The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-09-15
A Significant Change or Rose.

per- Wnlle II mas no principles that
are not subject to change ON a half
hours notice, and while nobody be-
heyes it at any time actuated by higher
motives than its own popularity, yet
the ability of its editor and owner to
discover the drift of public sentiment
and place himself upon the wave that
is rushing onward, is proverbial. Hence
the value of the Herald as a weather.
cock. Its course, like that of the Lon
don Times, indicates the rising or ebb-
ing of popular opinion. It aims always
to trim its sails to the breeze and to
seem to lead, while in reality following
the drift Of public sentiment.
A day or two ago the Herald was
predicting the overthrow Of the .sradi-
cals'' in the fall elections. 1t was also
busy defending the President. 1t bold
lycharacterized hisspeeches as digDifed,
an expression that must be taken as
proof positive of its anti-radical sym
pathies. The Maine election has, how
ever, been too much for the Herald. 1t
sees the rising of sweeping gale in
the East, and realizes that very soon
that same gale is to sweep over the
whole North, carrying every State be-
fore it just as Maine was carried. Hence
the Herald has tackled about and put
itself before the wind, and is now ready
with all its canvas spread to sail with
the breeze.
The Herald has "heard the news
from Maine.'' The overwhelming re-
suit in that State is simply the begin
ming of the end in IFS estimation, All
the other States are worry likely to du-
plicate that result. "Revolutions never
! go backwards, /" says the Herald. "The
Presidents quarrel and rupture with
Congress was an unfortunate mis-
take" says the Herald. But the whole
article is so significant as to thesigns Of
the times, that we feel justified in ex-
tracing it entire, instead OF quoting
isolated expressions. We therefore
subjoin 1t as follows:
SIT is a historical axiom that revolu-
tions never go backward. It's truth has
been affirmed in the great political
events of this country since the adj
Ijournment of Congress, and especially
in the recent State elections. 1t was
reasonable TO suppose that the Jacobini-I
cal violence, Tecklessness and ferocity
Ter In the East, Senator Chandler in the
, West, and Parson Brownlow in the
4 South, would have . damaging effect
, upon their party when brought to
Judgment before the people; but it is
strikinglY apparent from the result of
the late elections in Maine that the pom
ular mind is controlled by larger ques-
tions, against which the sayings or do
ings of this or that fanatical politician
go for nothing. That great body of the
American people to which we are In
debted for the suppression Of the most
formidable rebellion in the history OIL
mankind, are evidently determined to
have substantial securities for the
future before they pronounce the good
work of the restoration OF the Union
cOmplete-that, in short, Southern re-
construction shall rest upon the solid
foundation OF the Federal Constitution,
regardless of the disturbing forces OF
FadiealBi COpperheads, rebels, rufdRns
or fanatics, North or South.
From the elections which have oc-
8 CURED since the constitutional amend
lment was adopted by Congress for the
? reconstruction of the Southern States
we are satisfied that TINT amendment Is
to become the basis of Southern restora.
, tion-thRt 1t will carry and be carried
by all the Northern State elections vet
to come, and that with New Jersey lead
ling of Il will be ratified by them all
and become part and parcel Of the SUI
preme law OF the land. Nor have we
any fear of the consequences. There IL
nothing, after all, so very Objectionable
in this amenGment@nothfng which
\ President johnson himself has not, at
one time or another, recommended to
some Southern State or to Congress, and
nothing upon which there should have
been a disagreement between the Presi-
dent and Congress. Let us for a mo-
mont look at this amendment again.
II provides:
Fast-That all persons born or
llnatnralized in the United States are
l'citizens thereof and of the States in
which they reside, and on footing OF
/ equality in regard to their ciV1l rights
j Seeottd-Ihat the enumeration OF the
people for representation in Congress
shall be abridged In proportion to the
abridgement Of the right OF suffrage
males above the Hge of twenty-one
yeafs-in any State on account OF race
or color.
Thu d-That large schedule OF per-
sons. civil and military, engaged In the
late rebellion shall be Ineligible to any
federal Office hereafter until absolved.
by tYo-thtrds vote of each House of
Congress.
F0iirth--That the national war debt
shall be held sacred aud that all rebel
debts and obligations shall be utterly
repudiated and held Illegal and void.
Bi9ta-Ihat Congress shall have pow
er % entorence the. provisions of this
article.
This amendment is the reconstruc-
ton plan and platform OF Congress,
and there ls no good reason, we say,
why It should not have been ndopted
also BY the President, inasmnch as he
n stands committed in some shape to all
lts provisions. II IS not the platform of
lhad1euH Stevens, Sumner, or any of
the noisy radicals OF C6ngfess. They
can do nothing. Il was adopted against
thelF temonRtrances and In spite of
their threats. u embodies substantial
~ in met, the Rresidont's original pro.
trsltnule, md if carried In these coming
J October aud November elect.ons-as
we predict Il viii be from Massa-
GnuHett8 and New York westward
we trust that the administration.
10 Difference to the will of the
people, viii come back to it
4. Why notf Surely this amendment
engrafted pon the Constitution VIM Sc
aInpl y SUI eietlf for the restoration of
; the unlohf Internal peace, sectional
harmony and the security of the Gov
ernment and the Treasury for many
turbing factions of either section. Par
son RroWnloW, 10 leading on with the
Suite Of pennesse for the ratidcati lion,
has shown that q good thing may be
done by 9 qnd man and for q bad mo-
tive; but that Ienne ee should thus
lead on tor thts amendment - very
7 leIllllis1o bic and q ian can't idcE-that (
New Jersey should next follow O. almost
- stfant but nom good or bad de.
signs, thus started III e fdaandln will
Y surely 20 fhFonFh
ne erel dent quarrel and rup-
1 Win 9enre vas an un-