The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-09-11

ern States7 Under the sod, dead, killed
in this fatal civil war, and even SOME
times those they loved are not allowed
the humble privilege of shedding a tear
over their graves. The South not pun
ished Look at Sherman's march tnrou ga
the South, where, for lines OF sixty
miles apart, not living thing was lott
unon the land. Is not that punishments
is not all they have suffered, punish,
ment2 What more was ever inflicted
upon any people that raised their hand
against government and were subdned
by it9 They are punished :! they are
repentant! They are DESTROYS TO retu =
to their duties aud responsibilities under
the Constitution. All they ask is to come
Lack IN work. to strive for this nation,
the limited States. This small party set
their hands against them and say /;
No stand back; because you have
erred we will never believe you are
repentant; because we have cast you
down and trampled you under our feet,
we will trample you under our feet for
ever! Fellow citizens, what voice comes
from the South that breathes the slight
est suspicion of disloyalty to the United
States? They may not like the proceed
ings of this Ii tie party of Radicals in
Washington; bat, thank God, that lii tie
party is not the nation. The Unit ed
States is something above all parties. LII
is broad and great; it spreads Its pro
tecting egis over every little river a az
brook in South Carolina and Mississippi
as much as it does over the Hadson and
the lakes in the North. They say they
will not allow the Southern representa-
tiyes to take their seats in Congress De-
cause they will not consent to give I'm
limited suffrage to the negro. Let us
see how that matter stands. Consider
the absurdity of that position, and lei
me saw that I for one feel as keenly the
responsibility of this Government toward
these unfortunate people, the negroes, as
the most determined abolitionist IN the
United States. I believe this is a gov
eminent for the white man, for the black
man, and for all men. l believe that
these negroes whose fathers have been
brought into this country to WORK IN Inc
Southern States, should be mercltully
cared for by the United States; they
should have all the rights and privileges
they can properly exercise, without dan
ger to the United States. But Will any
one tell me that the negroes in the South
are fit to exercise the highest privilege
that any American citizen, no matter
how well educated, native or foreign
can exercise cries of "No, no" 1.-THE
high right of suffrage in choosing the
REPRESENTATIVES of the people to enact
the laws Of the land. What is the theory
of this. Government That the people
make laws. How do they make laws
Through their representatives. How dc
they elect their representatives! 1t is I'M
der the theory that they understand the
Constitution; that they can think and
weigh the important question OF the day
and that they have wit and ability
and sagacity enough to watch the poll
ticians of the day, so as.to judge wisely
of men and measures. Will any man tel
me that these negroes down South, these
men that we were told few years age
were so degraded and imbruted by sla
very that they scarce had the aspect, and
had none of the intellect of men-are we
to be told that this great privilege Of
suffrage, this great right of making the
laws of our land through our representa-
tivcs, liz to be cpnfded into the hands q
these men, who I've years ago! we wers
taught to believe were little more thar
brutes? Is there reason or common
sense in this thiugl Is it for the goot
of the nation that this right should bt
intrusted il the hands of negroes Is i
for the good of the negroes themselves
Do not you know, does not every Abo
litionist know that to give this right o
suffrage to the negroes down South Is tt
put them in direct antagonism with the
whole white population of the South
It does no good to the negroes; it does
no good to the uation; it place the price
less iewel-the right OF suttrage-ln the
hands of men who are not In a position
to exercise it with safety to themselves
or with advantage to the nation. But
now, citizens, am told that the Southern
representatives are not to be admitted
to the Congress of the nation because
there is disloyalty in the South. Where
do you see it Where do you find any
sign tit2 What would be the reason
OF j. ! What rational hope can the
Sout ern Poop" have but in complete
franz loyalty 10 the United States
Where else can hey find any sort of ale
Walton of the niseries they suffer but in
their frank, hmited loyalty to the Uni
ted Sfates2 I'll, thing is absurd Let the
doors of C0Di ress be thrown open tc
them, and let ~ say to them: Go, you
have sinned; YOU have repented; you
have been punished-Come back to us
again, and tell us what is wanting tc
raise you up and put you on level with
the rest of t'.o people of the United
States, that VT may once again, shoulder
to shoulder, W ork together: not for 8
partN; not for - section, but for one flag
one nation-a United republic Citizens
it seems all ver we'll for us in the North
We seem to be all living very splendidly
here. You tiud men getting wealthy
every day You see signs of magniti
cence all around you. If you think for g
moment you will find that there is some
thing strange aud unusual in all this
As l look over this meeting see before
me many men of my own class, for an
proud to be what is called q working
man. Your wages are higher than be
fore the war. Let me ask you, do you
live as well as you did before the war
Do you not find it harder to buy all the
necessaries of he than you did before
the war? How is it2 The North has
conquered, the North is wealthy How
is it that you are not succeeding as well
as you did of oldl How is it that the
rich are growing richer while the poor
are growing ponrer2 Let us see how this
is | will tell You. We in the North are
| ,,,ob condition Of emo rr