The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-08-18

EGUST Is, 1866.
urged. in its support .'that it would re-
move from Congress all issues in refer
ence TO the political equality Of the
races would leave the States to deter
mine absolutely the qualifications OF
their own voters with regard to color,
and thus the number Of Represents
tives to which. they would be entitledin
congress would depend upon the num-
Der upon whom they confer the right of
suffrage" -
This is practically the change in the
basis of representation proposed by the
Constitutional Amendment. n Ss'TT
In his remarks at an interview with
citizens of Indiana. in April, 1865, the
President, in referring tor his former
declarations relating to the epunishment
of traitors, said: "They must not be
punished, but their social power must
be destroyed. II not, they. will still
maintain an ascendency, and may again
become numerous and powerful, for, in
the language of a former Senator of the
United States: When traitors become
numerous enough treason becomes re-
spectable, and / may say that, after
making treason odious, every Union
man and the Government should be
remunerated out of the pockets of
MA4OhA4kANG Ills
tering upon the country" a'.5.-5 4
Congress, animated by most lenient
spirit, hasnot proposed such indiscrim-
1nnte punishment of the leaders OF the
rebellion, much less to tofmpoverish them
by the confiscation OF their property,
but merely provides, in the Constitu-
ttonRl Amendment, for the disqualify-
ing from holding Office, Federal and
State, of a portion of those whose
crimes have proved them unworthy of
the public confidence. ..T. ,l...,l5 l,,.i
In, his dispatch to Governor Holden,
OF North Carolina, October Is, the Pres
ident says: "Every dollar of the debt
created to aid the rebellion against the
United States should be repudiated,
finally and forever. The great mass of
the people should not be taxed to pay
"a debt to aid in carrying on a rebellion,
which they, in fact, If LEFT to themselves.
were opposed to. Let those who have
given their means for the obligations of
the State look to that power they tried
to establish, In violation of law, Consti-
tuition, and will of the people. They
must meet their fate.n i5l,s.,.,5 F,
Congress heartily responded to these
just and patriotic sentiments, and pro-
vided, in the fourth section of the Con-
stitutional Amendment, for the repudi-
alton of all debts or obligations in
CURED In aid of the rebellion, or any
claim for the loss or emancipation Of
any slave. al s-.s.I - ,,f,7.a
No argument is needed to illustrate
the Justice and the necessity of these
measures. Their mere statement dis
plays the moderation Of Congress in its
treatmenl of the rebellious States, and
is its fullest vindication against the
charge OF hostility toward the citizens
of these States, Never, in the conduct
of any Government toward its rebel
lious people, has such generous for
bearance and magnanimiEy been shown,
as has marked the action of Congress
toward those who sought the overthrow
of our Government, and whose ingratf-
tude, displayed in their persistent as
saults upon Congress, and in their
savage treatment of the freedmen and
Union citizens of the South, Is little
less crime than their open treason
against the Government. a1
But may not longer dwell upon
these topics. I am rejoiced to learn
from your letter, that you are deeply
impressed with the perils that beset the
nation, and that your convictions con-
cur with those of the great body of the
loyal people of the country, that the only
safety of the Republic is in the continue
ed ascendency of the Union party in
the control of the Government.
The issues presented in the coming
election can not be misunderstood.
Shall the Government be under loyal
or dtsloyal control? Shall the Just re-
suits of the war, which we hoped had
secured forever the unity of the nation,
and the universal recognition of the
great truths of the Declaration of Inde-
pendenee, be fully preserved and en-
forced, or defeated by the coalition of
the leaders of the rebellion in the
South and their allies in the NorthR
These comprehend the questions upon
which the people are TO pronounce
their decision. q
Expel the Union party from power,
followed by the restoration ofthe DEM
ocrasi ic party, with its disloyal antece-
dents, its commfttRls and pledges 10
the demands of the South, and what
security will be left the nation for the
preservation of its faith to its patriotic
creditors, to the soldiers and sailors
who saved 1t from the clutches of trea-
son, for their pensions and their bonn.
ties, and to the four millions of loyal
blacks whose servitude was the dfrest
reproach to republican institutions and
humanity, for their freedom. ifn
May we not hope the country will be
spared SO terrible a calamity as would
be that of the defeat of the great and
patriotic party that, under Providence,
crushed the rebellion, and the restora-
ton to power of the party that in the.
darkest hour of the war pronounced st a
failure, and whose success in the Pres
the signal OF surrender to the demands
OF theu rebellion-a surrender, be it
noted, that would have permanently
divided the nation, involved the North
and South in ceaseIess war, bankrupt
ed the Government, forever forged the
chains of slavery on the blacks of the
South, and by the discredit It would
have brought upon the repu bIican gov
ernnent, crushed the hopes Of freedom,
throughout the world. Vtjf z f5i+s
In conclusion, let me congratulate
you upon the healthy public sentiment
that pervades yonr noble State, and the
assurance it gives that at the coming
elections New York will declare itself,
as during the war, the firm supporter
ofthe Union party that SO triumphant
ly Wind dtcated the power and maintain
ed the integrity of the nation against
treason and rebellion. I}7s.7..3
have the honor to be,
Very respectfully, yours, &C.,
W.. DRNHIsoN.
Hon. o. a. Morse, VIM. w. Campbell,
w. ii. Averin, VIM. Nichols and
Items ApproprlateitO to the Close OF the
4F5f i5 Week.
fahness is its own hangman..
mt