidates present themselves for the
suffrages of the people, two well known and
universally accepted rules by which to deter
mine their worthiness have been adopted
The first is, if they have been in public life, to
examine the record they have made in their
past career; and the second is, should they not
before have enjoyed the public confidence, to
consider their character, their past political
associations, and pledges, based upon these for
future conduct in reference to the subjects
which affect the popular interests and upon
which, if elected, they will have power to act
In this canvass the fitness of one of the cam
didates will be judged by the first rule to
which attention has been called. Mr.. GEORGE
KooNoE has been in public life and has, there
fore, record by which tits proper the voters
of the county should examine his pretensious
to their confidence and support He was
member of the House of Delegates of West
Virginia, which assembled at Wheeling ON
the 18th day of January, 1865. The Journal
of proceedings of that body Is now before us.
The first important measure of that session,
with which his name appears to be associated.
is recorded on page 10S of the Journal, and
its history is set forth in these words:
HOUSE Bill No. 80, . Bill to prevent the
prosecution of suits and the suing cut Of pro-
cess by persons engaged in rebellion. was read
third time. Mr.. Downey moved to lay the
bill on the table, but the motion was not agreed
to. The bill passed-among those voting for
It's passage we find the. name of GEORGE
KOONCE.
It it is needless to say anything further of
this bill, than that it was known as the
'Suitors Test OATH" Acts of 1865, chapter
10, page 66, without the taking of which no
mi nnf1lH ho T \
PENDANT in court of West Virginia. It de-
MED all the remedies of the courts to those
who had sympathy with or gave countenance
to the rebellion
The next measure with which we find the
same name connected, is with proposed Com
stitutional Amendment, which will be found
on page 40 of the same Journal It is in
these words:
'But no person who has given or shall give
voluntary aid or assistance to the rebellion
against the United States or the rebel govern
ment of any State, shall be citizen of this
State, or be allowed to voteat any election held
therein, unles he has volunteered in the
military service of the United States prior to
the 10th of February, 1865, and has been Or
shall be honorably discharged therfrom"
Upon this amendment the yeas and nays
are also recorded, and we again find voting
Yea-the name of GEORGE KOONCE.
In substance this amendment became a
part of the Constitution of West Virginia, by
an amendment which took place ON the Gath
day of May, 1866.
Mr.. koonce, it will be recollected, was
transferred from the House of Delegates to
the Senate of West Virginia. In that Branch
of the Legislature we see that bill was
pending (see page 142 of the JournaO 90 a.
mend tho Registration Law, the object being
20 abolish disfrancnisement of the existing
law, when q motion was made to indefinitely
postpone the proposed amending bill. On
this the yeas and nays were called, and among
those voting for the indefinite postponement,
which by parliamentary usage is equivalent
TO defeat of the measure; we again find the
name of GEORGE KOONCE.
A Joint Resolution to change by amend
ment the Constitution of the State was read
in the Senate on the 23d day of February,
1870. 1t provides that the ':male citizens of
the state shall be entitled TO vote at all cleo
lions" &c. On page 1853 of the State Jour-
nal it will be found that Mr. Young moved
to strike out the word male. and in favor of
this motion Sena,or kOONE is recorded.
We give him Che benefit of whatever credit
attaches to the attempt to introduce woman
suffrage in the state of West Virginia.
We have thus at random culled few of the
beauties of legislation to be found, as the law
yers say Passtns-in the statute books and
journals Of legislative proceedings in the early
days of the Mountain State. 1t seems that
some of those who were prominently engaged
in making up that history feel themselves en-
titled again to the confidence which is sup
posed to exist between representative consti-
tuency. Probably they may be gatifed.
There is no telling to what extent deep sense
of gratitude to faithful public servants will
sometimes lead the masses.
ONE WHO Knows.
A Secret Circular of the Radicals.