The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-25

TIE Fairmont Hedette (Which is quite
ferocious in its political virtue) en-
deavors to be severe on the INTELL1.
oENcER for saying we.belioye our mem
bers of Congress represented the pres
emit feeling of the people of this State in
voting against colored suffrage in the
District Of Columbia; but patronizes US
In very generous way for having add
ed thatin the course of time they would
look upon 1t with complacency. We
cheerfully defer to the superior judg-
ment of the Vedette, but supposed our
opportunities forlearning the feeling of
all classes Of the people in all sections
of the State were somewhat better
than his, and might so far make up our
relative lack of judgment, as to enable
us to hazard an opinion.
The Vedette developes what It styles
"a grand coup fetat;;" that is, it de-
clares itself in favor of enfranchising
the colored men in this State, and init
mates that n proposition so TO amend
the constitution will be made in the
Legislature this winter. We have
looked with some anxiety to see what
effect this tremendous stroke of policy
would have on the general state Of the
country, and are relieved to find that
the eastern markets are not visibly
affected, that business stilI'goes on In a
circle, and that confidence in the revo.
luton Of the world on its axis and In
the daily rising and setting of the sun,
is not impaired.
We have been looking little into
the facts concerning the class whose
Moses the Vedette has now become, and
find some things curious and interest
ing. In order to enablethe intrepid ed
itor OF the Vedette to manage his "grand
coup d'eta" intelligently, we have
taken the trouble 10 look through tho
books in the Office OF the Auditor, to
ascertain just how large a host our
friend will have to lead out of the will
derness, in his new capacity us Moses.
We find that there are at this time In
the entire State (save Greenbrler oOun-
ty, from which there is no iniormatlon)
just 1,Gi3 male colored persons over 81
years of age. These are the only per.
sons who would become voters by
striking the word "white" out of the
Constitution. So that II the vote were
given 10 these men, It would mako but
little difference in the relative strength
OF parties, II they all voted ono way
(Which they might do, and might not;
for somehow or other the unintelligent
voters OF all classes naturally and ulti.
mately find their way into the ranks of
the Democracy, as the colored voters
arc now doing in Massachusetts,
In 1850 there were In the counties now
composing West Virginia, 2l,123 per.
sons Of color, free and slave. or these
1881 were slave and 2,742 free. OF
these, In the counties then classed as
"the Northwest" there were OF free,
and G,44s slave. In the counties then
olassed with ''tho Southwest there
were 3G2 free aud $500 slave; and Id
the valley counties, Jefferson, Berke.
ley, Morgan, Hampshire, Hardy and
PendletOnD there were 1858 free and
s,2A slaye-more thnn in tho whole
Northwest" Jefferson alone NUN.
bered over 5000 slaves and 500 free no.
groes. Greenbrier and Knnnwha were
the next largest slave counties. II IL
n curious Tact that with perhaps tho
single exception OF Kannwhn, WHEREBY.
or this population wax tho largest, tho
white population now IL most disloyaI ;
showing how Intimate, here In
West Virginia, hs elsewhere, was
tho connection botwcCn slavery
aud secession.
AcommOn rule whom estimating pop.
Glatlon on bnsis OF voters, Ia to count
about five for one; but this rule will
not apply In nscerLaIning the aggregate
oolorCd population now In tho SlntO.
Comparatively fo@ OF these / ,Gl3 mnlos
over q have families. THOR former
status was not favorable 10 tho cultlva-
tlon Of the family relation. They work
ubout tho country here and thoro M
best tlioy can, generally by themselves.
They do not probably represent pop.
ulallon Of more than four or i've thou