The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-04-01
Letters from the People.
Party Oppression and InisIerancr.

calltnS 10 itS asslStihee thc Ni'huioho
| Uhig, in order to fasten on Democrats
the stigma of being offenders above all
men i'm the work OF party narrowness
and oppression. Let us consider this
matter. Let us look a little at our
charitable and liberal Republicans
through this glass. Shall we begin at
Washington, OF here at Wheeling, where
the blessed Provosts, Boremans and
Registrars-not forgetting the honey
tempered Judges and honest Supervisors
have reigned supreme these last five
years of blessed memory, in which Dem
ocrats were allowed to be ranked with
Copperheads and to rotten in prisonsf
In enumerating the large liberality
and equal justice of the Republicans,
where, l repeat, shall we begin '-at
Washington or at Wheeling' As it is
hardly possible to look at the horrors
and terrors which pervaded the Nation
alCapital during these last years and sur
vive, let us turn to the lesser glories OF
Governor Boreman and his Republican
officials, confreres, lay and clerical in
West Virginia.
Look at the Wheeling Intelligencer
Wherein has it ever shown the least re-
gard for the Democracy or the Demo
crats' The name he commonly ap'
plies to us is Copperhead, To no Dem.
ocrat in West Virginia does he concede
any merit moral or intellectual. He
and the WellsbHrs Herald continue their
long and determined effort to produce
the impression that Democrats are in
ferior to others in the common virtues
and duties of everyday life. We are
denounced az rebels, rowdies and
drunkards, and as wanting in the COM
mon virtues Of parents, and children
and neighbOrs, and rs inferior to other
men in the relations of debtor and cred
itor, and in the ordinary amenities and
courtesies of life. For five years it was
rare to see q Democrat on grand jury
or common jury. Up to the present
time, or near it, Republican Supervi-
sors and Sheriffs have had ex-
clusively the selection of all jury
men, but not one in nine of the
iurymen. was Democrat. This was, of
course, the result of concerted purpose
and counsel on the part of the Repub-
licans, with the design to degrade DEM
ocrats and crafty party hate. In Whig
and Democratic times-that is, in the
times when tho country was divided
and ruled between the great Democratic
and Whig parties-nOthiDg of this kind
existed. Democrats were good enough
to try the eases of Wings, and Wings
were good enough for the trial Of those
of the Democrats. But during these
five years, Republicans alone were to
be trusted or honOred even with the
humble place of n seat in Il jury box, or
of a conservatOr of the peace. 1t is
true, each of these old parties placed
its friends in places of political power,
and often party narrowness and mean
ness could be seen. But the fault vas
as common to the Wings as to the other
party. But in Virginia it was the gener-
al, if not the universal Inle, where three
or more men were to discharge the func-
tions of particular place, as for exam
pie, as judges of an election, or State
directory in public body or corporation
to appoint one out of three or two out
of five, from the opposing party. From
the adoption of the Federal Constitu-
ton, to the year 1861, the State rights
or Democratic party had in Virginia
the appointment of the Judges OF the
election for electors of President and
vice President of the United States, yet
one of the three Judges of the election
was always selected from the other
party. The Governors were generally
if not always Democrats, or the
party called State rights, yet they did
not refuse to commission Federal or
Wing Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs or
military officers. Democratic Justices
often appointed Wing clerks and Pros
ecuting Attorneys. In Virginia, though
the Wing party was always in minori-
ty, vet the Wings had at all times full
share of such offices of the State as
Sheriffs, Constables, Clerks and Prose-
cutiug Attorneys, and militia officers,
Justices Of the Peace and Notaries. How
10 il now, and how has it been since
West Virginia was born
Governor Boreman appoints no DEM
ocrat to any Office. If he has, l have
never heard of it. He appoints the
Boards of Registration, and in no in
stance has he appointed Democrat
certainly none in Ohio county. have
repeatedly enquired how it was in other
counties, and have invariably been an
swered, no Democrat was on any Board
of Registration in the State! And is it
not true, that the Boards of Registra-
ton for the different counties never ap-
point q Democrat as Registrar of votersi
Where, in the long history of Democrat
ic rule in Virginia, can any intolerance
or political rascality such as this be
found, In such or analogous cases, a
Democratic Executive in Virginia gave
one of the seats to the opposing party.
The enjoyment of this high and pre-
cious right of freeman depends on the
honesty and fairness of the Registrars,
and vet Governor Boreman will give
the Democrats no chance to protect or
defend themselves in this matter. A
more rascally ease of party oppression
and iniauity cannot be fOund-unless It
is in the conduct of the Radicals toward
the South. Tkis conduct of Foreman
demands the detestation OF every hu-
man being.
The editor of the fatelligencT has
shown of late some signs of DISPOSE
tion to indulge in modicum of liber-
ality and fairness. We hope to see him
progress in this direction. Let him
score party narrowness and injustice
wherever he sees it but let him not
overIook the denominations of Boreman
toward Democrats and the cause OF VIZ
tuous and wise government. Lash him
for his narrowness and scorch him foI
his meanness and injustice towards his
political opponents.
SOUTH WHEELING.
J.S.Lyle went into an African church
in Richmond, Indiana, few nights ago
and seizing one of the "sistern' who