The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-08-18
{ - 100 80
more or lessIwide spread, was the con-

the Southern States, and their promi-
nent allies OF the Northern Democratic
party, to hope for division between
the Administration and the Union
party and their restoration to political
power, in. some way, under the favor of
the President. The political tone of
the South underwent marked and
most mischievous change. For several
months Immediately following the sup
preston of the rebellion, the people of
sciousneSS OF deserving such treatment
from the Government as its generous
instincts might prompt IL to give, ex-
pected and asked for nothing more,
Defeated in their wicked efforts to de-
stroy the Government, and alone re-
sponsible for the war, with all its sacri-
fees of life and treasure, they were
ready to submit to any measures the
Government might deem essential to
the general safety of the nation. Re-
garding the abolition of slavery as q
consequence of the war, which they
could no longer resist, to be perpetual
" sanctioned'as a part of the Federal
Constitution, they were prepared to
accept It in all its logical meaning as
comprehe blending the abolitian of all the
incidents of Slavery, and the perfect
equality of the c0Iored race with them-
selYes,i in all civil and political
rights. I do not mean to say they fa-
Vored the extension of the elective fran
chise to their freedmen, but they were
prepared to acquiesce in il If imposed
by the Government. 1t was under this
conviction that the President sent his
dispatch of the date of August Is to
Governor Sharkey, of Mississippi, adj,
vistng the Convention of that State,
then. In session, to SO amend the Consti.
tuition as to extend the aelectiYe fran
Hchise etod all persons, of color who can
read the Constitution of. the United
States in English, and write their
names, and to all persons of color who
own real estate valued at not less than
two hundred and fifty dollars, and pay
taxes thereon"
Such was the political condition of
the South generally during the period
to whichI have referred. The rumors
and anticipations of a rupture between.
the President and the Union party.
however, made a marked change In the
public opinion of the Sonth, and in the
bearing of its prominent men. This was
first authenticity manifested by the
Convention of South Carolina, which
merely repealed. the ordinance of se-
cession, without declaring it nulIity,
declared slavery abolished, stthe slaves
in South Carolina having been emanci-
pated by the action of the United States
authorities and by the non-action of
ITS i Legislatptre upon any Of the recon-
A4AGAANAPAAAOA4a Va OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 70
the reputation of the rebel debt, and
the eamelioration of fthe condition Of the
freedmen, save the ratif fication of the
anti-slaVery amend dment, with explain
ations and reservations.
But may not dwell upon the details
of the action of the Southern conven-
tons and legislatures, My purpose in
referring to the then political tone ofthe
Southern States, is TO remind you of the
beginning and progress of the revival
of the expressions of disloyalty in those
States, and toaits cause in the anticipa4
ted breach between the President and
the Union party under the manipiila1
tons ofthe Democratic party OF the
North. igloeI r'tEai 1875 Ia
Then began the coalition between the
leaders of the Democratic party in the
North, and their old political allies, the
leaders of the rebellion in the Southy
which they hope to oiconsummateb by the
convention soon to assemble in Phila-
.delphia, and whose tortuouS course is,
ttraceable in their common opposition
to the enforcement of the test oath in
the admission. OF Southern Senators and
RepresentatiVesct ito Congress, to all the
measures of Congress relaLtngiJto the
of the Southern States
and in their common. .Teassertion of the
presidential dogma of State sovereignty,
which gave birth to the rebellion, and
lis utterly, Subversive of the constitus
itional powers of the Federal Govern
ment. ies. SO e. a1f77 io1zil, ld
When the annual message of the
President was sent to Congress the
hopes of the loyalists of the country,
who had not despaired of the patriot
ism OF the President, universally reyiv-
ed, and the prospect of harmony be-
tween him and. the ma aiority in Com
gress, discouraged the leaders of the CO.
aliion against the Union party. The
N.,ker
the Executive department with the
Union members of Congress were prac-
tically those that exist between mem
bers OF the same political party, and
confidence in their permanently pre-
vailed throughoutithe Union, organiza-.
Hon of the country. 'eh ip al9!.a
Nor was this confidence seriously
disturbed by the veto, Of the Freed linens
Bureau bill which; though disapprov-
ed by q large majority of Union mem-
bers OF Congress, was not regarded by
them and the country as prompted by
hostility to the Union party.
a. more serious d blow, however,
against the continuance ofharmonious
relations between the President andthe
majority in Congress, and through
them the Union party, of which they
were the accredited =, representatives,
WAS the veto of the, Civil Rights Bill. i
felt iit my duty to advise against that
veto. Il regarded the bill as not only
free from all the constitutional obiec-
itions urged against it by the President,
but as a measure 10 which he was Vir-
tually committed by his repeated decla-
rations; and as wise, lust and benefi-
centiin a1llits leading provisions. If
there. was any proposition on which
there was no division of Sentiment in
1.-The Union party, IL was, the imperative
necessity OF securing 5tot the colored
population of the South all their civil
irights, without which their emancipa-
tion, from slavery would be mockery.
/ deeply regretted that the President
could not see his line Of duty in tie
same direction with the Union mem-
bers of Congress. I never doubted he
would faithfully. support the Freed
mems Bureau Bill, much az he was
opposed to the provisions ofitHe one he
had vetoed, nor that he would aS'fafth-
fully execute the Civfl Rights Bill aftet
It became a law by the action of Con-
gress. hoped, this bin being law,
and so much mplished in the dI-
rectlonh of econstruction, the Prssi-
dent would accept the final action
of Congress . on what remained
to be done for the restoration
of the Southern States. No, ,con-
trary deeleration was made by him,
to my knowledge, previous to the pass
age Of the last CONSTITUTIONAL amend
pmenbIq Ut ia true he bad Manifested
opposition to the amendment. as Eirst
reported by the Gomnitt tee of Fifteen,
with the accompanying bills /, disfran-
-chisingt gtluntfl Il 1870, the great bodyfof
thepeOple of the South from voting for
Repfesen entatiyes In Congress and for
ELECTORS Tor z Ptesid emit and Vice Ptesf-
dent and excluding all the insurgeut
States from represents ton in either,