The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-06-23
The sn,elligeneer VS.. Mr. Lincoln.

portion or the people, would have excited
only derision and disgust. One year ago
the man who would say that any consid
cradle portion of the people of the Uni
ted States would ever incline to invest
the enancipated slaves on Southern plan
tations with the highest privilege OF citl-
zenship would have been looked upon as
a mailman and his prophecy laughed to
scorn. We remember distinctly the in
credulous smile with which, less than
three months ago, prominent Republi-
can politician in Pennsylvania, IN con-
versation with u.s. received the remark
that the doctrine of negro suffrage would
probably he an issue in next falls polltl-
cal campaign. He did not believe 1t,
neither did we ourselves think that the
question would be as rapidly developed
as If has been Already it has received
the endorsement of the leaders and Is re-
coguized as a distinctive feature OF the
Republican party. But the course OF
that party has already been marked by
so many Inconsistencies and so rapid have
been its changes of position, and so little
regard does it pay to its platform OF prin-
ciples when they have become nine days
old, that its vacillations have become no
torions and it is useless to found an argu-
ment thereon. Some men there are who
have regular and we'll settled belief
whose political opinions are based upon
the constitution of he United States and
fortified by the experience of the past
aud are as immutable as right itself; hut
these men are not found in the ranks OF
the party 10 which we have alluded.
Many of the men who supported An
DREW JOHNSON for the Vice Presidency
last fall are now bitter in their denuncia-
tons of his policy, but we hardly sup
nosed that our neighbor of the IntelHgen-
,sy would soon be found in the ranks OF
the opposition There are material inter
es,s which we supposed would keep hlm
loyal to the administration and check
whatever hayward fancies he might be
tempted, by force OF habit, to entertain.
hunce we were not surprised to see HIM
remain discreetly quiet while the ques-
tiou of negro suffrage was beng thrust
prominently before the public mind and
the President was boldly planting him
self upon the old Democratic doctrine OF
states rights" and large numbers OF his
former supporters were arraylng them
selves against him We supposed that
our friend kept silence mot that he low
ell the negro less, but that he loved of
fee more" and still had some hopes that,
by endorsing and supporting the conser-
vative policy of the President he might
eventually become Il tolerahly good
States rights Democrat At all events,
during few weeks past (about as long
as one set of Republican principles laStS)
he seemed to incline decidedly that way.
But il now seems that he couldn't stand
the pressure" and accordingly after
much beating about the bush and Gas
tigating His Satanic Majesty a:ound the
diminutiye shrubbery," he said yCstcr-
day morning Public distrust however,
If the South inclues Union people very
generally 20 look with more or less favor
on the proposition to give those who
fought for the country, and all their
class vote, in order 10 offset apPre-
hepdod trouble from their late rebel
masters
Captain CUTIE would say that's an
opinion as is an opinion" Observe how
gently it is expressed and what super
abundance of qualifying words aud
phrases il introduced into that brief SEN
tence to soften the declaration. and say
something without appearing to say il
at all What an evident clinging to both
Sides there is in the sentence we have
quoted. aud how plainly desire is mani
tested to ride the black horse aud the
white one both al once.
In honorable contrast with this timid
tempnriZing of the Mtei'igWcGr, and in di-
rect opposition to the present course of
the leaders of the Republican party. We
place the declarations of ABRAHAM LIN
coin He had been accused Ivy an Ohio
newspaper of fAvorng the doctrine of
negro suffrage in the course of his de-.
bates with Judge DOUGLAS, and, in a
speech delivered in Columbus in Septem.
Der, 1859, he expressly denied tho asSer-
tion The speech may he found in the
printed volum, 1T Line ia and Dougla,'
Debates, aud We invite the attention of
oar cotemporary and the Republican
party in general, L. the following ex-
IIRct:
|, Therefore, propose. here at the out
set, not only to say that this is misrrpre-
sentatioE. but to show couclusiVelv that
it Is 50 and yOu will bear with me while
read a couple OF cNtIagts from that very
memorable debate with Judge Douglas
last year. IT, which tins newspaper re-
ters In the first pitched battle when
Senator Douglas and myself had. at the
town of Ottawa. ! used the language
which | will now read Having been
previously TeadinC nm extract ] rOntin-