Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-10-02

GUS provisions of the Constitution that
may be agreed upon and upon the sched-
dule" In that letter we treated them as
the trainers of the ordinance attached to the
Constitution. We quoted section l of that
ordinance, and put this question: "Does
the language of section one of the ordi-
nance above quoted relieve registrars from
taking an oath of Office, and was the Sec
ton framed with that intention ?"
This open letter was mailed to each of
the above named gentlemen IN sealed en-
velopes; and we also mailed a marked
copy of the Republican," with editorial
remarks, to Hon. w. A. Anderson, Attor-
ney. General of Virginia.
Only two made any response to our
open letter. Judge Green gave direct
answer to our question, and Colonel VIM.
Z. Cameron an evasive one. Judge Green
said: 81 am of the opinion that the Sec
ton Of the Registration ordinance quoted
by you does not require Registrars to take
an oath of Office before entering upon
their duties, and believe that such was
the intention of the Convention" We
published Judge Green's letter, and failing
to hear from the other members of the
Committee, and from the Attorney Gen
eral, who was expected to express an opin.
ion, we concluded that they all held the
same opinion as Judge Green.
We are now of opinion that section one
of the ordinance was a trick, and that
some members of the Revision Committee
and of the Convention voted for it with
out knowing its intention and import. We
know at least one who seemed to be horri-
fed when his attention was called to the
meaning and purpose of the section.
There can be no doubt as to the inten.
ton to relieve registrars from taking an
oath. The third paragraph of section'1
settles the matter. This paragraph pro-
vides for the appointment by thecourts of
men to serve as registrars in the place of
any who might decline to act after being
appointed by the Convention. The last
clause of the paragraph says; "and such
appointees shall qualify in the same man.
ner as those appointed by this ordi
nance that is without taking an oath.
The intention of the Convention was
made manifest by the fact that registrars
were Immediately informed that they
would not be required to take an oath be-
fore entering upon their duties of Office.
All these thousands of unsworn officers
have been at work in Virginia, passing
upon the most important right that be-
longs to freemen, and actually authorized
to administer oaths, to question and con-
fuse their fellow citizens by requiring them
to explain portions of the Constitution the
registrars had taken no oath to support.
OF the many disgraceful things done by
the late Constitutional Convention this liz
the mealest, and will win for it the con-
tempt of all right-thinking men in the flu
,ure. Its purpose of fraud is too apparent
% be questioned. While the registrars to
be appointed by the circuit courts after
1904 will be required to take an oath,
;hese appointees of the Convention, who
ire to make the most important regstra-
ion in our history, are turned loose TO do
ls they please. Being partisans, in most
many wrongs and crimes have
,een and will be committed; and for these
;rimes the Constitutional Convention
hould be held responsible, as it provided
he way and suggested the plan for their
N
This crime of the Convention has been
Intensified and emphasized by a recent
pinion of the Attorney General of Vir-
inia, who was member of the Revision
Committee that prepared the vicious ordi-
ance. He has decided that any two I
egistrars of any magisterial district can I
ct together at any time prior to the 10th
# October, after the regular registration
las been completed, and put the names C
# any persons who may apply upon the Y
egstration lists. What complete OPP {
this will afford dishonest regis
faFs TO pad the registration lists; and we +
gay confidently expect Inscriptions
'$iticias ton avail themselves fully of this t.
digestion.
Tn ERE was a promise made that no 81
rhite man should be DISTINGUISHED. 1t u
as a Democratic pledge. :,
RHESs party is for tariff revision and put