The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-05-16
Punic Faith.

uuAC - tAAs.'
In all the history of the world, the
heaviest condemnation has been pro-
nounced against the people who violated
q truce. Even barbarous tribes have
generally respected pledges given by
their chiefs, and have carefully endeavor-
ed to keep inviolate their plighted faith.
The ancient Carthagenians were almost
the only people of whom history 1ur,
nishes any account who disregardea
the promises solemnly made to ther
enemies, and the phrase "Punlc falth
has long been synonym for treaohery
and base deception. And yet the peo'
pie of West Virginia are asked to CON,
nit an act scarcely less violative Oh pun
lie faith thanthat for which the Cartna-
genians were damned to everlasting
infamy,
The late rebels have enPardoneo ny
the general government, and PROMISED
nroteotion in the exercise OF their CIVIL
and political rights. 1t was their un-
Outstanding, and that of the nation gen.
orally. tl.at their acceptance OF the con-
dit;ous of the profered amnesty would
grant them complete forgiveness 1or
their past acts, and shield them from
any further responsibility therefor
They were led by the officers OF the
Federal government to believe that so
long as they thereafter demeaned them
selves as good citizens aud oheyed the
laws aud maintained their allegiance to
the Federal government, they would oe
unmolested in the exercise OF all the
rights pertaining to citizenship IN the
several States In this belief, and rely
ing upon these promises, the rebels Land
down their arms, returned to theli
homes, renewed their allegiance to the
government and resumed the avocatlons
ofpeaceful lite. So determined was the
Federal government that these men
shoald be permitted to enjoy the ben'
eft of their terms of surrender, and
that the promises of the government
sbould lie literally ana faithfully full.
filled, that when Governor FOREMAN
went to Washington city and urged the
authorities there not to permit the Con-
federate soldiers torotarn TO their homes
in Vest Virginia, he was told that tae
faith of tho government was pledged 10
their protection. and failed 10 accom-
plish his purpose. Aud we all remem,
Der that one year age, when radical
mobs, composed of men who had stald al
home and avoided duty in the army
we're formed to modest and annoy those
who, in accordance with the terms OF
surrender, were returning TO their for
mer homes, the military commander OF
the department. proposed +" Employ all
the United States troops under
his cummand in puuishlUg any viola
ton of the peace and in protecting
the surrendered rebels IN The enjoyment
ofall the privileges guaranteed to them
by General GRANT. These things are
within the recollection OF all our read
ers. But now, after the expiration of
more than year from the close of the
war, after the passion and hot blood en-
gendered by the strife have had time to
subsids, men are found who advocate
the destruction Of ali the civil and po-
litical rights of those who relied upon
the promise of the government 1t is
now proposed to break faith with those
who have placed themselves in our pow
er, and Grive from their homes those
whom the government solemuly prom
ised to protect
We ask the people of West Virginia,
can anything be more base than the VIC
lstion Of good faith which the radicals
now prCpOseY Can any people expect
to merit the confidence of the world or
enjoy the favor of Heaven, if they thus
break their most solemn pledges!