The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-04-20
FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 20.
SoSE two months ago we said he

naked question before the people of
his State, to be decided by vote on
he amendment TO the Constitution, I,
was whether it viii be, all things con-
sidered, advisable to withhold the cleo
i've franchise for the present from the
persons in this State who aided and
abeued the rebellion. We said then
that this would be an untrammeled |
question, unembarassed by side ques-
tons of constitutionaIIty or power.
The proposed amendment having been
approved by two suceessiyelegislatu
had been referred to the voters OF the
State for final action. The voters of
the State, who made the Constitution
have the undoubted right TO amend it
as they see lit, their power in this re-
spect being limited only by the consti-
tuition of the United States and legisla-
ton of Congress in pursuance thereof
Both by that instrument and by all the
legislation OF Congress the power to
regulate suffrage has been left solely to
the States; and by them alone IT has been
exercised from the establishment of the
Government. Eventhe civil rights law
recently passed by Congress does not
touch it; and nothing can but an
amendment TO the Constitution of the
United States. This being true our
argument is, as 1t has been, that
whether the returned rebels in the State
shall be DISTINGUISHED or not, is simplya
matter for the option and preference of
the electors of the State.
Hitherto it has been the effort OF the
conservative" speakers and writers to
make people believe that the question
was not the simple one We have stated,
but that 1t was embarrassed by side
questions of coBstitutIonality. Vow,
however, they facility confess that our
ground is the trueone. The leading or
gan of that party accepts the question
in that shape, and upon the naked ques-
ton of preference declares that it would
be bad policy, besides being great
wrong, to exclude those who aided and
abetted the rebellion from voting and
holding office; and admits that only this
class are excluded by the amendment.
1t estimates that there are q, 600 in this
State who would be so excluded. We
never heard il estimated that the coun-
ties now composing this State furnish
ed more than 10, 700 men TO the rebel
lion. When orr conservative friends
are estimating how many can take the
test oath TO enable them TO register, We
think they do not Ilx thenumber Of the
excluded even that high. But be the
number greater or less We believe it Is
sufficient as parties are now constituted
in this State 10 make it the balance OF
power. We know into which side OF
the scale it would always be cast; so
that II the State were once subjected to
this ex-rebel and semi-rebeE domi-
nation nothing but immigration
could ever relieve us from it;
and every law on our statute books
that .Iow Invites population and capi-
tai would would be at once abrogated !;
and every probability that the party
which learns nothing good and forgets
nothing bad would be ultimately root
ed out by the influx OF an intelligent.
liberal minded population, would be
guarded against by the same Japanese
policy that always distinguished yir-
ginia. That we would DO reabsorbed
into Virginia, whenever (if ever a com
junction in national affairs permitted,
intelligent men cannot doubt.
Now III any man believes that is
desirable future for this people he
ought 10 vote against the constitutional
amendment. II he believes these re-
turned rebels ought to be content a few
years with the enjoyment of civil rights,
in view OF their henious crime against
society and government, instead Of
being eager for immediate reinstate-
ment in public confidence; If he believes
it Is better 70 perpetuate the liberal in
situations conferred by our separate
State government under the laws now
in operation, than 70 return to fhepo
erty md ignorance and stagnation of
the Old Virginia system, and that
in order to preserve these insti-
tutions under this State govern
ment, Il Is best 70 exclude for a
time from participation in the govern
ment those who recently rebelled for its
overthrow, then he should vote for the
amendment. II man believes that
the State would not, either in the imma-
diate or remote future. be the loser in
case thess persons shonId choose to re-
move from the State, but that ON the
the contrary II would be rid Of mis-
chieyous and comparatively worthless
element whose place would be more
than supplied by better men from
abroad, who would not come here If
that elementSwere in the ascendency,
then he ought to vote for the consti-
tutional amendment For ourselves
we are persuaded that the future holds
no promise Tor our people, In a social,
political or material point of view, SCI
the policy which dictated our separa-
ton from the. old State and its Bour-
bonisn and the Joining OF our fortunes
with the great, free and intelligent CONF
mnnities TINT border us on The north
and west, Is 70 be abandoned for one
which is based ON the idea that q wrong
has been done IN the suppression Of the
rebellion and the overthrow OF slavery.
Tn TREAsoN TfIAIs At HtSD.-It
Is probable TINT the trial of Jeff. Davis
fortreason VIII commences nj Richmond
very soon Attorney General Speed is
anxious to hasten il. and IS making the
Necessary preparations. and Judge I'M
derwood has given notice that the regn-
lar term Of the United States efre1it
court viii be held At Richmond In May.
IL would seem from this that the scra-
pies OF the chief justice about holding