The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-08-22

the State was restored to 'the iawfai suthtofi
tHof tho United States, nn;na cd; 29tu r.
When .tbis;eveut took place, Hhst vas my
conduct toward the population, Of the eighteer
parishes reclaimed, although I,had been per,
secuted and driven from ny homo by the
rebel authorities / suppressed al feeling y
rancor, 30 natural to tho human breast unas,
tho circumstances and undef,t tho belief Ahat
| 4 majority had boon seduced from their, ale
g1ance to tho old fling by the wllcs .oi, artfu
dcmagoguns, who brought. thcie6cllion,
determined TO: try tie object OF kindncsa and
coueiiation in winning; them back .tothoi,
first. lovo. I addressed them q proclamation
eongratulatins thom on their restoration 9tt
tho protection ofa sorcrnmchtofisw and ordu1
and assured them that, so far as Twas concern
ed, i was willing to forget tho past >Ibcgged
them to submit checrfully and unrescTedly
to tho new order. Of things, and assured then,
that although. "a State: Government had
been organized, yet I was anxious thata gcn'
oral election for State officers should bo held
in which tho whole State could participate
II fulfilled every word Of my "promiscs.'''l
appointed mon recommended to fill' the Offices
in the several parishes. i signed: their. .appli'
cations to tho President Of tho United Statcs
fovspocial pardon. / persisted in my course
Of Cancellation, notwithstanding tho warnings
snd remonstrsnces of Union men, who bclicv-
Cd dthat my policy would DO unavalinS i'll &C.
complishins tho purpose intended, and who
predicted that at tho very first election, these
mon, in every parish where they hold the
powor, would prescribe every mun!from Office
who had not boon.iin tho rebel army and
fought for tho rebel cause ir.'' .....s:"
These predictions havc boon realized to the
letter at every subsequent election, with tho
exception Of my own case, and 1t is we'll
known, for 1t, waa publicly asQwed; that
was put at tho head Of thoir ticket simply
because it was thought could be useful in
securing representation Of the State in Con.
grcsS. s,s,.g"'" '...."., % ,n.' -"
1t is further woll known that tho platform
reported by tho committee appointed for TINT
purpose to tho Democratic Convention, hold
in this city, was rcitcration Of the doctrines
Of tho right Of secession, and it was only
through tho oAertluus " q ,fnw-ofcthc NOM
cautious and polite Of the"party that this
platform was made to assume the form in
which it was adopted. .. .,.,,,i. ,.
At the Same Convention, awcll-known cit
imni and livo democrat was publicly ccnsurcd,
by resolution, because, in speech delivered
before that body, he said that secession was
worse than a crime,.it was blundcr. ... -.
notwithstanding my nomination by the
Democratic. party, another candidate was put
in opposition to INC, who had ofllciatcd as
Governor under the rcbol rule, and who, had
hc been in the country and siGnincd his !as.
sent have no doubt would have been oycr'
whelminyly elected. When tho members
Of tho Legislature mot in cxtn session in tho
month Of November. 1860, convened by INC
for the purpose Of raising money to restore io!
the broken lcvccs, and to take measures to
redeem the credit of tho State, I found they
were more intent on calling convention te
change tho constitution Of 1854, than to'pro'
mote tho material interests Of: the; people
Their chief objection to that instrument was
tho character Of tho mon who framed it. and
tho abolition thoreby Of slavery. Having
failed at tho cxtra session to pass bill call
insla convention, tho attempt was rcncwed a
tho regular session held in tho month ofJan'
uary; and moro than half tho time Of thai
BODY was spcnt in discussing that question
Finally, q committee was scnt to Washington
to consult the President, and tho Legislature
only abandoned tho measure through hi
,.. / considered convention incxpedicnt, ana
for ;that.rcason opposed it. Il, had learned
enough of, tho real sentiment: :o5 the people !"
convince mo that il "a new constitution WA
made it would. 10 loss in harmony With -th'
views Of tho President and Congress than tux
constitution of 1854, tho results of which
would be to lessen tho changes foe The: ID mis-
sion OF our Representatives. i, urged thes'
r;exs on tho mombeFa afa both Houses Of :th'
Legislature, but they had no, ,oasst Win ~
majority. -----' :" - =
/ iacyrscatcdqhseAy and p4rishsl;ction'fo 'fo
ihis r;tAson. 4 I;foarsd tho result, >bocaSso o
Tho character Of tho mea' thatiwoud b. tdoct
el.;, bscause i ,had;seeu enough ofpablie sen
l.,n;ent,t ,to; ;oonynos mo that Dooeabut those
svhuh.a served in'ths ConiederAts ARMY o
RhS lad ;sone ;insido! ths.eoa&dento lines
l,,ooh b selected 10 'oaBee!sI Sotcsdw" tina
fsoch ,.ii4isuat woaad: :bS Justly sesasdod BY th
6sSb,s stke.ioyal's al'shtesas s60H'asa dehan
..sait,, md IS sui ssosyihs th;'s cau.s tha
th.Ir,:..nfdt ts.stsd them: With :ssieh taarfu
! t57ss FGS Ind Expenditure ortreasute' 9"*
3s1wfa unanbasGi nba Gious III 'aad repeated t9iddncss'e
,iaHpe Hp;e ~ * iii nd lseelloa
s,,pp nd us iG1iA iaG1hi ikits Of pr1seu
f1;Sa iI.,n,.,a: dS.s. u, r.. ttfr<e, nn<