The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-23
2. Our Washingten Letter.
zEJEaTEI =WAsHINGToNlD. Co. L.
s'iensH -llE1r7ig a.lDec. p; 1855. sl

't'H IA -ta'sAAlA' 3 Nsi4JeCs Zl3 1000 7it
Editors Ilsteltigeneer: s'-, l-s''a '.'''''
The remarks of Mr.. Stevens, in his
speech on the 18th. that the Republican
party should not be held responsible
for his doctrine of re-constructioIl, and
the waYering of Mr.. sumner yester-
day in the Senate indicate fear on their
part of a collision with the President,
and that all are not so firm, conscien-
tipus and consistent as Mr.. Dixon, who
"sIstains the policy of the President,
G5staelS'ldel'StdNdS Il, not because Ii tisIthe
,tt.resldent,s policy, but because It is
rtght. =, el These gentlemen understand
bfolty the danger, Of disorganizing the
Union party. t.by taking ground which
will be repudiated by the President and
by their being deserted by many OF
those who now lend them at least n pas
stTe supp port. They understand full
well the weakness of human nature
and the disposition with a majority OF
men to adhere to the leadership of the
highest In .authority-not SO much
through treachery toward their own
honest convictions, as through a lack of
settled opinions of their own. Old
father Greeley, who understands all
these phases of human nature so well,
was, here a few days ago to beg his
friends not to commit themselves and
the party to what the President would
disupprOve-hencet these mild and bro
ken doseS. 80
iYousee, Messrs. Editors, the purpose
oEthA leaders of the Republic partyin
reconstruction isto reconstruct SO as to
give unity and predominance to the
party for years to come. They have no
convictions Of 1ou5Ltc good, apart from
party good, hence they prefer the Con-
stitutional Amendment apportioning
representation by the voters instead OF
population, to extend suffrage to the
negroes. Mr.. Stevens remarked in his
speech on the 18th, that when this
amendment should be adopted, he did
not care whether the Southern States
gave the suffrage to the negro or not
This was side remark not reported.
Tho great fight by his wing of the
party VIII be upon this point, to keep
the Southern States out of Congress un-
til this amendment is adopted by three
lOurthS Of the States presented-claim-
ing that the Constitutional provision is
thereby satisfied. The injustice of keep
ing these States out pending these pro-
ceedings, without any reference to the
reorganization of their State govern
mentS, would produce no computations
of conscience on the part of these lead
ers-so the end was accomplished-pnr-
ty predOminance. Their principle of
action is TINT Ct'the end will justify the
mean" The majority, fresh from the
but are, comparatively speaking, but
puppets, almost:entirely subject to the
superior parliamentary tactics of these
old drill masters. You may therefore
expect some hasty, inconsiderate and
extravagant legislation by the present
Congress. A proposed amendment to
the Constitution Of the United States
yesterday passed the House, under the
operation of the previous question cut
ting off. debate, and without being
printed.
The only question which now seems
to, disturb the local political elements
is the question of negro suffrage in the
District of Columbia. The council has
ordered n special election in the Dis
trict, to take the sense of the voters on
the subject, and the feeling is pretty
well up to tho boiling point-not quite
SO high though as it will be at the first
election at which the negroes vote.
But must close. Yours, &C.,
r. T. PORTER-