The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-07-18

And said I, "Sir, do you consider your.
self as under any obligations to follow
your State in doing what your own
judgment and your own conscience
convince you S'wrong? You we're an
original Union man. Yes says he,
4 consider that to bs my duty If it
was your duty, it is my duty snid I.
DO you think, said I, that | am under
any obligation to protect and defend n
horse thief or pirate because he comes
from my State, any sooner than | would
protect md defend horsc.thicf coming
from South Carolina or Massachusetts,?
No. snid he, Il don't think you arc.
why, then, am I bound to protect the
traitor2' How, said he, do you expect
nc to respect q Government that tram.
plies upon my rights and oppresses mo :?
In what respect, said |, have your
rights hccn tramplcd upon? Who has
assaicd your rights? This Govern.
mcnt, said he. In what% Because
they tax me without representation.
Why said I, you were represented.
How comes it that you are not repre-
sentcd now. Is it not your own fault?
Did not your representatives abandon,
voluntarily and trcachcrousIy y abandon,
their positions in the public councils as
your Representatives. 'Well, said he,
that's got nothing to do with it now.
well, said |, you are in favor OF negro
suffrage, then? oh, no" says he, mot
|, not L. why said |, don't you
mean to tax the property Of the ne
grocs| Why, Of course, said he.
Then, don't you mean to allow them to
be represented" " oh, that is different
affair al,oScthcr!' | would not alludc
to the subject ofthis conversation, except
that heard an original Union man, aud
II gentleman, occupying his postion-an
intelligent gentleman, lawyer and a
legislator - express such opinions as
these.
I take him to be q fair type Of those
by whom he is surrounded, and that is
the general feeling of the SOUTH mean
Of those who were in rebellion against
the Government. should like to in.
quirc Of these gentlemen, who claim
their respective States as their country.
and the only country to which they owe
their allegiance, in the event Of their
desiring. to travel abroad, where
they apply for passports? Is their ap,,
plication made to the State or National
Government? Aud, then, ifundcr their
American passports they arc oppressed
by any foreign Government, to whom do
they apply for redress? 10 which Gov.
ernmcnt do they look for protection ?
Is it to the minister or other represent
a,ivcs Of their State in Europe, that they
apply, or to the representative Of the
United States? Ana is it to the State
Government they look for protection, or
is i, to the great, strong right arm Of the
United States? Now let inc ask, what
right such people have to ask that this
Government shall undertake to guaran.
tee protection to those who do not ac'
knowledge their obligation ofallcSlance?
However, to reason with such men Ii to
throw away both time and labor.
Among tho first questions that arise
is, what We should have done and what
ought to have been done after this re-
bcllion was at an end. In my opinion,
the first duty Of the President OF the
United States IRIS 10 hrrc hut nrc'y
prominent t""iiny mLet III hc So"'h IN
Simultaneously "rrr<hd. II ! had been in
the exercise that power, q can only say
what would have donc,) | would have
had every prominent aud leading rebcI
in every State arrested. / wo"It harI
had Mcm hicd Ly "ourt martial. Ind !
mouM hare hnd them conricicd cf treason
und comI'mnrd In 'icnth, molcr the C"n,
situtioa amt Ia~s Of Ms country. And
if Mr.. johnson had done this, and had
then chosen to pardon all, should mol
have complained. he had chosen to
banish all, I should not have gone
into mourning. If he had chosen tc
pardon all, / should have been content
/ have no personal feeling Of animosIty
toward these people. They are my fel'
low .coun,rymsn. They are my old po
litical and personal associates. bu. !
should have an example made that would
have been lesson for future generations
for tho perpetni,y and safety OF TIN:
great Republic in the future. | nigh
have mourncd and | might have wcp
over the execution of many Of them, o'
my former friends and associates, still
| could not have helped exclaimlnS
" You have brought your fate upon
yourselves and you deserve it," | have
not been one Of those to permit my per
spnal relations to be marrcd by my po
Iitical feelings, and | have no feelings
Of personal onimosity against one O.
them. Bm ! say thM me Constitution
shomM ham been rin'lirntcd-fhc Ia"
6uqlt 10 hurc Lcca riniicatId, and rraSo'
shouH hare been made odiom. | woulc
have taken such course, and would
have had Mr.. johnson take such course
as would have deferred any future sea'
Grafton from attempting the same thing
again.
But, instead Of that, Mr.. johnson, as
I honestly believe, whatever may be hi
position and feeling, now, from feeling
of bcnevolenco and Kindness Of heart
u. A.. ,,u.k !, ,bo c;onnrit,