The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-02-20

These men who have been in rebellion
are the enemies Of the State and the
United States, and would, if theycould
drive ms back into Old Virginia. and
briug upon us all TIE loads and burdens
the people OF that State have brought
upon themselves by their folly and wick
| edness.
But il is said the liberties Of the peo-
ple are at stake. We have heard. this
same CRY during the four years Of war,
and if now comes with bad grace from
a gentleman on this floor who has been
confronting these men in battle. II it
be liberty 70 let these men get into
power. God deliver me from such liberty.
What would have been our condition
today. had the rebels succeeded. We
would have been made heTers Of wood
and drawers Of watel,' The rights o.
no man have been interfered with, except
those who have brought punishmsnt
upon themselves, Let US protect oar
selves from these men. and we will CON-
mand the respect Of our neighboripg
States. as we did in beating back the
enemy during the rebellion. The great
object Of the Government Is to protect
its friends, Were we now to invite
these men back we would DO great
wrong to our people.
The President has shown great deal
Of leniency to the rebels; but what does
that amonnt to- The gentleman from
Tyler, Colonel Johnson,) asserted that
the amnesty proclamation of the Presi.
dent had restored rebels to all their
rights The amnesty proclamation only
protect ed these men in their person and
property. We do not object to this, but
as it is our province to decide whether
these men should be allowed to vote or
not, we deny them the privilege aud
propose the passage Of this bill 10 eject
the object.
It was said the law was &C post JGcto
Were there not laws to punish treason
when these men lett TO join the rebel
lion, He would hate to occupy the po'
sition of an apologist for the rebels who
had attempted to destroy the govern
ment.
1t was saiu hat We should exercise
Christian feelings and be torgiving We
are willing TO forgive as we are torgiv-
eu," but when We see the domineering
spirit of the returned rebels, what evil
deuce have We that they entertain q
spirit of forgiveness p He cared not for
reelection to this House he was not a
candidate. He would vote for the bill,
not in spirit Of revenge, but be deemed
it but a duty he owed to the State and
its Ioyal citizens The Bill was consti-
tutional II was just aud proper
measure, and he would support 1t.
Mr. Riddle, Of Richie, said the gentle
man from Tyler Mr., Johnson had learn
ing and ability, and he was sorry to see
his influence thrown against this Bill
1t was said some members of this House
feared they would not be reelected as
far as this was concerned he cared no
more for II than j well-teathered
gander aid 10I 4 shower Of rain,
The rebels never had reason tor com
plaint, but they arrayed themselves ia
rebellion against the Government We
did not even propose to imprison them
for their crimes but merely TO Curtall
their privileges 1t was claimed that
the bill was unconstitutional. The cou-
stitution most assuredly provided tor the
punishment of crime Our religious
feelings are appealed to THE Speaker
1Tle gatoie:'Ti. potIion =! .ISd sSitPeu'o ,o
od We H9t' =" HinE - - ~ " We Canid in
tIe coSa IF tbess raLsia uraT y1ith the
PseImist = st tbeir dsve fa few md
Their cIilGrpn become fstherleos am
sworn to protect the constitution; these
rebels care nothing about the constitu-
tion We will have TO fight the devil
With FIRE these men remain criminals.
and ANDY Johnson IS 100 good man to
rordor fba,, md let hem take roost i'm
W TT - Thoyo roIoIs ,ra not
" 1S' - - ,d'T ,.,,i 90 man fbe evan
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