Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-08-13

Let u Stand BY Those Who stood by tSin
the Hour of Need.
Correspondence oths Rss'os Democrat
In connection with the Democratic Con-
gressional nomination for the First district,
some considerations have occurred to me
which beg to submit to your readers.
In the year 1870 the Democrats made
their great fight for the overthrow of Radi-
ealism in West Virginia. The trouble up
to that time had been that as rapidly as
Democratic majorities we're registered they
were scratched off, by Radical boards OF
registration. In 1870 law was passed by
Congress to enforce the Fifteenth Amend
ment. 1t provided among its remedies,
that when a voter was refused registration,
or denied a right to vote, because of race,
color, or previous condition Of servitude,
the party aggrieyed might make affidavit of
the fact before a United States COmmiS-
sioner. and it then became the duty Of the
Commissioner to issue a warrant for the
arrest of the offending registration or cleo
ton officer, and in default of bail commit
him TO prison to answer indictment before
the United States Court The penalties
upon conviction were very heavy, involving
severe fines and long terms of imprison-
onment. The Commissioners we're author
lied to appoint special marshals to execute
their warrants.
The Democrats saw that this law, entered
for the benefit of the negro, applied with
equal force to the case of white men.
Large numbers Of voters, denied registra-
ton. applied to the United States Commits
sioners for warrants against the registrars,
alleging that they were denied registration
on account of race and color, as they verify
believed had they been negroes they would
have been registered without question. The
Commissioners issued their warrants, but
so completely had Republican rule terror
lied the people of the State that 1t was dlth-
cult to secure men TO serve them and make
the arrests. This difficulty WAS at last over
come; the offending registrars were ar
rested. some of them imprisoned and all OF
them given to understand that the work of
wholesale Acknowledgement must cease.
The registration system was totally parsl-
wed; the Democrats cast their majority and
carried the State. That was the end OF the
registration law, and of all the outrages
that followed in its train.
Probably the most fearless and efficient
Of the men who at great personal RISKS ac-
cepted appointments at the hands Of United
States Commissioners for the service OF
warrants was young Marshall /. Frame,
then of Braxton. He made his arrests IN
aided and carried his men to prison. No
threats could deter him; no argument or ap-
peal moved him. He felt his duty 10 be
one on which the salvation of his peorle
largely depended. He performed that duty
noblv, manfully, triumphantly. To him
and to men like him, the Democracy of
West Virginia owe lasting debt of graft
tude
Years and events have made Mr. Frame
a prominent man in public thought. He is,
in q special sense, a representative of the
Democratic idea Of government of the peo-
pie, by the people for the people. Coming
from humble conditions, he has battled his
own way through life, owing nothing to for
tune nothing to powerful friends, nothing
to favorable circumstances. A man of
sleEiiuR lulcSIlllt VI uutHluR CutASl' VI
clear, solid intellect, and ofunconquerable
will, he has grown in the affections of those
who know him best, and in the confidence
of the whole people, until he stands to-day
as probably the best illustration of the self.
helped, selfmade man to be found in our
State.
His Democracy, of course, is unques-
toned and UNREASONABLE. In his race for
the nomination he deserves the sympathy OF
all who believe in the promotion Of ability,
worth and selEdependenee. Should he be
nominated, he can command in the fight
for the redemption Of this district and the
success Of the general ticket the services of
as large g number Of friends, both in the dis
trict and out Of it, as any other man who
could be named.
Mr. Frame was one whose work showed
that be had no compromises to make with
Radicahsm. He was yisitant, in season
and out of season, organizing, speaking,
writing, fighting the common enemy wher-
ever and whenever ne was to be found. In
such counties as Braxton, Clay, Nicholas
and Webster bis efforts were put forth. 10
him probably more than to any other man
the Democratic party Is indebted for the
msjorities It commanded and
still commands in al that section of
country.
Let Us stand by those who stood BY US in
the hour Of need.
A DENocRAT OF 1870.