The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-08-03
A Chnrncieri.iic Dodge

The embarrassment of our Radical
contemporary i'll view of the record on
the new State question, recently made
by Mr. HUBBARD and the balance of the
Radical majority in Congress, IS quite
diverting. He attempted, few days
ago, To cxtricate Mr.. HUBBARD from the
inconsistency into which he, prOfessed
friend OF West Virginia, had fallen, by
voting the PIEEPOINT Virginia Gov
ernment bogus concern. Mr.. HIS
position being very awkward and
uncomfortable, our neighbor tried 10 di-
vert attention from it. With that view,
he assailed the Democratic party, and
talked at length of its hostility to West
Virginia. Failing TO evade the real is
sue by this movement. he next attempt
ed to mystify the discussion. He tried
to create confusion by wOrdy ar
gument about the power of Congress 10
nullify rebel Governments, the purpose
being to permit Mr.. HUBBARD to quiet
ly retire under cover of the smoke and
dust which his organ was raising. This
was all settled by brief reference to
the fact that the Virginia Government,
which the Reconstruction Bill nulliiied,
was in no sense rebel affair, but was
in origin and management purely
'loyal" institution. We then directed
our neighbor's attention to the true
point under consideration, viz: the
absurdity of the claim set up by the
Radicals TO be the champions of West
Virginia, when their representatives
had just declared illegal the authority
and acts of the Government from which
this State derives its existence.
Instead of meeting this Issue in fair
and candid manner, our neighbor dodges
like a duck in hail storm. He affects
a wonderful anxiety to know the posi-
tisn of the REGISTER and the party
with which it acts, upon West Nirginia's
legitimacy, forgetting that no longer
ago than last Monday, he denounced
the Democratic party as "the implacable
and unreconciled foe of West Virginia
rs a State within the Union" If our
cotemporary was right in thus defining
our status, he does not need reply; if
he was wrong, he does not deserve one.
Right or wrong, We shall not permit
him to change the question at issue for
one not involved in the discussion.
We, therefore, renew our request for a
straightforward and sensible explana-
tion of Hon. c. ID. HUBBARD's incOnsist-
ency, or a candid confession that his
course cannot be made to harmonic
with any known principles of common
sense or political propriety.
We think his recent action has given
us right to ask questions concerning
the evident contradiction between his
words and his deeds. He has just plac-
ed himself before the public as the self
chosen defeader of West Virginias in
tegrity. He has challenged criticism as
her sturdy and stainless champion. His
late speech in Congress has been pub
lished for special distribution, and has
been presented as a heavy item in the
account of the People of West Virginia
to Hon. C.. ID. HUBBARD, DR.. If by his
vote on the Reconstruction Bill he as
sailed rather than defended West Vir-
giDia's interest, the people owe him
nothing. So far his organ has not dared
to claim that, in denying the legality o
the PfgRPoINT Government. Mr.. HUB
BARD and the Radicals have not also
denied the legitimacy of West Virginia
1t has persistently lodged the question,
Will it now have the fairness to give it's
views upon that point7
Let us have No more -evasions. The
question is not whether the Democratic
party or the Radical party is the better
friend Of West Virginia, or whether
Radicalism is her friend at all. We claim
that Radicalism, as illustrated by Mr.
HUBBARD's course in Congress, is West
Virginis's enemy. If our cotemporary
does not fear fair discussion, let hin
show that Hon. c. ID. HUBBARD,s svot<
on the Reconstruction n Bill was not al
act of hostility to the new State.
Judge Totten, formerly of the Tennes
cas- Snnrap,a r.,urf io AaaA ca