The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-01-16
NO l22.

Banks, and ceased to do business in
their old names. The State, however,
in some cases, and also private stock
| holders, did not take stock in the new
4 banks TO the full amount OF that which
they held in the old ones, leaving tho
| balances to be adjusted and paid over
when the affairs of tho old organization
| should be closed mp. But it seems there
| is no time fixed within which creditors
of the old banks, either note holders or
| others, shall present their demands, or
! within which there shall be II final set
tlement and distribution of the resi-
| due of the assets; and thus the matter
Is delayed and may continue unsettled
indefinitely. 1 recommend that you
provide, by proper enactment, for Civ
I ing notice 10 such creditors to present
| their demands within a reasonable
time, say one or two years, and pre-
! scribe that at the expiration of that
| time a final settlement and distribution
| be made.
| The subject of the permanent location
of the capital of the State will, no
doubt, be considered by you at the pres
ent session; and have no hesitation in
saying that, in my opinion, the inter
ests OF the State require definite and
final action thereon before you adjourn.
1t has hitherto been IA source of much
controversy ana irritation between diff
ferent sections of the Slate, and will
probably continue to be until IL is set
tied. 1t is also referred to by the enc
mics of the State an evidence OF a
want of confidence in its permanent eX-
istenCe, which, although wholly with
out foundation, nevertheless, has its
influence on somo who are not advised
on the subject, and who, otherwise con-
templated making their homes amongst
us. 1t should be settled, also, with
view to the location of other public
buildings that are needed, the ConstTuc-
ton of which should be entered upon
as soon as practicable. 1t may also, in
time, if left open, have an undue effect
on other subjects of legislation, aud
viii, probably, until finally disposed
of, occupy the attention of succeeding
sessions of the Legislature to the preju-
dice of other matters entitled to Consid-
Grafton.
1t becomes my duty to lay before you
a communication received by me from
the Secretary of State of the United
States, enclosing joint resolution
adopted by the two Houses OF Congress
at its last session, proposing an Hmend-
ment to the Constitution OF the United
States. l have no hesitation in COM
mending this wise and important meas
ure to your early and most favorable
consideration; feeling confident that the
result of your deliberations thereon
will not only accord with the dictates
of your own good judgment, but will
also reflect the recently expressed will
y
That it was the absolute duty of Com
gress to take the control of the recon-
struCtion OF the rebellious States after
the war was over, it seems TO me, must
be apparent TO every unbiased mind.
Had il not done so, IL would have been
recreant to the trust imposed in it by
patriotic and contiding constituency.
And, when we consider the circum-
stances under which this amendment
is proposed ns the basis of II restoration
IL. 4. r
TO the government, we are nstonished
at the moderation of the loyal repre-
sentatives of the loyal people of tho
country. AS we read IL, from the be-
ginning to the end, we lind nothing in
it that is vindictive or even unkind,
venture that few in the South expected
milder conditions; many expected
much greater eSacJions. Grenter mag
nautInIty was never shown, nor more
conciliatOry terms ever proposed, to
any people under kindred circum-
stances, Than Congress has proposed TO
the rebellious States. They spent four
long years in waging the most bloody,
desperate and ruinous war known To-
history, for the purpose of destroying
the freest and best government on the
face of The earth. All that is now ro-
quirOd is, restoration that will guar
antee the supremacy of the lawful Ru-
thority and the prosperity and hRppi-
ness OF the whole country for the Tune
to come, ...... ...
If Congress had done less it would
have failed of its duty;-had it gone
farther its action would, no doubt, haVo
been approved by the loyal millions
who sustained the government with
men and money to suppress the rebel
lion and who have so recently endorsed
this proposition. -.s
This amendment contains all the
terms proposed by Congress as basis
of the restoration of the rebellious
States to their proper relations to the
government; for, while this does not
appear on its Iace-aud il was not
proper that IL should-yet that IL wns
so intended by "a large majority OF Com
gress, and by the loyal people of tho
country, will not, l apprehend be
doubted by any candid mind--especial-
ly when we take into consideration tho
fact that the only State that accepted it
was Immediately admitted to represen-
tatiOn in both Houses of tho same Com
gress that proposed it.
So far as am aware, there is serious
objection to the subject matter of only
Two of the provisions of this amend
ment; the one equulizing the basis of
representation in the government; the
other declaring ineligible to office such
participants In rebellion as had preVi-
ously sworn TO support he Constitution
of the United States. Some of the other
and the rest-except, perhaps, tho
clause regulating Citizenship--nre OBJ
jected to only on the ground that they
are proposed TO be incorporated into
the Constitution of the United States
it being claimed that they appertain TO
matters that should be left to State
regulation. l ..
1t is claimed by the South and those
who support their pretensions, that tho
second section OF this amendment vio-
lates one of the compromises of the
constitution, without which the Union
could not have been formed; aud that
IL unjustly reduces their representation
in Congress and their power in the gov
ernment. To this IL may be answered
that all governments are founded in
compromise; that the provision of the
constitution referred To Is no more IA
compromise than the rest of that instru-
ment; that the South rejected and
threw off this provision with Hll the
others, and entered into rebellion
against and made war OH the govern
ment; but, instead of succeeding, they
were defeated and conquered, and
conquered, and thereby forfeited nlL
their rights Hereunder, and that this
section is now proposed as one of the
terms of their restoration; that by tho
act of rebellion and war by the South,
their slaves were made free people; and
if this section is not adopted, the South
will not only not have lost strength in.
the government by the rebellion, but
will have gained by having the whole
number of the colored population
counted in the basis of representation.
and represented in Congress, instead OF