Year: 1870


die. A large amount of important legis-
lation was left unfinished for want of
time. The discussions and struggles
pertaining to the Capital and registra
ton questions engaged so much at'en'
ton and occupied so many days tEat
bills of considerable moment could not
possibly be matured. Notwithstanding
the marked ability of this body, as CON-
pared with previous Legislatures, it
cannot DO said that in the business done
popular expectation has been satisfied.


When this Legislature came together
popular interest centred upon the sub
iect of registration reform. The out
RACES committed by the Boards of regis
ira'ion had been so numerous and TIA
grant, and the demand of the people fol-
reform had been so emphatic, that there
was a general confidence in a jast and
material modification of the registrs-
ton law. Why such modification was
not made, and by whom it was pre-
vented, all cur readers are aware. Tney
know that a fair and moderate bill
for the purpose was beaten in the
House by combination of the "bitter
enders,' and majority of the liberals
whom the Democrats of the State had
elected on pledges of registration re-
form. They know that the measure
upon which the two Republican wings
of the House united, measure which
was valuelsss for immediate reform and
only tolerable because it recognized the
principle of electing registrars by the
people, was defeated in the Senate
through the efforts of the "bitter end
ers." They know, in brief, that the
pledges of several members of the
"let-up" persuasion were deliberately
violated, in order to preserve the pres
ent law unaltered.


The repeal of the Test Oaths for law
yers, teachers and suitors and the adop-
tion of the FLICK amendment foIm the
so.called liberal legislation of the ses-
sion. OF the former it may be said that
having become universally obnoxious
and almost imperative, there was little
hberality in their repeal, especially as
their continuance would have over
whelmed their advocates in common
ruin. The amendment was passed in
the House by Democratic votes, and
permitted to go through the Senate in
the belief that the power of the pres
ent registration law would suffice to
prevent the election of another Legisla-
ture favorable to its adoption. Upon
these measures some of the Republicans
hope to conviLce the people OF
their liberal intentions, but as
the "bitter enders" have fought savage
ly against the amendment as part of
the Republican platform, and as the
worst and meanest of the proscriptive
measures remains untouched, there is
no reason TO believe that the people
will regard the pJlicy of the Republican
party as at all equal to the demands OF
the hour. This year, as heretofore, the
Wholesale, causeless and merciless dis
franchisement of men for opposition to
Radical ideas and Radical men will 60
on. Republican professions of liberal
ity will never be accepted while these
outrages upon the right of suffrage are
continued and upheld.


In one particular the Radicals will be
at fearful disadvantage in the coming
campaign. The House of Delegates, by
uuseating PUTNAM, of Nicholas, and
awarding the seat to Mr.. RAIDER, has
officially recognized the existence
of these registration frauds. That
action meant simply that the
registration law was being used
to defeat the will OF the legal
voters and that the House of Dele
gates could not and would not sanction
the ro}icy, so far as it applied to the
election of members of that body. Now
if it is not right ts elect a member Of
the Legislature by registration kDavery,
neither is it right to fill any other office
by the same process. That is the con-
clusicn which the record of the House
on the RAIDER case compels.


This is the last Legislature that will
hold its sessions in this city, at least
for some time to come. Had it been so
ordered we would have been glad to
welcome the lawmakers of the
State to our midst for many years.
As this cannot be, we can only
express tho hope that in the place
of its future sessions, the Legislature
may find friends as warm aud we'll
wishers as sincere as the citizens of
Wheeling to whom it bids adieu.