The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-05-18
Rebels.

tutto AtPNa
else prepare themselves for anarchy,
which is worse than despotism. If bad
laws exist, it is the duty of the people to
seek, in q legal and proper way, for their
repeal, hut disobedience should not be
thought of. As public journalists, de-
string the welfare of all among whom we
live, we have endeayored to inculcate
these truths, and have exhorted all our
rsaders TO the strictest obedience OF law
and the most careful preservation OF
good order 1t is in this spirit that we
have. from the first, spoken out boldly in
condemnation of the proceedings of va
r;ons public meetings that have been
held in this State, in reference to the "e-
tnrn Of men who have been engaged in
the rebellion. We wish it distinctly I'M
derstood that our course has been taken
with a desire TO do what we could to pre-
serve the public peace, and secure ODE
dience to the existing laws.
We believe that the return of these
men To their former homes here %uponthe
border, is iniudicious and unwise upon
their part. They can never, at least not
for many years, enjoy that comfort and
respect here, which, by good behavior,
they might o acquire in communities
where they have not formerly been
known. Among their former neighbors,
it will take a long time for them to atone
for the errors of the past, and secure for
getfulness of their part in the bloody
scenes of the past four years Our adj
vice TO all persons OF this class would be
that they 90 South, or, having obtained
permission from the War Department, go
Nolth or West, become citizens of States
where they rave been heretofore I'M
known, and begin life anew. There will
ne ten thousand checks to their prosper
itv. and notifications in their daily life,
here, which they do not now dream OF,
AID which they cannot avoid.
But if, upon the other hand, i'll spite OF
these considerations which appeal to the
personal feelings and welfare OF the reb-
els, they choose to return to their former
homes in West Virginia, there is no eX-
istinp law. proclamation or military or
der whatever to prevent them from so
doing The men who meet together and
resolve that returned rebels shall not live
among them. and threaten to exercise
violence to Danish them from their midst,
do so i'm defiance of law and to the detri-
n.ent Of the public peace. 1t is this law
lessnnss that we condemn, and ever will
denounce while we are able to WELD a
pen.
If the Secretary of War chooses to ex-
ercise the power that Is vested in HIM
and decide that parolcd prisoners shall
not be uermitted to return here under the
t.rns of LEES capitulation, We will re-
inice at and cheerfully support the de-
c.sion Or. if Governor FOREMAN Will
take some step looking to a decision of
tLe question. either warning rebels not
to return or enioining upon the people
,LeGicnce 10 law, it will be well. In
either case some legal method Will bc
,ointed ont for the enforcement Of good
order. and the mob spirit which Is so
rreyalcnt now will he represscd. Since
reading the resolutions, we commehd, in
thc main, the action of the meeting held
IN the Fifth Ward last Tuesday night.
Ilc language used was Incorporate aud
fan Of passion. hut the resolution re
ourstin~ the Governor to confer with the
Secretary of War, looks to the prcServa-
t,on of order and the maintenance
of sonio authority higher than that OF
am unreasonable moh.
Bnt. after all, even the authority OF
the Secretary of Wa goes no further
than to regulate the conduct of parolcd
misnncrs Of war it does not reach men
who have taken the oath of amnesty
prescribed by the President. The Presi-
dent alone can revoke or alter the terms
oi r,rdon which he has held out, and
even he cannot now adopt any measures
with relation to the status of men who
have complied with tue conditions of
than pardon, which viii have any retro
snectiye effect. Not even the President
ciu enforce an &C post fdcto law. The
civil status of those who have heretofore
taken the amnesty oath is 6Ned beyond
recall. and, if we do not desne tham to
live among us, we have no lawful means
OF compelling them to go elsewhere
They can only he influenced by our adj
VICE. W may tell them, what any man
of good sense and high spirit knows, that
they can never occupy the social position
here they enjoyed before the war, but
beyond this We have no right 10 go. The
duty we all owe to society i'll the preser-
Walton of good order aud obedience to
law forbids our %resorting to the high
handed and yiolentmeasures which many
hot-headed and inconsiderate persons
wish to adopt.
Reorganization Of Virginia,
Thinking that some Of our readers