The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-02-10
At'heeliug geglster.
usaaay Msrniag, ....... February 10.
LsxnIIzea Robbery.

Nuch oi ,h. legislation uew in force
Inst those v no took sides against us
IN ,b, great struggle lately ended, yio
lstes the most sacred guarantees OF the
Constitution, disregards the fundamen-
,,IregetS of free government, and Knocks
o, the teachings OF natural philanthropy
and christian forgiveness as recognized
H., ,be civilized world. Under the Con-
.,;turjon of the State, as lately amend
"a while this class of people are taxed
+, every conceivable purpose of govern
,,,,,, ami bear all the other burdens of
citizenship, yet they are not citizens,
,,d have no voice in the levy or eX-
n.,diture of the taxes which they pay,
and sni,y none of the ordinary advan-
tarr. OF citizens.
When under the sanction Of vindic-
rive laws they are Indignantly prose-
.r,.J nr uniustly sued, they are tried,
nor hv an impartial jury or one conf
rosri equally OF friends and foes, but
= inrv from which all save their enc
mics are carefully excluded. When
,h.y are prrludiced by an erroneous de-
e,,ion Of al inferior Court, they are de-
MED ,hrIight to appeal to tue higher
r,rri created by the Constitution for
,be correction of such errors. When
IN rbeir absence knave has prosecuted
a. upfouuded claim, and without no.
rice corruptly obtained Judgment
AGAINST tLrm-in its nature cOndi-
iioral-suhicct, under the law i'll
force when II was rendered, to
the right tOhppear and show injustice
rLry arr prsCluded from the exercise OF
this universally admitted right; the con
dltiouaI Judgment is made absolute and
the syuuudrel is secured in his ill-got-
ten -poll. NJ matter how eminently
lust may Ice the debts due them, or how
especially prrfdious the failure of the
debtor To pay them, they are denied tn e
right tU maintain suit, and conse-
aucntiy the debt is in effect cOnhScated'
not 10 The State, bot to the debtor as a
reward fOr his depravity. Aud u large
class ofpcrsons-lawyers and teachers
who have devoted NEST of theiS lives
ana means 10 preparation for use
iuluesS in their profession, are ruthlessly
prohibited ~ exercise the only employ
ment in in which they may benefit 9TH
els or sustain themselves.
Such is something of the implacable
vengeance already inflicted on a class
oi persons who, differing with us on
questions as ~ which the whole coun
Try vas divided, unhcsitLtingly offered
their lives witSout complaint, endured
every hardship and suffered every Pri-
vati0n in vindication Of their princi-
pies, till they they We're utterly pros
tratc az Ous feet. Such is the moral
aspect of the extraordinary legislation
devised tur the persecution % once open
foes, who now fully acknowledge their
defeat and their acquiescence in the
result.
While many creditors promptly exact
payment of their dues without regard
10 the sacrifice often occasiOned for the
purpose, others indulgcntly forbear 10
Corrce pay till it be convenient TO
the debtor TO pay. On the other hand
while many debtors scrupulously make
payments according to the terms OF
their contracts, others disregard their
obligations, and abuse the indulgence
of tleir creditors. Many of the debtors
class were long before the war indebted
to persons who aided in the rebellion
or sympathized with it, or not doing
either, yet for some reason resided with
in the Confederate lines during the war
These debtors had ample oppor.
tunity TO pay their debts for years be-
fore the war, hut did not, and were not
compelled to do so. They had the
money 10 which their creditors were en-
titled during the war for the purpose
of speculation. They have had nearly
three years since the war, but either be-
cause Of the lenience of their creditors
or because advantage has been taken OF
their inability to sue, the debtors yet
tail 10 make payment. During all this
time they have had the Use Of the prop
erty for which the debts were contract
Ell, or its proceeds. Their contracts bound
them to pay both principal and inter
est in gold : but they are now allowed
TO pay il in currency which is only
abont twO-thirds the present value of
gold, but intrinsically not worth half the
value Of the money at the time it be-
came due. Now the Radical party
urge that the liberal creditor who for
bore TO enact payment before the war,
and has continued TO do so since, shall
for his indulgence forfeit the interest,
not TO tbe State, but to the debtor, as q
reward for his failure to make prompt
payment, or his readiness to take ad-
vantage of his henefactor.
Tue act reported palpably violates
two distinct provisions of the COnstitu-
sion of the United States. 1t impairs
the obligation of the contract made by
the debtor, and it is an er post .tacto law,
not only inhicting an additional pun
'shmeut for aiding the rebellion, but a
new punishment. fer merely residing
within the Confederate lines, though
IN entire innocence of any offence.
Its manifest tendency is to in
euicate perfdy and generally cor
rapt the morals Of the people. Should
this bill pass, while honest men have
either long ago paid their debts con.
trscted before the war with legal inter-
est or will now scorn to profit by the
law, the depraved and unscrupulous
will accept the invitation-will take