The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-08-02
The Soldiers, Convention.

The uneasiness of the Radicals over
the election prospects in this State finds
expression in q published call for a
Soldiers Convention to be held at Par
kersburg on Thursday, August 3Otb.
When the Soldiers League was organ
lied here all intention of making ii, a
political machine was expressly dis
claimed, 1t was claimed to be formed for
the mutual protection and benefit of its
members in the various departments of
civil life, but the charge that political
ends were aimed al. either directly or
remotely, was Indignantly denied Many
soldiers united With the League upon
this understanding, and nothing could
have beer clearer than their unwilling
ness to place their freedom of political
opinion or action in the keeping of this
or any other organized body But the
bare fact that eight or ten thousand
Federal soldiers in West Virginia shoald
be free to exercise the elective fra.achise
as to them might seem best, was
fraught with danger and defeat to
the schemes of the Radical wire
workers. in this city AS they
intended to ignore the claims
of all soldiers in the Parkersburg Con
vention, it seemed probable that "the
boys in blue" would not look with salts
faction upon the quiet shelving of their
representatives, and would have an adj
ditienal reason for opposing the Wheel.
ing tisket. Hence it became necessary
to secure a quasi endorsement of the
cominees by the league. For this pur-
pose the Custom House clique" having
prompted the call, will strive to control
the Convention it recommends, and, By
getting its approval of stay at home
nominees, will endeavor to secure the
soldiers vote for candidates in whose
selection they had no voice. Whether
this nice little arrangement will work
remains to be seen. Whether General
HARRIS and General NoRTHCOTT will
permit men claiming to represent their
owncomrades and friends to place them
upon the retired list is not yet deter
mined. Certain it is that unless they
take some steps for self-preservation,
they will not only lose the nominations,
which are already determined, but they
will be estopped from complaining of
neglect, by the action of Convention
claiming to act IN the name of the Sol
diers' League which they assisted in
forming and IN which they stand
so high. For our part, having high
regard for many gentlemen who are
members of the Soldiers League in West
Virginia, we should dislike 80 see the or
ganization prostituted to political pur-
poses and made a mere machine for con-
ferring Office and welding power. But
if this League is to change its original
objects SO far as to enter a canvass with
the discipline and unity of action" of a
military campaign, it would be unjust to
itself if it suffered outsiders to control il
/. to theprejudice of its own meu.be II
the Soldiers League nGat be used for
the political ADVANCEMENT of any one,
let its benefits De conferred upon men
who have sympathized with it's objects,
and acted and fought with its members,
rather than upon a gang of political
tricksters who consult nothing but their
own personal interests, either while
war is raging OF while political canvass
is approaching,