The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-03-13
vmvor,ant 10 West Viryinians.

tuckians called upon PRESIDENT JOHN
SON, and, in reply to their address en-
dorsing his policy, he said:
It was peculiarly gratifying to receive
these assurances at this particular time.
He trusted that results would show
that the confidence thus reposed was
not misplaced, and would never become
a matter of regret upon the part OF those
who gave expression thereto. -.
The present is regarded as most crit
ical iuncture in the affairs OF the nation
scarcely less so than when an armed
and organized force sought to overthrow
the government. -.
To attack and attempt to cause dis.
ruption of the government by armed
combination and military force, Is no
more dangerous to the life OF the nation
than an attempt to reyolutlonlze ana
undermine it by disregard and de-
struction of the safeguards thrown
around the liberties of the people ID tne
Constitution. ~
Our stand has been taken. Our course
is marked out. We shall take no step
backward in this matter.
No other or higher evidence OF our
purpose in this regard can be gwen IMAM
has already been furnished.
In the failure, as III the past, we shall
endeavor in good faith to make the adj
ministration of the affairs OF the govern
ment conform to the Constitution in its
letter and spirit. Therein is the only
guarantee to the liberties OF the people
1t is hoped by an adherence to this
rule to remedy ere long all the irregular
tiles and annoyances to which the peo-
pie have been subjected.
These are not the words of man ex-
cited by the presence of an applauding
crowd, or intoxicated with wine; they are
in every sense, =" the words of truth and
soberness +" and must be so accepted by
the people. That the present is most
critical iuncture i'll the affairs of the ma.
ton is strictly true A party of deter
mined mon, moved by the lust of power
aud knowing that, under the peaceful
and republican forms of the constitu-
ton, they cannot retain the sway OBJ
tanned by them in the midst OF civil
eommotion, are striving TO revolution
ize and undermine the government by a
disregard and destruction OF the safe
guards thrown around the liberties OF
the people This is the danger that
now besets the uation and it, is against
the Vaccinations of these men that the
President has warned the people. 1t Is
no less threatening than If caused by
armed combination and military force"
and those engaged in this attempt to
destroy popular liberty and establish
themselves as the reigning class forever
soare no lass traitors to the constitution
and government OF the United States
than if they came with fire and sword
to inaugurate their empire. If those
who attempted disruption OF the Union
by military force are punished, the same
INDICTMENT should be melted out to those
who are labOring, by more lnsIdlons
means, for the accomplishment OF the
same object The day that witnesses
the arrangement of JEFF. DAVIS should
see also the trial of THAD. STEVENS aud
CHARLES SUMNER, the latter being as
guilty of treason as the former, so far as
their attempts to destroy the Union are
concerned.
The speech of the President which We
have quoted above is peculiarly suited
to the condition of affairs in West Vir-
ginia, and contains words of warning
that apply even more fOrcibly TO the
condition of our State politics than they
do to questions of national Importance,
The prosperity of this State and the lib
erty Of its people are in peril from the
same causes aud the same party that are
operating to destroy the freedom OF the
nation The Con0piratOr5 in Congress
have been initiated by the dominant fac
ton in the legislature OF this State, aud |
tue safeguards thrown around the hber,
ties of the people in the constitution
have been disregarded aud destroyed. |
One law after another, all flagrantly and |
unconstitutional, has been |
enacted, for the purpose of enabling this
faction TO asten itself forever upon the
State, and to tread down tue rights of
more than half the people. The system
of government ordained by the consti
tuition has been changed in It's most es
sential feature the very essence aud
life of the republican form of govera
ment are destroyed by the disfranchise
ment of the citizens Those who were
engaged in armed hostility to the State
we're no less foes to its prosperity and
peace than are those who are attempt
ing, by means of proscriptive legislation,
to revolutionize our free institutions and
undermine popular liberty. We have
the authority of the President OF the
United States for the declaration that
these men are dangerous foes to any re,
publican government
The conservative men of West Vir
ginia stand with the President in oplo.
sition to the radicalism that rules in
Congress and TO its counterpart here
The similarity which the situation of
political affairs in this State presents to