The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-10-04
The Republican Party and Its
Record in the
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,
The Connection of Edwin Max.
well, Fusion Candidate for
Governor,w with Proscrip-
tive Legislation and
Test Oath Laws.
NONONGALIANS READ THIS!

in all their antecedents, the Repub-
lican party is to be restored to
power in West Virginia. The pur-
pose is boldly avowed to secure
this change by the most question
able means; it is further asserted
that this change is to carry with it
an apology to the Republican party
for its exclusion from power since
1870, and an endorsement, through
the election of its nominee for Gov
ernor, of all that it did or tried to
do when in power in this State:
There is no better way of judg
ing this party than by considering
what it did the last time it had a
chance to do anything. The years
Of Republican rule in West Vir-
ginia were years of intolerance, pro-
scription, and hate; they were years
of diminishing population, anguish
ing commerce, and tagging ma
terial, intellectual and political de-
velopment. That party, when the
war closed, threw its influence in
favor of prolonging the strife. 1t
denied to thousands Of our people
voice in their own affairs, deprived
them of the ordinary rights Of citi-
zenship, excluding them from the
polls and from the practice Of their
professions; heaped all the burdens
of government upon them and de-
| MED them its benefits and its bless
ings.
To fasten and rivit their political
chains upon a large class of our
people that party finally determined
to incorporate the gospel of hate
into the organic law of the State.
1t therefore devised the following
amendment to the Constitution: .
THE DISFRANCHISING AMENDMENT.
"No person, who since the first
day of June, 1861, has given, or
shall give, voluntary aid or assist
ance to the rebellion against the
United States, shall be citizen of
this State or be allowed to vote at
any election held therein, unless he
has volunteered into the military or
naval service of the United States
and has been or shall be honorably
discharged therefrom.
Here was proposition to curse
where the government had forgiven;
to prevent the healing of the
wounds of the war, and to make
fully one-third of our people aliens
amid the scenes of their childhood
and in the land of their birth. This
remorseless measure was reported
to the West Virginia Senate in
1865. and advocated there by voice
and vote, carried though that body,
supported again 1866 in the Legis-
lature and before the people, as his
special pet production, by Hon.
Edwin Maxwell, the Republican
candidate for Governor Of the State
of West Virginia. The following
summary of his conrse on the Dis
franchising Amendment has been
carefully prepared from the record
and is now submitted for the con-
sideration of the State.
REPORTING THE MEASURE.
AS chairman Of the judiciary
committee of the State of West
Virginia, Mr.. Maxwell reported to
that body the DISTINGUISHING amend
ment, February 9Th, 1865. See
Senate Journal GO, page 81. 1t was
recommitted and promptly reported
back by Mr.. Maxwell; see page
70, Senate Journal. Its phraseology
was amended on his motion; see
page II, Senate Journal. 1t was
passed February II, Mr.. Maxwell
voting aye; see Senate Journal,
page 70.
The House of Delegates passed
substitute to which the Senate
disagreed, and Mr. Maxwell as the
patron of the measure was appoint
ed to announce the Senate's action
to the House. See page 10Y,
Senate Journal 1865. The house
adhered to its substitute. Mr..
Maxwell, as the patron of the
measure, moved that the Senate
insist on its disagreement. The
motion prevailed. See page III,
Senate Journal. A committee of
conference was appointed. Mr.
Maxwell as the patron of the meas
ure was appointed first of the con-
ferees with Mr.. Atkinson second,
on the part ofthe Senate. The COM
mittee report was disagreed to; a
second conference committee was
appointed. Mr.. Maxwell, as the
patron of the measure, was APP
pointed first Of the conferees on the
part Of the Senate, with Mr.. Farms
worth second. This committee
reported an amendment SO as to
fix the first day Of June, 1861, as
the date from which the amendment
should operate. 1t was then passed,
Mr.. Maxwell, Of course, voting
aye. See page II4-I24, Senate
Journal. Under the Constitution
as it then stood an amendment had
to be passed upon by two succeed
ing Legislatures. The resolution
providing for the second ratification