Year: 1866

to contribute something, however snaA
it NAV be. to the public good and, as
have the Registration law before me-
have determined to write short article
on that subject Iwould refer to the edi'
torial of the Wheeling REGISTER, OF the
18th instant, re printed in your last pa
per, and commend it TO the pernsal OF
every citizen, as the object of that edlto'
rial is identical with the object of this
communication.


l we'll know it is an established
rule, that only those acts Of the Legisla'
ture which DO not infringe upon the
Constitution and law are OF any binding
force, and that the test oath, so-called,
and, of course, the present Regis
tration bill are clear infraction OF the
Constitution. And it is the duty OF every
good citizen to support the lar, which
in the matter in hand is the Constltu-
ton. and not the unauthorized, or 1t may
be. the forbidden act Of the Legislature.
The Constitution being the highest law
in the land, the distinction between the
la,C and an act Of the Legislature is very
perceptlble, though there should be none
If we lived in other and better times, 1t
would be we'll TO disregard this act; but
the whole power of our Governor, and
ALI his minions, is brought to bear
in the enforcement of these acts, which
they are pleased, most UNHAPPY, to call
law; and their motive seems to bo to
retain themselves and what is called
the Radical party, in power Ia TINS
State.


Now, as the matter stands, it ia pretty
clear, right or wrong, that no one can
vote at any election unless he shall have
been registered beforehand by the Reg
istrar of his township. And the ques-
tion is, shall we give up the country to
the radicals who will lead US, God only
knows where, if left TO themselves or
shall we take such steps as are In our
power to redeem our State, ourselves,
and our neighbors and friends from the
present thraldom


On the fourth Thursday in May next,
we have to elect Supervisors OF the
County Inspectors of elections, ana ofher
township officers, besides to vote on the
Constitutional Amendment, by which 1t
is proposed to disfranchise nearly one.
half of the voters of the State, the con
sequence of which will be that some oi
the very best citizens OF our state VIII
seek their homes elsewhere, whilst TINS
same Legislature appropriated hundreds
and thousands Of dollars TO invite aud
induce the offscourings Of Germany TO
come and settle among us. Inc super
visors and Inspectors are very important,
as they will have, in great degree, the
control of ouTelectiOns for the next year,
and elections are at the foundation OF
our government Get them right, and
all will 90 we'll if wrong, the tendency
is to the devil and destruction And on
the fourth Thursday in October next We
will have to elect two Senators, one
Delegate, our Judge, Sheriff, and other
county officers. You see, then, it is
highly important, ii not imperative
duty upon all those who wish we'll
to their county To be registered, If pos
BILE, and to vote. A majority decides
one vote often turns the election, and
every man should feel that the response
bility is on him if he fails to perform
his dutyin regard to this matter. would
therefore feryently urge every citizen
to go to the Registrar Immediately
and be registered 1t must be done at
least ten days before the election, or it
will be too late know that many who
can couscentiously take the test oath
will not DO so from mere prejudice.
They are afraid others will laugh at
them, or that it is unpopular but men
should be true men, and disregard such
considerations when duty calls | am
glad to see that prejudices on this sub
iect are wearing out, and there are many
who will take the oath now who spurned
it nine or six months ago. But l now
wish to proceed to examine this oath as
modified last winter. Ii will be found
at large published in the editorial of the
WHEELING REGISTER above referred to.
| will explain its import and consider
who NAV be required 10 take it under
the Registration Act The act Of Feb.
ruary %, 1865, in relation to the test
cath, is repealed by the Registration Act
of last winter, and the latter provides in
section 3: That a Registrar shall be ap


pointed for each township, and that he
shall forthwith, on notice of his appoint
ment, proceed to register all the quail
fed voters of his township, and shall
have such registration completed on or
before the 10th day Of May, 1866 Gas
ameHded), and it shall be the duty of
the Registrar 10 sit at some convenient
place in his township, on Friday and Sat
urday OF every week, from the first
Thursday in August to the the third Sat
urday of September, exclusive, for the
purpose of amending and correcting
said registration. He shall give notice
of the time and place of sitting at least


ten days previous thereto, by posting
printed notices in ten of the most public
places of his township or district, and
| the county board may publish the no
tices in a newspaper if there be one IN
such county.


Section 9Th provides that a voter
may have his name registered AT
any time after the 18th of April next,
but not less than ten days before the
election at which such person may de-


sire to vote, by his application 10 the


proper officer.


Section Sd provides Before any Reg
istrar shall register the name OF


any person as qualified voter


except as hereinafter provided (that


is except as provided for in the


5th section, before Tecited) "ht


shall be satisfied of his qualifications as


heretofore provided by law" lthat is
the Registrar shall he satisfied liz


is a white male citizen of the State who
| has resided in the State twelve mouths