The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-04-12
1.-The re,. would obtain their Legal: tight, IL
ibcy. rcrc hung Fer. the treason they sbsye

the rest would OBTAIN knciF :AeBs1, tt&Hsei}t
they; were hung ,fsr the treason thsy asIe
ce% TSax sa,. drsaeI.d III. country
Zohhs3 end;muras red the Union citizens and
a., ~ ~ bsck, and. theIrtUmpsthisefs
cIs;nn Sor hem equal rights with the true Gnd
laval citizen who has sacrificed syary thing for
ri. eouutry: !; Aud II. permitted 80 return and
exercisc the elective franchise; they. viii con-
troll the destiny of the ieodntrt;t for mine.
tenths Of them are No much rebels to-day as
they were In the beginning Of. the war. Z ( =
But these gentlemen: tell ;us that We must
now forgive these rebels, or they will motive
amongst,us. This would be little hard Jon
their sympathizers who have been expecting
to control the elections by the assistance OF
their votes ;bnt the. Union: men could stAndlt
il they should "leaye their, country for their
country's good. "~E.'s - ''' Y. -, -
. Another fimsy. argument used BY. tho
Clarlsburg 7tlsgraph, and endorsed BY The
Republican, is; that this would be An ex post,
facto law. Howl When the crime Of treason
was already defined, and thefpunishmento OF
death and con6scation nlrcodysprcscribed2 Z.
And il, instead Of such punishment these
traitors. to their country aSee allowed lore
turn to their .homesyEand quistlY:pursuc their
nvoeations until :tlcy- )" bring forth fruits meet
for repcntancernt they surely cannot complain.
He.,tCol. iPerguson) would not have this
Amendment perpetual; but whenever the
loyal people Of the State should perceive that
thesc men could be safely restored 10 all the.
privileges Of citizens; II could then be done.
Another objection these gentlemen urge is, :
that this Amendment conflicts with tho Ma.
tional Constitution, which declares that no
Bill Of Atloinder shall ever be passed., This,
refers to custom in The English Parliament,
Of passing bills to confscate' the estates Of
certain. individuals by name; ,.Shut lin this
country we have q general law to punish
treason, by coniseaLiou, after the crime hos
been proved in Court OF Justice if
these mon orenllowed to escape hanging and.
condscation, with only the loss of citizenship
for time, they should mako no complaint: :.
: Buff these rebels desire TO be clothed with
the right.to take part again in the administra-
ton OF public affairs, and, if they arc truly
penitent for the evil they ,haye' done, let
them go ut once into the Union army, and as.
sist tie loyal men to finish putting down the
rebellion, which is ALREADY. tottcring to its
foil. They will thus show q proper DISPOSE
ton to repair the great wrong they have done,
and such conduct will entitlc them to the
respect and confdence,of their fellow.citizens.
But unless they do this, We should do rs the
Methodist Church does-take them in, not in
full fellowship, but on trial for time with
only this diference--Hc should require about
six years, instead Of Six months trial. go
The disloyal element in some counties Of
our State is now in the ascendGnoy, and un-
less VIC Take measures to prevent it, NO may
have. a loyal Judge and q disloynl Sheriff,
Clerk, &c., and in that case tho laws could
not be executed. But it might be worse: the
Judge and county officers might all be dis.
loyal, and then there would BIO no disposition
whatever to execute tho laws. ..i5 ~. -.
COL VIM. F. Chambers. Senator from tho
Grccnbrier district, in replyto Col Fergusous
remarks, took the ground that tho amendment
conflicts, with Tho Constitution Of tho nited
States, which provides, that citizens Of ono
State are cntitled to the privileges Of citizens
in tho other States = that such IN Amendment
would be ,unjust and cruel toward those who
had been .dupcd by the rebel leaders, and ter
rihed, by their threats Of CONSUMPTION md
hard treatment, into volunteering in.the rebel
service. Hc illustrated The question by re:
ferriug to one Of his own sons IN tho rebel
army, who had been induced to volunteer Nh.
der, such pressure; and hc declared that he
would not vote for law to disfranchisc that
son.
Col. A.. Cunningham was then called out,
who insisted that Col. Chamber, was mistaken
ss to tho cfect:ot the proposed Amendment,
which did not propose to disfranchise those
who had been pressed into the rebel service:
or Who had inYoluntarily given them aid or
comfort. ;He was decidedly, in favor Of the
Amendment as being: tho only spre'and safe
means Of Kidding tho country Of: the dessruc-,'
tive influence offtraitors: aud their sympa.
thiZers.+5:; H., ..,,1s :: - -. ,.s,i,.;'
Capt. J.; C. Wheeler was also called upon'by
the audience, who showed quite .. reluctance
to retire YET Tho Captain. said: he did not
rise to mako speech, and supposed the aud.
icucc felt so oxuberant over tho cheerful news
Of victory which had that day flashed over
the wires, that. they were not yet tired enough
TO- retire to their homes; but il they would
listcn to him few minutes, that desirable
object would soon DO effected. He WAS In
favor Of the Amendment proposed, as the only
means :,of securely protecting tho blessings
procured at S:such m. immenseEcost Of blood
aud 'treasure:$# ,Ho had been very fearful, and
had 90 expressed himself. two years ago, that
all this cost and treasure would axaii % 10th
ing in " est Virginia,S TO secure ms from tho
corrupt influence OF tho dcmagoguea who had
led this country Into the Rebellion: They
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