The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-01-31
Tho ReaetIonnry Movements In Yves
.Jll FJoD, De ci,leinnati Commercial
I LAecording to the measage OF Cove

L. g-.t- s4ffuIlffys eNtrEtnln- % ill foe : Z
5s5.i1a FFoni he ciatctrsati consn,e+eiat
According to the message of, Cover
nor Foreman, and articles in the papers
ofWestern Virginia thatstood uncondi-
tionally by the Union during the war,
the leayen of. secession is still at work
in the young State, and is likely to give
some trouble. 1t is believed its actiYiT
lty is stimulated by influences from
Richmond, where a. clique OF malcon-
contents, who carry executive evidences
of treason and magnanimityin in their
pockets, are plotting the reunion OF
West with East Virginia. There is
u considerable faction in West Vir-
ginia who were in sympathy with the
rebellion dnring the war, who voted
| for the ordinance of secession in 1861,
sustained the violent crimes of the Leg
islatnre of that year. and en1they
could, gave armed cooperation to the
rebel INVASION of their State. gPhe5e
persons are now the agents of the Rich
mond pIotteis. Under the convenient
name OF conservatives, these reaction
| lists hope 70 secure majority in the
Legislature of West Virginia, with the
ppTpose Of repeating the acts OF pre-
out the political existence, of the
new State. Their dissati atisfaction with
the new order of things arises chiefly
| from the somewhat stringent laws up
on the statute books which shut the
door of preferment in the faces of those
who participated in the rebellion
These laws they declare to be odious
and proscriptiye. The Constitutional
self deals severely with them, and they
have little chance for political distinc-
tion in the future. They profess that
unless these restrictive measures are
set aside and they admitted to foil par
ticipation in civil affairs, a very large
PROPORTION of the citizens of West Yir-
I'ginia would "very gladly welcome q
return to The bosom of the old State"
! In some of the eastern counties, meet
ings have been held doubtless under in
structions from Richmond, to take steps
for a reunion with Virginia. They as
ting on the question of separation,
and claim that the sense of the
majority should be taken now, and
that every citizen, no matter what his
antecedents, should be allowed a voice
in determining 1t. The, Wheeling IN
TEL1IaRNcER admonishes the reaction
lists that their dream of a reunion with
the old State is vain and illusory," and
advises them to be careful how they run
afoul of the provisions of the organic
law. The ParkerBburg Gazette is snotso
confident, as is evident from the earnest
tone of n well-constdered and lengthy
article on the subject. 1t is of opinion
that when, as in the ninth judicial dis
trict of the State, an aneX-Lieutenant Gov
ernorg of the rebel government of Vir
gina is elected circuitjudge by the votes
OF the people, there is necessity for leg
islatiOn that will diminish the power for
mischief which these conspirators,
against the very existence of the State,
are gradually gaining. Following the
suggestions of Governor Boreman, 1t
Recommends that the Legislature first
provide for registry of voters as au-
thoriZed by the constitution. I'd. That
they see that all officers of elections
shall take the prescribed oath of office,
of November, 1868, and that failure to
do shall render the vote void. 8. That
all the county and township officers
shall qualify before the circuit judges,
or before some officer designated by the
Governor or Legislature, for that pur-
pose. p - 81 3" 9t G--' &"
And it adds:
d 1--WE add the last suggestion, as it
may be inconvenient for the Circuit
Judge to be in the several counties at
times proper for such qualifications.
That men who have foughtin and given
their secret sympathy for the late re-
| bellion, should be disarmed of power
school system, and to involve her again
in disloyalty, is a position on the part
| of Governor iBoreman worthy the ap-
proyal of every patriot in the State.
t"The State needs no stronger proof of
the unfitness of any restored confeder-
ate to exercise the right of suffrage,
and the danger to the country of allow
ing them to do so, than the fact, now
undeuiable, that they give their votes
to place in power the very men who
linaugurated, by treason, and maintain-
ed by arms, the late rebellion. Men
have no right, under our liberal Gov
ernment even, to enthrone treason, or
place public trusts in the hands of those
who have voluntarily taken oaths to
overthrow the constitution and laws of
their country. It is safe rule, and
one observed by every nation, to keep
its government in the hands OF its
friends. Where the test oath. in our
State has not been executed, the results
of the late elections clearly demonstrate
that it is not only prudent to restrict
suffrage by appropriate legislation, but
indispensable for the public good to do
"Taking advantage of the liberality
of Union men toward paroled and van
quished rebels, a combined effort has
been made all over the State to break
down every barrier in the form Pfoaths
of Office, and bring into power The old
file leaders of the rebellion. We have
been willing, in view of the doubtful
constltutionality of the test oath, to
give this class of men a fair field in
which TO show their hands. They have
| now done so, and of their intent, how
ever, dishonorable to themselves, fresh
as they are from the ranks of treason,
there is no doubt.
1t would certainly be remarkable
change in the current of opinion and
feeling in West Virginia, if the reac-
tionary party, whose avowed purpose
is reunion, should rise to power and
dominate in civil affairs; for, prior to
the rebellion, there were strong indica-
tions that separation of the State
would sooner or later take place. The
western counties were notin sympathy
with those of the east, and were not lib
orally treated by them in matters of
Legislation. Tbeirmanufacturing, min
| ing and commercial interests were
wrongly taxed, to support a State Gov
ernment, that gave little heed to their
demands for internal improvements
which were actually needed, but which
could not be built by private en-
| terpfise exclusively, owing to want
of adequate capital. The slave in
terest was carfully protected, and the
burdens of taxation taken entirely off
the shoulders of the wealthy planters
of the Virginia Valley and James Riv-
er counties, or but lightly imposed
This Increased the aversion to slavery
in the Western counties, where few
slaves were held, and assisted in deyel-
oping a party favorable to secession
\ from the East. The action of the Con-
yention of 1851, which passed the ordi-