The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-12-16
Our I.nte Election.

We are indebted to the Clerk of the
House of Delegates, Mr.. W. p. HUB
R,Ep, for most of the data from which
wr have computed the general result OF
oar late election for members of the
legislature. The returns are not as
complete a. we would wish them, but
owing TO the neglect of The Clerks of
Boards of Supervisors in many counties,
th"y are as perfect as can now be had.
We have official returns from thirty
seven of the tifty-tbree counties III the
State. The remaining sixteen, we
suppose, do not desire to be represented
in the next Legislature, or the proper
officers would have advised the Clerk OF
the Honse of the election results in
their various counties.
our computation is basel, for the
most part, upon the vote for members
of the House. Where the vote for Del
esatcs does not appear to have fairly
represented the strength of the respec-
tive parties, we have substituted the Sen-
atorial returns. We have done this,
for exalnple, in the case OF the three
Panhandle counties, and of Doddridge,
although the vote for Representatives
shows a larger Democratic majority.
Our aim has been to furnish a table
which will fairly indicate the compara-
tive strength of the two parties in this
State, AS shown at the late election. If
We have erred at all, it has been in over
estimating the Radical majorities in
counties from which no official statistics
have been received. We are satisfied
that the full returns will diminish,
rather than increase, such majOrities as
We have conceded.
1t will be seen that the entire number
Of votes pslled at this election was but
little over twenty-nine thousand,
showing a falling off from last year, In
round numbers, of eleven thousand
votes. OF the decrease the Radicals
lose nearly eight thousand, while the
Dcmocrati, column shows deficit OF
over three thousand. In other words
the comparative Democratic gain III
twelve months has been Orer -four thous
and rotes in poll of less than thirty
,l ~ Ofranufh n
both parties been shown, we have not
the slightest doubt, that upon popu
lar ballot the Democratic party would
have carried the State of West Vir
ginia.
We are perfectly willing to admit
the claim of the Radical organs that
great number of Republicans staid al
home at the October election. But wher
has the discipline of the party hereto
fore koen unable TO bring out its entire
strength, In 1868, with no opposition
the Radical State ticket polled nearly
twenty thousand votes. In the Sprini
Of l666, that party polled over twenty
three thousand votes, without any tigh
on the part of the Democrats that, wa
worthy of the name. A little over
year ago, it brought out almost ever.
man in its ranks. Whence its weakness
at this timei
Conceding that many who have sup
ported Radicalism in the past, took NJ
part in our recent election, we presen
another fact. Numbers Of Republican
who did vote in Ociob Supported tn
Democratic ticket, and OF those who re
NAMED at home, many were prOmpte'
to do SO bya thorough disgust at tn
general course of the party with whic
they have heretofore acted : This feel
ing must grow and strengthen. and W
are much mistaken if the inactive Re
publicans of 1867, do not cooperate
heartily with the Democratic party j
1868.
Among the special causes of The pc
litical changes in West Virginia, W
may name the iniquitous uses to whic
the Registrars of many counties hav
been prostituted. The honest and wei