The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-04-11
Fr the. InteIligencer. or
The State Constitutional Amendment
and the Registry Law.

I
That there is an apathy existing
among the Union men of this locality
concerning these two great measures is
undeniable. The candid observer will
discover this in all the expressions
which he hears by engaging men, whose
faith has been answering for the past
four bloody years, in conversation on
the subject. Let any one interested try
it, and he will be convinced. Why is
it, there is such n desire for the good old
times of peace and neighborly friend
ship that it overbears all considerations
of revenge or malice? And this is right.
1t seems to the citizen, however ferVent
his Unionism, who looks only on this
portion of our State, that there is no
necessity for rigor and severity; that re-
turned rebels can be allowed to vote and
no particular harm 4be done thereby;
that the time for burying the past has
come. Hence, we believe, originates
the inertness existing among the true
blues" about this amendment and law.
They are dee med unduly severe, as rad
icaL, and many Union men in heart and
spirit are, perhaps, at present half per-
suaded to believe, that they were devised
and are advocated i'll a spirit of mali.
cious hatred. 1t is of such we ask
consideration of few facts. Gladly
should the day be welcomed when the
repentant rebels should as Il class, out
of true sense of the enornity of their
sin, and apprehension of the ready
mercy of the best Government the
world ever saw; turn from their iniqui-
ty, with grief for and hatred thereof,
with full purpose of and endeavor after
new obedience. And freely would we
welcome them back to all the suffrages
and rights of the citizen. That day we
truly sorrow to say does not seem to
draw near. Let the returned rebel not
be DISTINGUISHED, and what's the effect?
In the back counties, in Hampshire, in
Hardy, in Greenbrtar, in all The large
portion of the State in which the major
ity were rebels, the true and tried
Union men will be socially, politically,
and in business, prescribed. All pOlit-
icaI power will be given to rebels. Not
an officer but will be chosen from
among them. Harrassed, insulted and
Disseminated against, those who kept
the faith for four long years of blood
and woe; ut the expense ofprOperty, of
home, often of life, will be turned over
to the tender mercies of their old foes,
now outnumbering them. VIII the
Unionists of this county and vicinity,
who are so luke-warm, who feeling
that because there is no necessity for
such law here are Indifferent about
it, will they SO requite the loyalists who
have been saints among devils? Is
this fit return for their devotion and
its losses? We ask them to talk to any
Union brother FROM these border places
and convince themselves. Then they
will hear from men who can appreciate
the necessity of n registry law and the
amendment. They will hear burning
tales of wrongs and with what genuine
and reasonable terror the border 10y
alistS and sufferers contemplate such
an ungrateful abandonment as the de-
feat of these measures would be for
them. And perhaps their earnestneSs.
the sickening apprehension which pos
seSSeS them when any idea that they
are to be betrayed by the Union ma
jority of the State really takes hold on
their minds, will wake our symputhies
and incite enthusiasm and support for
these most righteous safeguards. What
would be the effect were they defeated?
Is not the armies of the returned rebels
plain enough to warn us. Whenever
they will show by acts not words that
they are ready to support the govern
ment, not destroy it, as soon as enIran
chised, it will be time to receive them.
The sinner is offered no pardon oven by
II God of infinite love and mercy till
he gives up persevering in his sin, Are
we the creatures to go farther than tho
Creator. "MerCy to the guilty is often
cruelty to the innocent" 1.-The world
looks with cold respect on an act of JUS
tice but tosses up its hat at display of
mercy, yet the one is strength of virtue,
the other is often its greatest weakness
We appeal to you the war tried men of
West Virginia TO let no mawkish senti-
mentality seduce you into putting
power again into the hands of those
who are Still hoping to blot out your
State and subvert the Republic. Let
not the alluring idea that there is now
no necessity orany provisions ofsafety
deceive you. The Disunion Democracy
is encouraging your sleepiness by wear
They CANDY John
son" with their lips, but their hearts
are far from us. By all that's patriotic
and honest and honorable, let our
Union men not now desert those of
whom it might truly be said -"among
the flithless, faithfuEOnl they" blythe
absence of our voices and votes i'll sup.
port of the two most sagaclous ana
wise of the acts of our late not to be
intimidated and patriotic Legislature.