The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-11-02
o.r Military Contemporary - He
p,eacheth n Piece-Ie COmeth TO

month. but as We have had matters of
comparative Importance to present, we
have not given them to our readers.
Now that the day of small things seems
70 have returned, W. are not unwilling
10 recount the experiences of the editor
Of the IRtcHigeRcer, in the speech-mak-
inc line. 1t appears, that on Monday,
Sentember 23d, public meeting was
held at the place above named, and that
in the progress of the exercises, "Col-
oneT A. W. CAMPBELL, of Wheeling,
arose and shODe.
He doesn't seem to have been wanted
yery badly. The enthusiasm of the
people didn't prevent the reporter from
hearing him say that he had been an
uonnced 10y some person, "a fact of
which the multitude were evidently
IGNORANT and that he had been request
ed TO speak 10y the same person, "a re-
ouest which the crowd unaccountably
failed to endorsed and that he would
address them Ga piece of condeScension
which don't seem TO have moved them
anv more than u threatened tiea-bite
would move a mummy
He assured them that his position was
anoyel ose his first appearance, so to
speak That first appearance needs an
explanation, and we give it. 1t came
about upon strict biblical principles :
"the first shall be last, and the last shall
be first" The Colonel realized the
latter clause, being about the last
man anybody in that region wanted to
see or hear.
II will be seen that the Colsnel"
dealt West Virginia a distinguished
pop. He places her on the same basis
with the rebellion. "We set up an in
dependent Government for ourselves,
as yop attempted to do" That is, We all
went into rebellion; you failed and we
succeeded, and West Virginia is the re-
suit of successful rebellion. This is
rank disloyalty. We are afraid the
Colonel" spoke after dinner, aud that
his inspiration was drawn at about the
same time with cork.
The "Colonel" was quite happy in
another respect. His illusions to him
self and his heroic achievements were
irresistible. Using the "we" of the
editor. he boasts of his warlike fsats
Arms and the man sing, &c." ave
were unwilling to take up arms against
you, but were not unwilling to take up
arms to defend the flag of our glorious
country" (H-o-o-r-a-y.) The applause
is our own spontaneous tribute. We
are so glad to hear that the Colonel
was not unwilling" sc. Somehow,
he omitted to do it, and we, in our dull
style, thought he didn't banker that
way; that lie didn't want any powder
with his porridge.
The Colonel in little while be-
CONES additionally emphatic. Says he,
"re have republican form of govern
meut.' Alas! Colonel" You didn't
show your co.ors; you meant black re-
pUbiican-a government where one votes
and nine pay taxes-where one holds
office and nine hold the plough-where
one steals and nine sweat to furnish the
thief with plunder-where manhood,
and decency aud honest love of law and
country mean "treason" and rebellion,
aud where forgery and perjury, and cor
ruptlon and test-oath and promiscuous
yillainy, and FOREMAN and all that
sort of thing mean "lOyalty" and
"CniOn'-that's the sort of government
yoa meant, and like a great lunk-head
you struck out the word black. You are
not even q decent pirate; you don't
unturl your flag.
Further along, the Colonel pre-
sumes-we understand the "COlonefs'
stock of presumptiOn-that "fhe erertdst'
mg equality of the races shall be recognis'
si' We are sorry we didn't print this
before the Ohio election. 1t looks fee
ble and lonesome and perplexed like, in
the light of recent political devel'
Opments. 1t sounds like the whine of a
lost dog, or the bewildered bray of au
ass, fallen into deep pit. Every Wig
orous aud aggressive and triumphant
note is wanting, and the remaining
sounds are full of affiiction and distress
The "Colonel" next gives his views
On emancipation. "We white men OF
West Virginia have been einancipated
&c.' The eve" is very good and very
true. So far as the "we' is concerned, the
emancipation business is flashed. LIN.
coin did that. His proclamation set
tied matters for the entire class foI
whom that word ''we" eau be made to
stand. But as to the "Wkite men Of
West Virginia." there is slight differ
ence of opinion. Some folks think
that when the blacks were ireeu, sever
al of the whites were fettered. The
Colonel" clearly got parts of two sto'
rieS mixed. He ought to take his in
Spiration straight. Nevertheless, "tht
emancipation game" is quite passable
Everybody took hand in it, these col
ored people here turned up trumps, and
the white people of my ~ State turned
up trumps too" (Give us somersault
Colonel" That's it; JACK sets you
One) any State" The right bower
takes the trick. The biggest knave in
the pack wins the game and sweeps the
stakes. Hence the modest phrase, "m,
State" Colonel" ," could MT you compro.
mise on "our"i just for the sake Of ap.