The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-05-24

II EAmeuum euEs-sLne 4IeCLAEe = EEtAA-
chise not a Right TO be Demanded,
buta Privilege conferred-rheG Great
Question Before the People ofWest
| Extract from letter TO Gen. Northcott, ol
- - Clnrksburgl Is f II -
Pardon suggestion in reference to
| this right of suffrage. It does not 1ol-
| low that because we vouchsafe to those
guilty of rebellion, their civil rights
and immunities of citizenship, they
are. thereby, entitled to the enjoyment
| OF the elective franchise. For myself
am willing to- forget the pnst. j want
no confiscation, no bloodshed, or life
destroyed. But do want security for
the future. Now suffrage is not an IN
herent right, but u privilege to, be
granted or withheld as the Interest,
welfare and security of the State may
require. Our wives, and daughters,
to all civil right-to all security in the
enjoyment OF "life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness But,we do not
| allow them ia vote. Every community
mnst regulate the right OF suffrage tor
| itself. II ought not to do dosoarbitrarily,
or in violation of the principles .ol JUS
| tice or a wise expediency; yet II mayI
and 1t ought to exclude whomsoeyeri 1t
has just, cause to fear will endanger the
peace, prosperity, and integrity of the
State. The public welfare is the cri-
teFion. On this principle our rEnatnr 1li /
zation laws are predicated; and the
State constitution requires the voter to
/ be n citizen of the United States; and
therefore. he must have been in the
|. United States five years before he can
| vote in West Virginia. We also eS-
clude panpers, persons non coHlpoS
mentiS, and persons convicted OF an IN
famous offence. Why ~, because IL
lgtf
required it. Now the question, and
with me the only question, is, cap those
lately engaged in rebellion; be al this
time, safely entrusted with the right of
spffrage2 Doubtless some of them
might be. So might some of our
sons under ,2I years of age. hut we
must have general rules. And as
generaITule; would 1t be wise or stffe,
under existing circumstances, to per-
nit returned rebels to voter Again
revert to experience. What Is the con-
dition of affairs where the rebels have
been restored to political power and
authority? Ask Governor Peirpoint at
fessions of loyalty to him. He conf
ded in their protestations. What is the
resuIt2 AS soon as he restored them TO
power, they forthwith contumactously
hurled every one of his loyal appo1n-
tees from Office, and titled their places
with men remarkable :only for their
rancerous support of the rebellion. A
gentleman from Alexandria the other
day informed me that as soon as the
municipal authority of that city fell
into the hands of the rebels, they in
Stantly removed from Office every loyal
incumbent even down to the night
scayenger. So it's throughout the South,
where those who were in, the rebellion
have secured the power. Everywhere,
without exception, the avowal is bold
~ made, that Unionistn shall be made
odiouS, and rebellion shall be made
honorable. l,nSo twill be INVEST Nir-
ginia, if we suffer epolittcalpower to
passiinto the hands of those who were
lately arrnyed against us in our strtlg-
gle for national existence and are in
sympathy against 1t. I can pledge
you my word of honor, that 4 have yet
to hear the first one of them acknowl-
edge that his cause rwas wrong. They
uniformly avow that 1T was good
cause, II righteous cause, cause that
regret it did not Succeed. They say
that they ''accept the situations" not be-
cause they love the situation, bur be-
cause they have not the power to resist
it.. do not pretend to deny that they
are sincere. But if so, and they are
honest men, will they not, if opportuni-
ty occur, revolt again, to establish n
cause which.ttey believed to be right,
and afor which they have fought so
bravely2 Ifthey are insincere and dis!
honest, would it be wise to trust them
again2 They rebe1led once without
cause. May they not5do so again II
they get chance to do so2 Is not their
hatred of the Government more bitter
and intense lhan 1t ever was2 Is not
their submissionof compnlsion, rather
than of fconsent or affection? - ,5,e.
Furthermore, can we safely trust
them on the question of fthe integrity
of our new State Hitherto this has
been the object of their most especial
hostility. What sort of commissioners
would they select to. treat with those
appointed by East Virginia fora re-
union of the States p And how about
the reputation of the national debt,
so much talked of throughout the
South? Ofif not bold enough for that,
is there no danger of the assumption of
the confederate debt? Can it be wise
TO entrust such men with such tretnen+
dous issues2 Are the Union men of
West Virginia, after the history of the
last four years, ready TO tosurrender these
questions to the decision of such men
In whose hands are the interests and
honor of West Virginia more secure
in the hands of. the loyal citizens who
hayel maintained both with life and
treasurer or in the hands OF. the men.
who did all they could to destroy both
our State andithei Union2 In SO far rs
these men are clothed with the politi-
cal powerIof the State; to! that extent
are all these great Interests imperilled.
1t said, however, by ytsometwholn
am. SURPRISED to hear sayiso, that this
proposed constitutional amendment is
vfndictive-that il is er post Jdot0 in its
operation, and, therefore, unconstitu-
tfonal. This is a misrepresentation OF
the grounds on which the amendment
is placed. 1t is not designed as apun-
| Iisliment. 1t has no reference in. its
purpose to the past. 1t looks only to
the future. 1t is designed to secure the
future peace, welfare, and integrity of
theiState. Ut is exclusively measure
| of self defence. 1t is not to punish
men for the rebellion they have al
ready waged, but it is to prevent them
from, m,waging another irebelli0nl and lis
predicatedS as FsunderStand it ION the
belief that the men hereto tofore lrevolted
against a benign government without
the shadow of a pretext, are not safe
| debos STORIES of the political power of
the State. On this ground; If such be-
| lief be well founded, the measure is
not only justitiable, but the people
would be derelfct of duty If they failed
to adopt it. z4- .E.z...a Il ..isf4 !
GREENBAoKs ARE COOP. +,
MscKAPs.,i-The financial committee
Of iths o.AIahoney branch of the Fen!
ians have made their report to Mr..
Stephens.y but. he refuses to make it
| ~, E,Ifc VARY nrnnprlv If TyOuld seem.