The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-01-01
A LooEi at she sitna,ion.


At the caucus of Republican Senators
and Representatives last night, General
Schenck, Chairman Of the Congressional
Executive Com mittee, submitted an in
teresting report, showing the means
that have been adopted by the Com
mitter's agents in the South to organ
ize the blacks so as to secure Republi-
can maiorities in the various Constitu-
tional Conventions.--Special Dispatch to
the Commercial Advertiser.
This, however it be regarded now, is
one of the worst "signs of the times"
Evidences like this show that, for three
years, the action Of Congress, instead of
having the restoration Of the UnIen aad
the common welfare in view, has only
been concerned about the Negro Vote of
Southern States. At first, the caucus
plan for not reeonstructing, kept those
States out Of the Union until 1868.
Subsequently, by the Military Recon
struction Act, they are to come in by
the votes of Negroes, who are, as Mr..
Schenck announces, to cast the vote of
these States for the next President.
Aud thus, for temporary political adj
vantage, the Elective Franchise, on the
intelligence and integrity of which our
Government and Institutions depend, is
prostituted. This evidence of degenera-
cy may we'll alarm the people. When
the war ended, by not only the over
throw of rebellion, but the acceptance
by the Southern States of the Constitu-
ti0nal Amendment abolishing slavery,
we all looked for restored Union aud
prosperity. Upon Congress rested the
duty of facilitating these objects. But
what has Congress donef Subjected
those States to Military rule under n
law which subjugates the white to the
black race, and sll to secure the votes
of these States for Radical President.
For this the Union has been kept di-
vided For this, Military Governments,
at an expense of more millions than the
people will find it convenient to pay, is
maintained. For this all the CONNER
cial and industrial interests of the coun-
try lansnish.
Can there be greater cause for morti-
fication than to see Congress of the
United States giving up all its time,
and pervsrtipg all its powers, to effect
a merely partisan object-acting as if
there was nothing of duty, but the cleo
tion of Radical Presidentf So intent
upon this, too, that all other duties and
interests are neglectcd3 al,
Three years ago Congress imposed au
impracticable tax upon whisky. 1t was
known two years ago, that this tax had
occasioned universal decentralization,
and could not be collected. Bnt Con-
gress had ears and eyes for Negro Suf-
frage oaly; Southern Negro Suffrage.
Ohio refuses it to her negroes, and Judge
Chase says negro votes are not essential
at the North, The Radicals refused to
submit the question of negro suffrage
in this State, to the people. And yet,
all else is sacrificed to negro suffrage at
the South
Time was when the Wing and Re-
publican parties found their claim to
popular favor in the intelligence of
electors. We maintained that there was
no other guarantee for the perpetuation
of a Republican form of Government.
And yet, in n season of political delu-
sion, we are deliberately making the
election of a President upon negroes,
who, as the Congressional Address ad-
mits, "are ignorant Of the means by rhich
suffrage is expressed"
How dearly the country will pay for
this proclamation 7 The humiliating
business of the next Cangress will be to
repeal the political and personal enact
ments of tie last. Meantime it is by
no means Impossible that o financial
storm, which the refusal or neglect of
Congress to guard against, may break
upon us. We have not yet paid the
penalty, in our business interests,
which wars always occasion. But the
blow will not be lighter for having beer
delayed. Nor will the providence of
Congress shorten the arm of the aven-
ger. If, by an arbitrary attempt to re-
sumo specie payments, without prepar-
atory retreHchment, and before We get
the essential aid which the rice, sugar,
tobacco and cotton crops used to fur
nish, or for any other cause.-the finan-
cial crash comes, it will "grind" Radi-
cal leaders, journals and organizations
"to powder"