The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-05-12
Desertiug the Radicals


posed constitutional amendment arc
having the effect of driving many non
orable men from the ranks of the Repuo-
lican party. Almost every day we hear
of men who have been active and IN
flnential members of the Republican
party during the past four years declar-
ing openly that they cannot support the
policy now advocated by the leaders OF
that party. There are also many men
who will vote for the candidates for
local offices nominated by their party,
but will be careful to vote also for the
rejection of the constitutional amend
ment.
1t is one of the strongest evidences
that partyism is placed above patriotism
in these latter days that the independent
course of these men occasions comment
and surprise When a man dares to
obey the dictates of his own Judgment
and vote as he-thinks right, without re-
gard to former party affiliations or to
the dictation of party leaders, it is looked
npon as a strange thing and is heralded
abroad as a rare instance of moral cOur-
age The despotism of party has never
been more exacting nor more apparent
in its results than during the past four
years. The party lash has been merci-
lessly applied, aud, no matter how pure
and exalted the character of the man
might be, f he dissented from the doc
.tiiues propounded by the leaders of his
political party or refused to follow and
aid in the contamination of scheme
which his own intelligence convinced
him would be ruinous TO the Interests of
the country, he was at once assailed with
the coarsest abuse, all manner "f foul
epithets were applied to him. and every
effort made 10 min the reputation which
it had taken years to acquire
There never was better illustration
of this thing than il afforded by the cou-
lition of affairs in' this State to dav
The radical leaders have SCARCELY degu,d
Ia make an argument ia support at the
Constitutional Amendment which was
based upon the merits of the case
They have labOred again and again to
prove that the ratification of the amend
ment would benefit the radical party,
but so far as the good policy of the
measure, considering the advantage Of
the whole State, and the effect the
amendment will have upon the prospect
ty of the 'Uhole, is concerned, they have
said scarcely a word. But instead of
appealing to the reason of men aud en-
deavoring to show that the dIsfrancbise-
ment and alienation of large number
of our citizens will make our people
licher, happier, more conteuted and
prosperous than now, their whole forte
consists in eXtravagant laudations of
their own loyalty and bitter deauucia-
ton of all who fail to do their bidding |
Instead of attempting to show that the |
adoption of the proposed amendment
will increase the population of orr
State, give a new impulse to all its ma
terial interests and enable it to compete
successfully with its sister States in al
that goes to make mp American pros-
perity and power, they content them
selves by calling their opponents "reb-
els" "cOpperheads,' OF "butternuts,'
and Hourishing the party whip over the
heads of ali who seem inclined to assert
their manhood by DESERVING a party
which, however wise it may have been |
In the past, has recently demonstrated |
itself to be now capable of nothing but |
folly Instead of attempting to answer |
in fair discussion the objections urged |
against the amendment by its opponents, |
they strive to excite anew tho passions
created by the civil war. aud E,n into
fresh flame the dying emberS of hatred |
aud revenge.
But there are men, and we are glad to |
believe they are not few, who have acted |
with the Republican party heretofore, |
bat who do not approve and will not |
support the present policy of that party
IN this State. Aud why should they
They acted with 1.-THE Union party" as
it was called, because they believed that
the aim and inteation of that party was
the restoration of the Union. They be- |
lieved that the only safe and permansst |
peace that could be attained was to ma |
mad through the vigorous prosecutiopd
aud successful termination of the war
t. this end alone they lahored. WE'LL
the war is now over; the authority Of
the Federal government has been re-es-
tahlished; the southern people are hon.
estly disposed to accept the result and
maintain their allegiance to the Union.
aud all good men, North aud South. de.
sire peace, quietude and harmony II is !
desirable now to subdue passion. to cnrh
revenge, to efface as rapidly as possible
the bitter recollections of the past in
order that all may join hands in re build.
Ipg the fortunes shattered by the wal
,ud advancing in the path of prosperity
hot l;as hefora us "a a State and q no |