The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-09-16
The political status OF the Rebels of
this Statc---HaVc They the Right TO

civil rights under the loyal govern
ments, from doing, through the ballot
box, what they have failed to do by
arms, until such times as they shall
have "shown fruits meet for repen-
tenee." 1t can deprive no loyal man
of his vote, but only furnishes him the
means to protect himself and govern
I ment against an unrcpentant foe, whose
malicious venom is now being disclosed
I i'll the Wtrz trial, ut Washington, and
which every act of their rebellion illus
I trates; and within Il day or two in
South Carolina, by electing the notori-
Gus Wade Hampton n delegate, and
/ then eNulting over the. defeat of loVnl
men. This is the real animus every
! whore, as well in West Virginia us in
South Carolina, and he is either a sym-
] patbizer or blind, who does not see it,
1t requires time, and that self-respect
and dignitied department on our part.
! that shall convince them that we know
our rights, and are fully determined
to maintain them and tho Gov
ernment in peace ns we have in
war; that we have upheld the Govern
mGnt against their armed assaults, and
that we can do it against their willy
Vaccinations. Let this be done with
I kindness, and mt the same time with
I proper assurance and self-reSpect. Such
! n course will i'll time fit them to become
good citizens, and as soon ms fitted, nd-
]
not before. We have been fooled
enough, bnllied enough, damaged
enough, and now are taxed enough, to
! pay for their malicious devilment, not
( To submit to more in any form. The
loyal voters Will challenge, as a general
/ thing, only such MS the public good re-
/ quires TO be challenged; and as fIlSt as
I they come To deserve, they will be re-
I stored. This is exactly the course the
I Government is now pursuing with all
rebels. 1t treats them as conquered
I public enemies everywhere, without
any rights. except what the victorious
} power chooses to give-without citizen
ship, incapable of voting, or being
elected To office, unless the Government
wills it. 1t was on this ground the
| Government set aside the recent cleo
ton at Richmond. Now, these rebels
/ have the same political status in what
ever State they may reside; only, Pres
ident johnson expressly excludes from
the benefit Of his proposed amnesty all
that left our lines and went oyer and
]. joined the rebels; and to this class be-
long most of the returned West Virgin
in rebels that Mr.. Lamb and his like
seem so desirous to have restored and
try their hand at voting.
But he says the law is unconstitu-
tional, aud seriously advises the Su-
Epervisors and inspectors throughout
the Subsequently, gentlemen not
I learned in the lnw-to disregard it, and
thereby set themselves above the Leg
islature, which is supposed. TO contain
the best legal talent and wisdom of the
State. Why, it is very seldom that a
Circuit Judge will undertake to declare
a law passed by the LegisIature uncon-
4 stitutiOnal, but obeys and refers the
question of its constitutionnlity to the
decision of the Court of Appeals.
L. 1 deny that this law is unconstitu-
! fk rsu FJaa
ed to exclude from voting until they
have repented, censed to be citizens OF
I this State and the United States, and
forfeited all civil rights when they
Joined the Rebellion, md have never
regaiped them rs the present dealings
of the GoveFnment4with them every
where fully demonstrate. On this
principle of public lnw-that citizens
when they turn traitors and public
enemies forfeit citizenship and all civil
/ lrights-the Government of Virginia
was re-organiZed, and upon that re-or.
II ganiZation the New State itself rests,
y And now these Sympathizing lawyers,
hoping doubtless to gain the Rebel
votes, welcome all such as have suryiv-
ed the terrible struggle at arms back to
the full enjoyment of their former
rights, while their hands are still red
with patriot blood. The moral sense
of the community win never submit tC
yers may spin their threads of sophis-
try, but an insulted, outraged and in
dignant people will never submit. And
they would be unworthy of their State
and her heroes, living and dead, Il
they should do it. The loyal voter
! believe has not repented, and let al
others vote. All loyal Voters vii,
cheerfully submit to take the Oath, bu
skulking Copperheads and Rebel Sym
phathizers may have qualms of con
; science. ~. 80.
West Virginia rebels hRve committee
triple trenson-againstt the United State.
) and the government of West Virginia
Who has washed them of this triple
Fguilt2 The President can only reIni
for the United States. The State o
West Virginia can only remit for tht
reorganiZed lGovernment and itself
Have either done itR Ifso, when, how
, and where? AS they are not citizen
of the United States, but conquered
public enemies, they are not citizen
of the State of f6p West Virginia
) and, therefore, not voters. The Con
= vention that reorgani2ed tho GoVcrn
; ment in. '6l, by solemn, ordinance de
; clnred all such as adhered to, and sup
= ported the Convention at Richmond o
; the so-called Confederate Sthtes, or pro
2 fesSed TO owe allegiance, or obedienc
10 etlhef, declared Them to DC subject
! or citizens of,a foreign State or powe
6 at war with the UniIed States. and lnu
e rthorized the Governor TO lrresti AM
g cnmpel them to depart from the. State
and this was an afIirmatfon'o of law @
! Nirginians old as the State itself. An
o even if the President had the power
J. and had, since the war ended, mad
n them citizens of the United States, stil
I they would have to reside in this Slut
|, n year thereafter, before they iwOuld
q entitled to vote ll'i i'a li--..-.7i-i
: H., Now it is mnde the express duty {
!. the Supervisors and Inspectors to as
:, certain and decide who are qualife
I, voters, and to determine tho fact, nj
q authoFized TO examine the person offel
! ing to vote upon his oath in respect I
e MS citizenship, residence, age, an
= other fncts connected with his qualif
Z Gallon. See acts OF the legislature ls6
q page 1l9, chap. 100, sec, g, s24.. NObOd
l. Will doubt but tthislaw isconktltutiona
o Nor would there be any doubtful tt
n islature had prescfib fibed certain que
donsto be propounde and answereC
g instead of leaving the framing of thes
tl4 questiOnB' to the Supervisors and II
SnapfOra Nor would fHaSfa '1ia y d N