The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-03-07

EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, !
RICHMOND, March i, 1867.
To the SeItGte aud House Of Delegates o.
VTr9iHtG:
GESTLEafES: I deem II my duty to
call your attention to the recent act ol
Congress. entitled IAN act TO provide
for the efficient government of the
rebel States" The last six years have
made an eEen.ful period in our history.
One crisis has hardly passed before an
other of greater magnitude has arisen.
During the canvass of 1850 for Presi-
dent and Vice President, scarcely a
press, and but few politicians, adyoca-
ted the secession of the States from the
Union. In January, 1861, the General
Assembly called a convention, which
met at the Capitol on the 18th day of
February of the same year. a full vote
of the people was cast at the election
for delegates to this convention. The
subject of Union and secession was
then distinctly before them, and two
thirds of the votes cast were for the
Union candidates. a vast majority
thus declared that they were uuattera-
bly, attached to the Constitution and the
Union of their fathers. They were
happy, with all their rights fully pro-
tected. The declaration was made by
leading newspaper of this city that
the State should be ''dragged out'' OF
the Union. In less than seventy days
from the ssembling of the convention
the Ordinance OF secession" was adopt
ed, and the terrible civil war through
which we have just passed inaugurated.
From that day to the present my whole
energies have been devoted, In the fear
OF God, to do what I could for the ben
efit of my native State. In no instance
have suffered caprice, resentment, or
nl-will to govern my public action.
In June of 1865 recommended the
removal, by the General Assembly, of
the disQualifications of voters imposed
by the State constitution, as then in
force. This action was dictated by two
reasons: First, because I became sat
isfied that in a majority OF the counties
Of the State there could not be found
half the requisite number of qualified
men to fill the offices necessary to ad-
minister the laws. At least ninety per
centum of the taxes of the State would
have been paid by men who were dis
qualified from voting or holding office
under the provisions of the constitution.
To attempt to organize and carry on a
republican government under such cir
cumstances was out ofthe question In
the second place, was prompted to
this action by a magnanimity that 1
believed existed in the hearts of a vast
majority of the people of the Northern
States, all of whom rejoiced at the ter
mination of the civil strife which had
brought SORROW TO so many homes, and
believed that the Southern people had
accepted the situation in good faith.
This opinion is confirmed by recur-
renee to the history OF the times The
terms imposed by the commanding
general were considered magnaHimous,
and approved by the people, and that
general still retains his popularity.
Previously to the action of the Virginia
IegiRlature, the President commenced
- III Tel rrsr-
IN other Southern States-where he
declared no State governments ex-
isted-upon terms even more liberal
than the policy adopted in Virginia.
He reh affiliated the people of those
States who had been engaged in the re-
beIHon. He also entered upon hber-
al policy OF granting pardons, under
an act of Congress, TO those who had
taken up arms against the Government
of the United States, and had other
wise become liable TO the penal laws.
While these acts were transpiring, in
the summer and fall of 1856 commit
teas from all parties in the Northern
States, and, I believe, from all the
Statess waited on the President to ex-
press their full confidence in his pa
triotism and their approval Of his ad-
ministrafion Not a convention North
of Mason and DiXon's line met to nom1-
nate candidates for county or State ot1-
GERS but passed resolutions commend
atory of President johnson and his pol
icy. These resolutions, with the eulo-
giles of the press of both political par
ties, formed a part of the political liter
ature OF that summer and fall. On the
Assem- bling OF the present Congress, a
Joint committee Of both houses was ap-
pointed, TO whom all questions in re-
gard to reconstruction were referred
That committee continued its inyestl-
cations for seven months, which re-
Sulted in the proposition 70 add the
proposed fourteenth article to the Con-
stitution of the United States; and the
section of the act of Congress, under
which the President Was granting par
doRs, was not repealed for thirteen
months after Congress had II In us
power to stop these pardOns by repeal
of the law.
Shortly after parrIons and amnesty
began TO be freely granted by the Prssi-
dent, the Southern press assumed
bold, defiant, bitter. and yindictive
tone. Memorial associations and vari-
Gus other movements were inaugurated,
which Afforded opportunities for in
fiarunlatory lectures, oFatioRs, and e.
Eavs- ali calculated 70 stir up and keep
aIfye in the memory of the people OF
the State a hatred of the people OF the
Northern States and the government o.
the United States me most oplect1on'
able parts of these performances have
been circulated through the Northerr
press, Some OF our legislation mas no'
been OF the most fortunate character tc
produce q good impression IWC
freedmen have fallen by the manu- o.