The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-10-22
Tn. Constitutional Amendment.


Amendment has already been published
several times in the REGISTER, IN part
and in whole. and laboring under the
impression that the Amendment has but
to be seen 10 be approved, have re-
ouested its insertion in this paper as an
advertisement, until the day of the cleo
ton. This request, of course, was
readily granted. We thereby Obtain
from our opponents pay for circulating
as good political document for the
benefit of the Conservative party as
can be desired. The proposed Amend
ment NAV be found in our advertising
columns this morning, and will appear
every day until after the election. The
insertion of this Amendment in our ad-
vertising columns, at the cost of the
radical club, is no less complimentary to
the intelligence of the Democratic and
Conservative voters of the State than 1t
is to the intelligence of the men who
pay for its publication. The Amend
ment is Objectionable i'll every respect i'll
which it can be viewed, and the idea
that the men who read and understand
its provisions can be induced to Vote for
its ratification is a. nousenSical as could
he conceived, even in u radical brain.
We readily admit that the true intent
and meaning of the Amendment is par
TALLY concealed by the language in
which it is expressed, but we know that
the more it is seen, the more il will he
abhorrcd; the more critically it Is eN-
amined, the more apparent will become
the wrongs ii proposes to infect.
We therefore invite to its pcrusal the
careful attention of our readers, and
trust that they will take the trouble TO
compare with the full text of the amend
ment the comments we have made here
tofore, and which we shall make here
after. and see for themselves whether
they are not just and properly applied.
The radical nominees for the State Leg
isIature are pledged to the ratification
OF this amendment: the conservative
nominees are pledged to its rejection.
Look al it and make up your mind how
vou will east your vote.
The First Section PROPOSES co change
the Constitution of the United States so
that the 9 Civil Rights bill" vetoed by
President JOHNSON and afterwards
passed 10y two-thirdS of both houses ot
| Congress. iuay become constitutional.
II wipes ont all State laws, except
/ those ia relation to sutfragc) that make
any distinction between the people on
account of race or color, and forbldS the
STATES from granting 10 their white citi'
zens any civil privileges not also given
TO The negroes. Ii is Objectionable he
cause il is vaguely expressed: is capable
of several different interpretations, and
will lead To endless political disputes. II
I is also unnecessary because nearly all
of the states themselves, the only
proper authority, according TO all pre-
ccdcnt. and the teachings ot the found
crs oG our government. To tiX the stGtH'
of their citizens. have already conferred
upon the negroes al the protcctio" hC5
pccd. and nearly all they will receive
under the provisions of the proposed
amendment.
I The second Section provides that I'M,
! less negroes arc permitted to vote they
| shall moi he counted in the basis OF
representation, and the number OF
representatives in Congress that each
State that refuses TO establish Negro
suffrage is entitled to, shall he reduced
/ Ii is intended to force the States tC
adopt negro suffrage, threatening tc
weaken their power III Congress and III
the electoral college i'll ease they refuse
II permits the disfranchisement OF
white men, hut forhitis the disfranchisc'
ment of negroes.
The Third Section prohibits any OF
the influential or leading men of the
Southern States from ever holding any
office, either Federal or State. 1t was
embodied in the amendment to prevent
its ratification by the Southern States,
because the radical leaders knew the
South would not consent to such prop
ositiQn; and they did not desire the rat
itication of the amendment, because
that would deprive them of all excuse
for rctusin" to permit the restoration OF
the Union. They only proposed the
amendment for political capital. and, as
the Intelligence said. "to strengthen
the Republican party in the fall cIec.
TONS"
/ The Fourth Section provides for the
payment of the national debt, which
nabody talks or thinks of refusing Il
paw: and forbids The payment of III,
rebel debt, which is not due and never
can become due, ana WHICH HoOo"y ""R''
to pay. 1t is also useless because when
ever the people of the United States be
come so poor that they cannot pay the
national debt. they wiH not pay II, n'
matter whether the constitution b'
amended Ornot. .l- -fs -"
The Fifth Section gives Congress
power to do all that il may claim
right TO do under the provisions of the
preceding sections. Under this pro
vision, the radicals will probably claim
that Congress has & cepstitntional right
to interfere with the question of suf-
frage in the States and give TO negroes
the right of voting wherever they may
reside. any State law TO the contrary