The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-03-19
Letters from the People.
Clerk OF NIunicipal Court.


Editor of the Register:
You will please allow me an Opportu-.
nifty of speaking through your columns
of an election to be held in the City
Council, for Clerk of Municipal Court,
on the first Tuesday of April. For the
last few weeks / have heard considera-
ble talk MS to the claims of the respect
i've can didates, and as it is position Of
some Importance, take it as privilege
that have to>expressthe wish, as un-
derstand it to be, of the people concern
ing the matter as well as concerning
the party to be elected. 1t is true that
large majority of the present Council
are Democratic, elected by Democratic
voters, and although it is not expected
that they will be influenced in every
particular by the dictates of those who
supported them, yet they are expected
to reflect the public sentiment so far as
the public are Immediately affected. 1t
is true, that we as a party do not select
candidates for position, and sustain
them in their election, for the exclusive
purpose of receiving the little offices
that they as the officers elect'may have
to bestow upon deputies; yet it is
equally true that if we wish to sus-
tain ourselves as a party, and to
perfect a complete organization, We
must elect to office men who will re-
fleet our sentiments and work for our
success. We know that the Radical
party have pursued the proscriptive
policy ofcutting off the official heads of
all who did not, in every particular,
agree with and sustain them; not even
sparing the claims of some of our City
Councilmen. We know, further, that
there is not an instance in the State of
West Virginia, either during or since
the war, that can be cited rs an exam
pie, where the present party in power
voluntarily recommended any candidate
for position or appointment, it mat
ters not what might be his claims or
fitness, who did not concede that all
their acts and usurpations were just,
expedient and constitutional. And why
did they not do iti For the ostensible
reason that every position has an infu-
ence commensurate with its Importance,
and toavail themselves of this influence
they elect or appoint those men who
are identified as their own, and who
will best subserve the interests'of their
party. Such being the policy of the
Radicals, / take it to be the duty of all
who will give their voice and influence
in opposition to such political illibcral-
ity. to meet them On their1own grounds
and with their own weapons, or, in
other words to give appointments to
our friends, to those who have spent
time and money in working for our sue
cess. ....
Mr.. Hamilton Chapline is the Repub-
lican candidate, as understand, for the
position. What claims Mr.. Chapline
has upon the present Council for his
reelection l am ut loss to know. He
lis gentleman who for six years has
been identified with the Radical ele-
ment, voting with them at every cleo
ton and associated with them, In all
their councils. Mr.. Chapline has polit-
ically ignored all outside of his own
party. He has made declarations to the
effect "that he did not hold his office
by virtue of the Democratic vote, ncith-
er did he ask the assistance of that vote
to retain him in his position How
with these assertions he can now come
up to the very men whom he had polit-
ically disclaimed and in a candid
straight forward manner ask for their
support is something which We are in
capable of understanding. Such being
the case, however, we ask what
is the duty Of the Democratic
Couucilmen under the circumstancesi
Certainly they will not yield their sup
port. 1t is hardly reasonable to sup
pose that mepbers Of Council, who, per.
haps, under our newly inaugurated
system of voting, have been elected for
their last time, will put into position a
man who has been voting with and for
a class of men who have already framed
system of laws by which portion, at
least. of the present Council may be dis
franchised. And why is Mr.. Chapline,
as a member of that party, not re-
sponsible for its acts! Hehasyoted and
aQSOcaIeO Ine clalInS VI ulcu NuOoe TAU
ical principles are too well known to be
denied. He has endorsed by his MEM
bership with that party the acts and
LEGISLATION which affects you and does not
touch himself, But in the face of these
facts his party has the assurance to ask,
in his behalf, political gift, whilst at
! the same time they are committing on
you political robbery. II the Conncil
under these circumstances shall
Yvote Mr.. Chapline into the Office of
Clerk of the Municipal Court, it will
certainly be returning good for evil; it
Twill be putting weapons into his hands
by which he can more effectually work
your destruction, and secure at last
that for which they are striving-a
complete and oppressive ascendency at
the expense of . divided and time-serv-
ing Democracy. OBSERVER
At Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Sat
nrtlay. woman became mother Of five