The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-11-28
Rebel Attorneys In West virginia
Capitalization of Judge POIsIey.


1t will be recOllected that few days
since We copied from the Kanawha
Journal brief mention of decision
made by Judge Polsley, of the Kama
VIVA Circuit, overruling a motion of
William A. Quarter, a returned rebel
lawyer, to be re-admitted to practice at
the bar of that court. We have since
been favored with copy of the Judges
opinion in full.
1t appears that Mr.. Quarter, who
had been for many years practising
lawyer in Kanawha, abandoned his
home and profession in the Spring of
1861, and went South, obtained a
commission in the rebel army and held
it until the surrender in the Spring of
1865. He then returned to Charleston,
and seeking to reinstate himself in his
former position at the bar, took the
amnesty oath, and made the motion to
BE allowed to practice.
In the discussion of the case the law
seems TO have been thoroughly examin-
ed and the questions involved argued
deliberately by able counsel; and after
mature consideration the Judge decided
Tat by participating in the rebellion
the applicant had forfeited his office of
attorney and his right to practise the
law in the Courts Of this State.
From this opinion, which we have
read with great pleasure, it is evident
that Judge Polsley has not only
thoroughly investigated and Inaturely
considered the subject before him; but,
in the ability displayed in the. ennucia-
ton of his opinion and decision, and
the lofty patriotism that pervades it, he
has done himself great credit, and re-
elected honor on the Judiciary of our
State. rs
While we do not pretend to review
this Opinion with the technical precIs-
ion Of a lawyer, nor to express an opin-
ion on some of the matters adduced by
way of argument or illustration, yet it
seems TO us that 1t must be apparent TO
every intelligent mind that the conclu-
sion reached is n just one, and vindi-
Gates the great principles that underlIe
our system, as it is correct decision
of the important questions of law in
voIved.
No one can doubt that it is in perfect
accord with the patriotic feeling of the
loyal people of the State. How could
it be otherwise2 Shall men of this de-
gree Of intelligence, who voluntarily
lcft their homes, abandoned their bust
ness and engaged In. causeIess and
wicked attempt TO overthrow our laws,
destroy our courts and break up the
very foundations of society, now that
their efforts for evil have proved una
vailing, and their schemes for divided
and ruined country are thwarted, and
who returning to the bosom of the
communities they sought TO ruin, de-
mand, with uublushing efTrontery, i'm
mediate restoration to the responsible
official and highly honorable positions
which they abandoned in the interests
of treason and annrchy, be at once re-
invested with trusts then betrayed and
honors then contemptuously cast inside,
ns If they had not committed the high
est offence known to the law, but had
all the while demenned themselves rs
inw-nbiding and respectable citizens?
1t is represented to us that since this
decision by Judge Polsley, the rebels
nnd their sympathiZers are bonsting
that one of the Judges of the Court of
Appeals has already expressed an nd
verse opinion; but we cannot believe
without further evidence TINT any of
the Judges of that high tribunal have
10 far forgotten the responsibility of
the elevated station to which the conf
dence Of their loyal fellow citizens has
raised them, as to volunteer so hnstvun .
opinion on question involving SO
much interest Mt this time, especially
when thew must know, tim, oninion -