The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-02-15

statutes are repealed, they must return
to that obscurity which is their native
element, and from which, but Tor the
war, they never would have emerged
Hence their sole object is to perpetuate
their power.
The war has been a greater calamity
to no one than to the present Chief Ex-
ecutive of our State, as impartial histo.
~ will prove. Before he had the mis-.
fortune of being Governor" he was
neither AN object of derision to his enc
mics, nor of melancholy pity to his
friends. But for this misfortune he
would hereafter have been pleasantly
remembered as county court lawyer,
or as respectable circuit rider OF the
Methodist persuasion, who, during the
term of his natural life, had consumed
his fair proportion Of spring chickens
and delivered proper number OF pa
tbetic exhortations and rhythmic prayers;
but the fates Observation-Disclosures and,
like reconstructed rebel, he must ac-
cept his fate. ,,..,;
tion. at one time manipulated by willy
noIitician who has his own ends to ac-
complish, again taking his cue from a
religious fanatic who wishes to blend
church and State, and again persuaded
into the ranks of the negro-sufrage party
being all things in turn, changing with
each passing breeze as the vane on the
steeple. '
In his last message, under the head of
reconstruction in the State. Governor
Boreman makes grave charges against
the citizens of some of the eastern coun'
ties. We have reason to believe that
the information, upon which these char
ges were based, was furnished chiefly
nv one individual who was never in
sympathy with these people and who
knows but little of their temper and
conduct. The true condition OF affairs
in those counties might with but little
difficulty have been ascertained. There
is no where, North or South, more loyal
people than those inhabiting the eastern
counties of this State That thst4 were
(almost all of them) implicated in the
rebellion, is a fact which they make no
effort to conceal, and that they cannot
and will not take 'tbe test oath" and the
oath of Office, is undeniablei but it is
equally certain that they are now anx-
ious to do all that can reasonably be re-
uuired of them to secure the establish
ment of the civil government.
One would suppose that the first Gov.
ernor of State whose history is just
commencing would have been solicito
to establish reputation for impartiality,
and all enlightened and enlarged regard
for the interests Of all portions OF the
State; but unfortunately prejudice and
fanaticism and perhaps the guidance OF
more designing and brighter intellect
have led him astray. The graOamen OF
the Governors charge against these peo-
pie is that prominent men in that por.
tions of the State taught that the test
oath law" and the law prescribing an
oath Of Office were unconstitutional
Mirabile dictu The.truth is that one
gentleman there, on a public occasion,
expressed the opinion that these laws
were unconstitutional, and supported
his views by reading extracts from the
published letter of Daniel Lamb, Esq,
the opinion of Col. B. a. Smith, U. S.
Attorney, for the district of West Vir.
ginia, and q decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States. Other gen.
tlemen, no doubt, in conversation express
ed the same opinion. Does Gov. Foreman
deny that every citizen has the right to
discuss publicly or privately, in letter or
speeches, the constitutionality or expe-
dicncy OF any proposed law} If so, he is
referred to the most elementary writers
on Republican government.
Because the people of West Virginia
have taken the oath of amnesty and in
tel d in good faith to cordially sustain
the President in the execution of his
plan of reconstructiou, it is by no means
logical to Flronclnde that they have as
suined an obligation to behold in mute
establishment violations of the State
constitution, and to submit unmurmur-
ingly-to all the oppressive measures
which the State. administration may
chose to adopt More anon.
ARTHAULI.