Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-04-04

slavery question were we'll illustrated In
the United SsNtsp Senate e6last Thiesday, |
according to hefspOrted debates. Tbs old |
regime of the southern BOutbous found
revivaliSt inabe person of Nc. Salisbury,
the Senator from Delaware, the same in.
dividual who was not long since arrested !!
for drunken and obstreperous conduct In
an open session of the body ofwhich he is
q member, who made a harangue showing
the divinity aud benefeence of slavery as
an Institution, aud who contended at great
length that any amendment framed BY
three-fourths Of the States declaring II
prohibited throughout the Union, would
have no force whatever, for the reason that
the "Oonstituticn was contract between
sovereign and equal States" aud could not
be so amended as to interfere With an in
stitutiOu that existed by municipal legis.
latiOu at the time of the Federal compact,
The New York Hsraid's reporter says that
"shs only effect OfMr. saulsOury's remarks
appeared to be the abandonment of seats
on the floor, aud the establishment of spec.
tators."
On the other hand We fancy that specta.
tors were somewhat astouished at the pas
sage of Senator wilkiusous amendment to
the bill providing temporary government
for the Territory Of Montana, wherever
that territory ISL which amendment struck
out the word white" 10 the section detin-
log the qualifications of voters and their
eligibility to ofloe within the territory. The
amspdmept passed the Senate by vote Of
% 10 ii.
The New York ZFi6uRe congrntulates the
Senate on their action in this matter, as
being a step ia the right direction. We
doubt it, This thug of attempting to e <
the status of the negro thus prema,urely,
as it be is to have 10 friends by aud by,
argues a lack OF faith either in the uesro's
capAbility or else in the white mans re,
cognitiOu of it in the future, Humanity
is not dying out in the world Oa the
contrary tits on the increase. RatiOnality
and sObFissy of judgement teach US that
the future of the negro lie to large extent
10 his own hands. The race is not to be
dealt with as hot house plant, and hur-
risd forward to place in the body polite
for which it has NO recognized or demon
strated capacities.
1t is both injustice to the negto and our
own present surroundings to, iuaugurare
such legislation. Something is due TO the
prejudtces of the country in this matter,
for they do not exist without Foundation.
1t is presumiug upon the pAusnt patriotism
of those who have smothered or buried ali
party sympathies AID ali sectional. associa
tons 10 this war, TO thus crowd aofupt
negro legislation upon them. !. We do not
regard it as at all credita6le either to the
ssgaetty or patriotism of the Senate to
pass such euaetments. II the negro shall
quit himself like man in this war, a
thing he has yet to do, and give proof that
be has even latent aud ordinary adapta,
bility for the franchises of citlzeuship, we
may depend upon it that either we our.
selves or those who In good time shall
fellow u.s. will do bin justice. The couu.
Try, with remarkable unity, has concuEred
10 what has been done in his behalf SO far
Give him a chance to show what be is. ha,
been the prevalent sentiment of loyal men
he has not yet shown anything whereby 8
public judgement has been, or can be, mad,
up. Very grave doubts existas to whether
be will fulfill the public hopes. If h,
does not fulfill them all attempts to eftbel
heroizs or equalize him will be abortiye,-
There will be reVulsiOu 10 public seuti
ment that will carry him down to bis level
and along with him all the qnackcry tba
is attempted in his behalf The danger Il
that popular opinion will become disguised
and disiutegrated by these seeming effort,
to forestall its future judgment, and thu!
not only the military but political situa.
ton, or both, for they are but one now
become very much endangered. We cal
such legislatiOu tritiiug-yery teprehensi
BILE trifiiug-with the Interests of IN,
country. 1t is giving to the enemy in on,
front, and his allies in our rear, club tina
both will not fail to use With damapiD,
effect. How men with earnest aud com
Prehensive views of our present troubles
can permit themselves to fractionize nuc
partisanizs the much needed cooperation
oftbe whole UnfoR sentiment of the cOun,
try in such way is more than we can ap,
preciate.
r.
Ths-P"rkersburg Convention.
We notice in the last MorgautOWn Pos
the nroceedinvs NJ . -,