The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-10-22
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NOm he Ph7ddsipata PTesl.. .
WEST vIRe1SIA.

On Thursday next the loyal men OF
;; West Virginia will be called upon Il
4 exercise those se.immutable, rights which
constitute the badge of good citizenship
EILne rights of4popular suffrage. The
Jaw. iaWs OF the State have been framed SC
as 70 exclude from the polls, at least
i9r satisfac actory probationary period,
aii NOSE who; by open rebellion forfeit
ea their honors and their places in So
clety. The wisdom Of this measure has
peen amply vindfcated by the fact that
me Stateis now securely moored at the
Wharves of liberty, and is enjoying a
prosperity which the Old Doninion
never dreamed of. The spirit Of An.
Drew Johnson, Tammany Hall, and the
presiding officer of our own Nisi Prius
mas however beenimbuinR the rnalcofl-
tents OF the mountains, and their ygea-
pons are sharpened to defy law and
carry the State over to slavery, Inth
southern and eastern counties returned
reDei soldiers openly avow their letter.
mination to march TO the polls and cast
their ballots or prevent an election with
their baYonets. Bloodshed NAV be exz,
Pected, for what will not desperate men
dare The rebel army was a fit school.
for the training of desperadoes, and the
teachlngs OF the party with which they
10 any scheme which- savors of outrage
and murder,
This aspect of affairs serves at least
70 bafde any attempt to clearly fore
shadow the result. The loyal men of
west Virginia can save the State to
themselves IL they are firm. The issue
with them Is as momentous as at any
Tune during the war. When rebel
hordes .overran her borders, she learn
ed by sad experiences what It was to |
have them In authority. 1t cannot be |
the wish of any reasonable man in the
state. and especially any property |
holder. to have the banditti empire OF |
1862, 1858 and 1884 reinstated. There |
was opportunity then for becoming ac-
quatnted with their practices, as there
Is now of learning the despicable arts
by which they hope to regain what was
lost when they were crushed by The
armies OF freedom. These schemes
must be. met by all the honorable
means at hand. The registrars should I
be scruputously exact in enforcing the /
letter of the law. No intimidation i
should uunerve them, no threats appai
them, no asperities retard them. a full |
and faithful performance of duty under
the provisions OF the Legislature is ex-
pected of every official. The election
of full Republican ticket will secure
the State from 1Rwlessness and rapine.
Under all the adverse circum-
even the most sanguine friend
of good order cannot expect TO main.
TAIN the seven tnouSanQ majority OF
other years. But this affords a good
margin to work upon, and, without an
actual retreat in the face of the foe, all
their hellish appliances cannot over
come it. A victory for the Republican
cause in West Virginia, on the 22d, will
be doubly appreciated by the nation,
because there the same arguments
have been educed by the same parties
who stood face to face during the war,
the one fighting to protect and the
other to sack the valley homes OF the
Inhabitants. In the portions of the
State where the opposition have not
allowed defiance to mar the canvass, 1t
has been warm, and the prospects are
fiattering for the Republicans. Many
of them speak with confidence of a
triumph. The State has never been
classed among he doubtful ones, and L
there, as everywhere else along the
border, fortitude must be added to
watchtul labor and zeal, in order to
insure the result all good men sode-
voutly wish for. We have faith in our
in West Virginia, and be-
lieve that they will place the State In
the Grant galaxy by majority of not
less than 8, 900 lovers of Union, freedom,
aud peace. t- aEa.Jf ss55