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

SSssASRt9A " HL4uL0 akh1uSb 4ubLlE6 I6U6l.
lions or the consequences of the one
rom which we have Just escaped
twenty Senators from the rebel States
ADDED to the present number of Demo.
cratic members, would constitute con-
siderably more than one-third of that
pody, and would effectually prevent
the adoption of any amendment, and
Wopld thus secure to the Southern
States perhaps for all time, the gross
and wicked inequality of representa-
tlon which they now possess, If 1t
shall be said that upon the conclusion
of a rebellion, rebels shall have 4 right
to run from the battlefield, or from
the floor of. rebel Congress back b
seats in the Congress OF the United
States, in time to prevent the adoption
of any amendments TO the Constitution
which have been rendered necessary
by the changed condition of the coun-
tryl or the enactment OF such laws as
are required 10 preserve the future
peace of the country, it Is but to repeat
In another form that rebellion Is no Of
fense, and that the Government has no
right to protect itself from destruction
by legislation or arms.
nWhen the Government was trying to
borrow money to prosecute the war, It
had been announced that as soon az the
war was over-the question Of making
appropriations to pay the interest of the
money borrowed would be referred 10
the votes of rebel Congressmen, / ask
how much money confd have been borl
rowedf If when we were calling for
volunteers to fill up the loyal armies, Il
had been proclaimed that the first effect
of putting down the rebellion would
be to fill up Congress with rebel MEM
bers, who would have a right to vote
on all questions growing out OF the
war, on all questions of DEMONSTRATION,
bountiee, pensions. and military hon.
ors, ask how many volunteers could
have been obtained2 I
And I submit as ageneral a proposi-
sttion that rebellion cannot be discour-
aged, treason made odious, loyalty en-
couraged, and patriotism rewarded, If
when rebellion has been suppressed,
rebels are admitted to make laws for
the loyal and administer the affairs of
g Government they have Just failed to
destroy. ~ D
The position am combating is abb
horrent to the common sense of every
man, and Violative of every principle
ofjnstiCe, and yetit is that upon which
the Democratic leaders of Indiana have
planted themselves, and from which
they are going forth to do battle against
the country. / am for amending the
Constitution SO as to equalize the rep
for three rensons:
FiTSt-Because it is a measure of abb
solute Justice in itself, and removes an
80. = -
Second Because it would SO reduce
the power in the Government of those
who have been in rebellion, that they
could not by uniting with disloyal
faction in the North, work mischief and
dishonor to the Nation. p = ii55 -
ThtroE-Because it would present to
4F
inducelnent to confer political rights in
due time upon large negro popular
ton in their midst, which otherwise
they might not concede for many gem
erations. 81 :, '7'14
DEMOCRATIC PURPOSES AND POLICY.
Aud now let us inquire what meas
ures the Democratic party are for afflr-
matively. 1t is and has been opposed
to Whatever the Union party Is in favor
OF, but 1t has also positive and afflr-
native policy which it lis important
that the people should understand. The
great aud leading measure of its policy
ls the immediate and unconditional adj
mission of q full representation in both
Houses OF Congress from the rebel
States: that the test oath shall be repeal-
ed; that there shall be no punishments;
that there shall be no political or civil
imposed upon any man who
has been engaged in the rebellion Il that
there shall be no amendment to the
to make it conform to the
changed circumstances of the nation
that there shall be no legislation to pre-
vent the recurrence of future rebellions;
but that Union men and rebels, Union
soldiers and rebel soldiers, shall be put
upon a perfect equality before the law,
and that no honors or rewards shall be
extended to the one which are not equal
ly bestowed upon tho other. In proof
OF this last position, let me refer you to
the notorious fact that, in their speech
es ana newSpapers,th they bestoW brill
liant and glowing panegyrics upon the
genius and virtues of General Lee, but
are significantly silent about Grant,
sherman and Sheridan. They weep CO.
piously over the memory of StonewalI
Jackson, but have not q tear to shed for
the untimely deaths of Lyon, Kearney,
and Hackelman. They
mourn from day to day over the ficti-
tious sufferings of JET. Davis, but have
never yet expressed u regret for the
thousands sRtsAndersonvilIe
and Salisbury.
%rhese things point to their feelings
and their policy with the unerring cer-
tatnty OF the needle to the pole, and
leave the rational mind without a shad-
ow of doubt as to what they would do
the e,government. They are opposed to
the representation North and
South, because ft would diminish the
power of the rebels in the Government.
They are opposed to prohibiting the as.
of the rebel war debt, for
that would be to prevent them from
doing just what they intend to do
should they again get the power.
We are able 70 predict with absolute
certainty what would be their first
measures should the great calamity
happen that they come into power.
They would assume the rebel war
debit aud put the owners of It upon the
same footing as theSholders of the stocks
of the United States; they would pension,
rebel soldiers, and the families of rebel
soldiers bestowipg upon them equal
hOnors and .emoluments with those who
belonged to the loyC armies ofthe Ma
ton; they would as nearly as possible
reduce the freedmen of the South back
70 the condition of slavery by depriy-
Ing them of all protection and civil
rights. They would harrass and OPP
press Union men, both North and
South, by spbjecting them 70 vlndict-
I've law suits, and 70 the brutal ven
geance ofrebels whom they had defeat
ed in arms.
And most important of all, they
would proclaim the right of secession,
and. bid the Southern States to go II
they yet wished TO do 30, and tell the
States of the Northwest to 20 IN peace
and form Northwestern Confederacy,
lhsuch was their desire.s There Is not
an active Democratic leader in the
Northwest to-day who has not, from
the beginning of the war, asserted that
the people of the North were the ag-
gressoTs5 and that the people of the
south We're standing justly in defense
constitutional rights.
coPPERHEAD INSULTS To.soLDIERs.
While the warswas in progress Cop
pefhead politicians denounced Union
soldiers as :Isincol ri .hIreliugs 2 as fher-