The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-05-14


FELLOW C1T1zESs-on Thursday thl
24th day of May ls66-a very few day
now-the people of West Virginia viii
be called upon to vote upon the follow
ing amendment to their State Consti
tution-viz:- -st,ss..t.el
mo person who, since the 1st day o
June, 1861, has given or shall give vol
untary aid or assistance to the rebellion
against the United States, shall be 9
vote at any election held therein, un
less he has volunteered into the militia
ry or naval service of the United States
and has been or shall be honorably dis
charged therefrom."
The design of this amendment is tc
keep out of power all those persons who
plunged the country into the late war
and who are responsible for the two
hundred and eighty-five thousand lives
that were lost on the Union side in put
ting down the rebellion, and for all the
widows and fatherless children who
mourn throughout the land, and for the
great debt of twenty-seven hupdred
millions of dollars that has been entail
ed upon US for generations to come.
This Amendment does not hurt or in
any way offend a single man who did
not, of his own free will and choice, be-
come traitor during the rebellion, or
who, in SO doing, did not render aid
either by taking up arms or contribu-
ting money or means of some sort to
those who were in arms.
And we ask you, fellow citizens,
whether in your hearts you believe that
a man who, of his own free will and
choice, left our midst and went South
to take up arms against the Govern
ment of his country, from which he
sort during his life, but which was and
is, as we all know, the best and the
freest Government on earth, ought
now come back among us and be the
same in public respect and in po-
litical rights US those who either
bore arms in defense of the good
old flag of freedom, or else remain.
ed ut home with their families and
wished well to the Union armies, and, at
Times, as they were called upon, gave
all the assistance in their power to the
final success of the Union cause.
And we further asksyou, fellow citi-
zens, If those who remained here along
side of you, and WHO enjoyed the pro-
lection of their lives and property the
same as yourselves, and who never
gave even SO much as good wishstor
the Union, but who secretly gave mon
ey, clothes, and other aid and assist
ance to rebels in arms, ought now to be
considered Just, us good in all political
respects, and to- be entitled 10 equal
honor with those who were true and
loyal to their native or adopted coun-
try2 sst@ 1.. y -.
which you will vote on the 9TH pro
poses only that those men who gave
actual aid and assistance to the rebel
lion, and who for years sought either
of themselves or by furnishing money
and means to others, to break up the
Union to destroy. our entire form OF gov
ernment, TO blot out our free institu-
tions, and to reduce us all under the
despotism of slave empire, shall not
again control us nor set up among us
anv of the remains of their wicked re-
bellion.
These traitors and heirsympathizers
tell you a great deal about the negro.
They would like to keep your eyes
away from their conduct during the
war by keeping them on the negro.
look their wickedness they Know full
we'll that youIa would vote them
down on all occasions. But they be-
lieve that If they can make you
think that the great Union party of the
own friends and neigh
bors here In Wheeling being members
of that party--desire to make the negro
equal with the white man-that, then
you will forget all about traitors and
rebels and be willing to join with them
in order to put down negro equality.
This Is their cunning game. We fear
some of you have been already de-
ceived.
Fellow citizens, you must know that
no party in this country desires to make
the negro the equal of the white man:
It would be impossible. Traitors and
rebel sympathizers tell you SO iii order
to get you to vote with them, and thus
cover up their own records during the
war. The Union men of the country
simply desire that the negroes of the
uth'shall enjoy in peace and quietthe
freedom which was gained for them In
the war. They desire only that the me-
gro shall be recognized as a man by
his late tmesterss and roppressors-one
of Gods poor creatures-and that he
has a right to own his own wife and
childrenS the same as other men, and be
paid wages forIhis daily labor instead
of lashes at the whipping post as in the
taSs be fore the war! The rebels and
their sympathizers hate the negroes, not
for any fauItof the Unfortunate crea-
lures themselves, but because they are
not white and have not as much sense
as whiteSmen, nnd because they were
true to the country in the dark and
doubtful days when all, Union men
were glad to get the help of any friend
whether his skin was white or black.
AS Union men we desire only to see
the negro left aIon left to work for
5t-s......tF RIt4aaf stIaINkas xx,haTa ha nnpa
lived as a slaye-left to get along the
best way he can-with no body to
abuse him, and with fair chance to
improve his condition. The bttterest
rebel in our midst ought to be ashamed
TO say that he islnot willing to see the
poorest OF ball human beings, be his
color what 'it may; have a fair chance to
work hisway through life. s.rri# #!i.l..
We beg, fellow citizensI that you VIII
not allow your minds to be confused
with this talk of rebel sympathizers. Do
not suffer such men to close your eyes
to the real issue that Is before you In
this election. Do not forget the records
of these men who are talking to yon
about negro eqna lity: They DO not be-
lieve a word of it themselves. They
are simply using your votes, 10 get back
again into their old places of influence
and -power.-Yo You must be aware that
your Union fellow. citizens here in
wheeling and West Virginia are more
worthy to be believed and more worthy
to be your political friends than those
who did ali IN their power during the
wnrtoi ibFinglint the armies of the rebel-
lion into our midst, and to destroy for
ever the present government under
which all of us, friend and foe, have
0ur freedom and our prosperity.
Whoand what is the party that stands
opposed to the Union party to-day in
West .Virginia2 Whoare It's leaders7
who dc. you see prominent in Its meet
ings? Who are those that take the
most interest In that paftyf We an-