The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-09-12

society, prosecuted by murderous ma
lightly even to their very GiresidcS;
many of th0m driven away by blood
thirsty rebel mobs, oxiles again from
their homes because they stood by their
country.
Can II bc that in tho great struggle
for tho Union, tho tried and selC-sacri-
ticing Unionists of tho South are tho
worst -doicated party? Shameful, in
credible 1t may seem; yet so it is. I'M
der tho heels OF the rebellion when the
rebellion broke out, they aro still more
under the heels of tho rebels since the
rebellion Is vnnTuished; for then they
looked up with hope; and now they
look down almost with despair. Hero
they are, t0king refuge under tho shield
OF the loyal North, to enjoy the poor
privilege of giving expression to their
grief.
And there is the South: those who but
recently fought against us again WELD
Ing tho powers OF government in their
Stntes; haunting before our owes tho
declaration that is rising to destroy the
Union thOy did no wrong; bOnsting OF
tho rebellion ns tho pride and glory of
their history; insOlGntly dofying and
sneering mt those who conquered them;
milking completely i'll treason IL test for
political distinction; splitting upon tried
loyalty to the national cause as mark
of Disgrace; seeking to logislate and
whip into serVitude and misery those
whom we have emanciputed; persecu-
ting as intruClorS those of us who have
gone to live with them; tOlerating no
opinion which is not their own; driving
away and numbering like outlaws the
most faithful friends of the Union and
OF liberty; repeating the horrors of Fort
Pillow on tho streets of Memphis and
New Orleans, and all this in the name
.Fk NH,.,., ,S.-1,N Il
son! Not only "thc South for South
erners" is the cry, for the southern
Union mon are SOuthcrners also, but
"the South for rebels" Such are the
fruits of the reaction sprung from the
Presidents policy. Do you recognize
them? It's slNVcry-Slavery dead only
i'll name, but it's spirit revived by the
trcacherous policy OF one who had
sworn that 1t should never rise again,
There it is, ambitious of power, impa-
tient of restraint, overbearing in its AS
tendency, brutal in its roSentmeuts
merciless with its murderous resent.
ment, writing again its signature on the
pnges of American history III churac-
ierS of blood.
Mark my words: You admit the late
rebel States to representation and pow
er in the National Government such us
they are, uncOnditiOnnlly, you remove
the breaks from the reactiOnary move
ment without having first secured and
fortified the results of tho war by
amendments to our Federal Constitu-
ton; and l predict the reaction will go
so far as to call in question all legisin-
ton that was had during the absence
from Congress of the eleven rebel
States. Whether so atrOciOus move
mont will ultimately succeed will rest
with the people; but it is certain that if
the Presidents policy prevail it will be
a ~,
checked before having plunged the Re
public into disasters of the widest con-
fusion.
speak deliberately, and am sure
no thoughtful student of history will
deny that reHctiOnHry revolutions have
Rn almost Irresistible tendency to go to
extremes, and will never stop until
they reach them unless they find in
SuperNble obstacles III their way; and
if there ever was people on the face
of the globe inclined to rush on tho eX-
trcmeS with mad precipitation, it is the
people of the rebel States.
Look the matter square in the face.
Here is u Congress of which Southern
men and Northern johnson men form
n majority; for such is the design of our
opponents. Tho Southern delegations
are there, unshackled by any OF the
constitutional amendments now before
the people. As matter of course the
test oath will mt once be repealed. The
South loudly demands the repeal: the
President is in favor of it and such
being the case, where would tho John
son men find spirit enough to refuse il?
The test oath repealed, the representa-
tive men of the South-thMt is, those
who represented and led the South
during the rcbellion-wilI at once find
their way to congressional seats; and
as by the emancipation of the slaves
FnnFngpnfntinn
StHtes will be largely increased, there
will be more representative men OF the
South in Congress-, aud their power
will be greater than ever before. Will
the increase of their power be calculated
to render them more modest in their
pretensions?
Next in order comes tho breaking
down of all Congressional legislation
for the protection OF the emnncipated
slaves. All the obstacles which stand
in the wny of their reducing the freed
men to some sort OF serviIe subjectiOn
again will be overturned without de-
lay. The repeal of tho Freedmcn's Blu
considered matter of course; and it
| will give President johnson, the mod
est man who would not be Dictator
mt any price, particular satisfaction 10
get rid of that power which enables
him to protect the rights of the lOwly
!,
for that reason perhaps, he considers
so dangerous II temptation. Applause. |
Woe to the negro then who, upon the
solemn promise given by the nuLiOn,
attempted to be freeman! Thrice
| woe, then, to the cOlOrGd man who,
when the country in the hour of dan.
ger called him under arms, took uD his
musket and with gallant devotion
staked his life for the life of the Repub.
! lie! All tho pent-up resentlnents
which the disastrous struggles and the
| bitter disnPpointments of years have
accumulated in the Southern heart will
come down upon his doomed head
without restraint or moderation, aud
the Government for which he had sac.
rificed his blood will have withdrawn
its protecting arm from him, and he
will stand there-a bloody monument
of American treachery.
Next in order will come tho demand
| of compensation for the emancipated
slaves and the damage done bY our
armies while operating against the
rebels in the Southern States. Does
anybody doubt that such extravagant
claims will be preferred? Why, OF the
men elected to Congress in the South
ern States last year, n vast majority
were elected upon tho distinct pledge
that this demand for compensation
would he preferred and insisted upon
Every Southern man will tell you that
the Southern member, with the excep.
zion of II few from Tennessee, and per.
hnps Arkansas, will be solid unit
upon that very question; and, in fact
If the rebel States be readmitted uncon.
dttlonally, such MS they are, will it not
be natural How many thousand
millions they will demand, who knowsi
AT any rute, they will demand enough
to have good many millions to spare
with which to buy up the necessary