The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-03-17
81 his lending editorial yesterdl

X his leading editorial yeStefuay
morning, we consider that Mr.. Lamb
virtually yields the contest. He scat
tiers and wastes his fire ON matters of n
personal and unimportant character.
The only thing in the article that it
seems necessary to notice is the loop
hole he endeayors to reserve, that ad-
uniting that he advocated the disfran-
chisement OF rebels, he meant that his
measures should apply to the leading
rebels only.
In regard TO this we submit that
whatever force this distinction might
have if We were dealing with rebels in
C;ercia. 1t has none whatever in this
latitude. We all recognize that in the
Southern States where the politicians
mould the mass of the people to their
purposes, and where secession came like
a tide there was noresisting, tho leaders
who IncuIcated and inaugurated rebel
lion arc the guilty parties,a and the masses
who were dragged or driven into il by
fear of their lives and property, are
comparatively innocent; buthere there
are no such innocent rebels--none who
wore rebels under colnpulsion. Here
they were in efect-those who went OF
ard Joined the rebel arrny-all leaders.
So far from being driven TO the net they
made sacrifices, left homo and friends,
and took their lives in their hands in
their trnitorous zeal to overthrow the
government. What reason can be as
signed for excepting any such men uu-
less all are to he excepted? What the
.tleading rebels" did in the South all
our rebels. whom this amendment
will exclude, did here; sothat practical
ly this discrimination is no discrimina-
tion at NIL; and Mr.. Lambs lOop-hole
avails him nothing.
But it seems to us that II there is any
force at all in the objections made by
Mr.. Lamb TO the return and exercise o.
political power by any of those who
have borne arms against us land We
conceive there is great deal of force IL
them)h must stand by his original po
sition that this element is inimical t6
orr people and State, and that (as ht
even now eonTesses) they cannot be dis
crininnted between but must be dealt
viii, as a whole, or he must admit thai
Ito abandons the whole ground ht
formerly occupied and throws himself
fully into The arms of the party which
aIsorbs and was designed to Absorb
this rebellions element.
We regret to note in his editorials o
Yesterday that Mr.. Lamb, in re
ierriug to the editors of this paper, al
lows feeling of acrimony TO show 1t
self. If he feels that he has again place.
himself in an unfavornble attitude be
fore the public, We can understand thai
he might be excusable for entertaining
feeling OF. this sort, though we should
hardly expect that he would SO far for
get his accustomed good tempera to al
l,wft to be seen. In this discussion we
have not consciously felt and we trust
have not shown tho least temper. We
have sought to speak, as we have felt
with perfect respectfulness of the gen
tieman whose course we have fell
constrained to criticise. We have spo'
ken solely of his publicacts and think
wo may claim to have done SC
fairly and dIspassionntely. There Is
noone, friend or foe politically, towards
whom we entertain kIndlier.or more re.
spectful feelings than Mr.. Lamb; and
for his talent in some directions, we
have a high admiration; but we think
we are Sufficiently acquainted with his
course as a public man, to say that
whenever he touches questions political
in their nnture, the great sagacity which
he brings to bear upon other matters
deserts him and he wanders after
strange idols, and quickly fills into the
snares of less able and less honestmen,
We are content that the public shall
judge whether the justification of his
present course rests with Mr.. Lamb, OF
whether the proof of his apostacy rests
with us. ~