The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-10-24
ANOTHER. GRAND .RII.AlILIlyl. / Al
The Fourth Ward Alive
Speeches Of H..s. Walker, Louis
stifsl and Col, D. D. Johns n.

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The Demoeratic and Conservativ
meeting at the corner of Sixth and Cla,
streets last night surpassed all sxpecta
tion. The Fourth Ward was thorough,
aroused upon the occasion and its citi
zens turned ont by hundreds to witnes
the first demonstration of the kin,
made in their midst for several years
The committee of arrangements deserv
ed great credit for their energetic effort
in making the affair one of the mos
creditable and successfulever witnessed
in this city. The aTrue Boys in Blue
attended in large force and their cominI
was welcomed with enthusiastic cheers
The meeting was otganized by the ap
pointment of General H. F. Feeney
President, and Lieutenant Thoma
O'Brien, Secretary. The President thel
introduced Mr.. H. 8. Walker as the frs
speaker OF the evening.
H1 MR.. wALKSR's SPEECH.
Mr.. Walker opened his.remarks will
q reference to the right of free discus
sion as guaranteed by the Constitution
In the exercise of this right, the Amer
lean people attained an unusual dignit.
and welded, perhaps, their greatest in
fuence. 1t was by general inter
change of sentiment upon pOlitica
topics that they reached the conclusion
which they expressed at the ballot-box
the great and final arbiter of partizaI
disputes. Before the tribunal of publi,
opinion the political parties of the ma
tion had appeared for a settlement o
their differences, and by its determine
tions all must abide. The Republican
party asked an endorsement OF its pol
icy and a renewal of its power at the
hands of the people. In assigning the
reasons that should restrain the people
from reposing further confidence in the
now dominant party, Mr.. Walker al
luded to the disastrous condition Il
which they had brought our
FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.
Under their encouragement the cOst
of the war and the public debt hat
been swelled to dimensions, almost in
COMPREHENSIVE, and while the entire
nation desired the redemption of oul
obligations, such reckless improvidenct
as had marked the acts of the last Con
gress, would greatly impede if it die
not render almost impossible the liqui
datiou of the national debt. Mr.. Wal
ker then referred to the exposures o.
frauds perpctrated. upon the Govern
ment during the war and established
that the carclessness or dishonesty OF
Radical officials had materially increas
ed the expenses of the Government
that fraud and peculation instead o1
being checked and punished, had beer
fostered and encouraged by the very
party now seeking to obtain control OF
the Government. The partial and I'M
fair legislation by which Government
Bonds were exempted from taxation
was also considered at length. 1t was
shown conclusively that not only theiI
own burdens, but also these which
should fall upon the bond-holders, now
rested upon parties not belonging to the
bondocracy; that while we rejoiced at
the destruction of slavery, which with
all it's faults produced wealth, we had
substituted fer it n deeper national dis
grace in the organization of the bond
0cracy which produced nothing, but
consumed everything. The injurious
policy of Radicalism in lettering, byun-
fair legislation, the energies of white
labor, and in paying a premium upon
negro-idleness, was thoroughly examin-
ed and its odious features fitly ex-
posed.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
Mr.. Walker next considered the pro-
posed enfranchisement of the negroes ~
openly advocated by the bold and can
did Radicals of other States, and rs
abetted and encouraged by their cO-ad-
tutors in West Virginia. The disclaim-
ers of Radical leaders in this State were
shown to be overbalanced by their acts.
They were cooperating with men who
were committed to the policy, and they
had hailed as party triumph the result
of the Maine aud Vermont elections, in
both of which States, the Radicals had
succeeded upon negro suffrage plat
forms. The sentiments Of leading and
authoritative exponents of the party
were then quoted as showing the drift
of Radicals ideas. Maynard of Tennes-
see, Stevens of Pennsylvania and Wiley
of West Virginia, were shown to have
declared in favor of impartial suffrage;
and even Hon. G. d. Hubbard had given
the policy a qualified approval by as
serting his willingness TO enfranchise
the black soldier. The impropriety OF
making military service the only quail
fication for suffrage requisite in the
negro's case was illustrated by the fact
that the plan enfranchised black con-
scripts ann denied the ballot to white
volunteers who had not attained their
majority. Passing to consideration OF
the
DIsUNIoNIsM or CONGRESS.
Mr.. Walker required to the record and
defined the legitimate purposes Of the
war as laid down in the crittenden reso,