The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-11

see how that is. Is it four altogether,
or four on each side? Aud 'if so, how
many7" -Four avenues, on all sides"
read one way would be four. Read an
other way it would be four multiplied
by the number Of sides to the park"
But then, again, whether the avenues
run on all sides, or whether the angles
only are on all sides and the avenues
somewhere else, we can't quite make
out. How would it do to dispense with
avenues altogether and have streets,
and have tho angles off in one end of
the town by themselves. We're afraid,
under the right angle avenue arrange
ment, the two railroads never would be
able oget through the "city." We take
the liberty of suggesting, also, that great
caution ought to be observed to prevent
collision when West Virginia Central
and Monongahela Railroads make the
junction.
Protection 10 COIOred Men In West
VIrEinIR.
We copy the following timely sugges-
tons from the lastClarlxsburg Telegraph
and fully concur in their sentiment and
purpose:
Among other matters, it Will be ne
cessary for our Legislature nj its APP
preaching session to legislate upon the
negro IA little. He is now free and en-
titled 10 the rights of properly and the
fruits his labor the same as the white
nnn, and in order 10 enable him to
maintain his rights it is necessary that
he should be allowed to testify in our
courts of justice.
There is no danger ofthe rights of the
white race being invaded by according
to the negroes this simple act of Justice
In several of the States the broadesi
latitude il given TO evidence; all the
purtieS concerned III IL case being per.
Initted To testify, and the correctness oil
the testimony left for the judge and
jury to determine, who in fact deter
mine i'll all cases.
Let our Legislature enact a law that
Will permit the negro To defend and
maintain his just rights. 1t is unneces-
sary to nurse old preJudices and "keep
them warm" for the African is free and
It would be- unjust 10 keep him fetter-
ed with disabilities that would throw
him upon the tender mercies of those
who would take advantage OF iscondi-
ton.
We believe there Is no further legis-
latiOn upon the African needed. The
constitution depriveS him of exercising
the privilege of the elective franchise,
and consequently there can be no legis-
mtiOn on that subject, and If there
could, there is no necessity for 1t. The
negro can get along well enough, II he
is made secure in his rights OF prop
crty. 1t is not the time to agitate the
question of NEGRO suffrage"
In some parts of the State there has
been considerable immigration of coll
ored lnborers from the Valley and
southern part of Virginia, and the uni
versal testimony of those who employ
them is that they are not only first class
"hnnds," but uneXceptionnble citizens.
Said an Intelligent gentleman from the
interior to us n few days since, speak
ing of this very subject: II have one
of these Dixie boys from the Valley
working for me, and do say that for
handling team, and for every kind OF
work about farm, he is the best hand
1 ever had" a neighbor of the same
gentleman has one ON his farm, and is
equally unqualified in praising his
good qualities. OF all things else in
West Virginia, we need labor; we want
men who are willing to work, whether
the Almighty has given them white
skins or dark ones. These refugees
Checrfully take their places as lahorers
wherever there is labor for them to do:
and If they perform the work the COM
munity so much needs, let them be
paid. Every human creature has the
inaliennble right to the products of his
1uNN
ali their lives been denied this right,
cannot reasonably be expected to be
industrious and useful men unless they
have the security of just laws, that the
wages for which they stipulate 10 labor
will be paid. There are plenty of white
scoundrels, having hearts blacker than
the skins of these unprotected negroes,
who as the law now is, take advantage
OF their helpless condition to cheat them
out of their wages when earned.
Justice and sound policy go to-
gether in this matter. If we en-
courage this class of persons to be
energetic and Industrious, by assur-
ing them of the fruits ofthelr industry,
they will constitute an element of pros
perity and strength. If we do not we
may expect that they will be vasabonds.
Even as it is now, there are relatively
fewer black vRgabonds among us than
white ones, although the latter possess
every advantage with which absolute
equality before the law can endow them.
Besides, let us consider that these
freedmen are now citizens of the United
States. Our Constitution declares that
citizens OF tho United States are citizens
OF the State if they reside in it. As such
they have the same rights here as white
citizens. One of those rights is protec-
ton in the enjoyment of the fruits of
honest labor-the right to enforce con-
tracts and to testify in the courts of JUS
tice. Even the States that have been in
rebellion are conceding these rights
How long will West Virginia deny
them.
As to the privilege of suffrage, we do
not say that itoughtnow to be conferred
upon colored citizens. We have for
SOME time deemed that this privilege is
leId too cheap, and are rather for cir
than extending it. There