The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-06-01
What CoIfax Is and Is Not

The Democracy always give to the
second Office in our Government states
man. John c. Calhoun, William King,
Martin Van Buren,, Samuel Southland,
and other names, have been enrolled
among Democratic Vice Presidents. The
Radicals have contributed to the place
Hannibal Hamlin, a bowling dema-
gogue, and Andrew johnson, whom they
selected because they were assured he
was not Just what he has proved to be,
defender and disciple of the Consti-
tuition. As they seek to repudiate Mr.
johnson, the antics of Hamlin are all
the Vice Presidential honors to which
they can lay claim. This time they
have put forward Schuyler COlfax, a
man whose record should be properly
understood by the country.
That record is insignificant, yet not
obscure. Insignificant because Mr..
Colflx has never done anything, not
obscure because of the accidental pub
licity that attaches to Congressional
position. There have never been but
two interests he has sought to serve.
The first is the interest Of Mr.. ColtaX,
the second is the interest of the party
Mr.. Colfax has thrived upon. In Con-
press for fourteen years he has never
proposed single measure of which the
tendency has not been Disunion or per-
sonal Prescription for opinions sake.
Of the first, his support of the political
measures of the Radical party is full
proef. Of the second, his descent from
the chair to become the leader OF the
Intellectual movement TO expel Mr..
Long, of Ohio, "for disloyalty" is a
specific instance, together with the un.
righteous rulings by which he has ST.
fenced n Conservative minority and al
lowed a deluse of abuse and treason to
flow from the d.revolutiOnists of the
Rump House.
To have been Radical member OF
the XXXVIIIth, XXXIXth, and NLth
Congresses consigns man TO inlamy
in history. But to be the chief of the
conspiratOrs is now esteemed distinc'
tion emitting one to the second office
within the gift of the American people.
He who can rest under the disgrace
will find none to envy his repose.
The arguments in favor of Mr.. Col
fax are novel. 1t is known he supports
white slavery in the South, ana we are
told that he never drinks liquor. 1t is
known he officially crushed freedom OF
debate in the House, and we are told he
always wears a pleasant smile. 1t is
known he advised the suppression OF
free suffrage by Federal bayonets in his
own State, and we are told many moth
ers name their babies for him. 1t is
known that though having a not re.
mote interest in the Presidency he has
lent himself to the Impeachment swim
die, and we are told he has curly whisk-
ers and is only forty-iive years old His
inability to argue is offset by the asser'
tion that he was clerk in a country store
for four years. His entire lack of states,
manship is balanced by telling us that
he is the pink of neatness. 1t is grave
ly announced for national consideration
that Mr.. Colfax has never been married
His cclibacy is propounded as an anti
dote TO his Radicalism, which under
Queen Mary would have found fault at
the stake for the undercooking of a
hereto.
An examination of the few speeches
on public questions which Mr.. ColfaX
has made reveals no evidence either OF
study, sincerity, or thought. They
breathe only the air of the rarest Radl'
calism extant at the time of their de.
livery. Beyond a careful suppression
of ali facts opposed to. his position and
perversion Of all by any fetch in favor
of it, the Speaker has never been able
to 90. He has the redundancy of Bout
well and none of his sincerity. He talks
as "prettily" as Banks, and is even
more Pogramic, He has said many
foolish things. 1t is not on record that
he ever said wise one.
The prominence Of such . man in ouI
national councils and in our nationa
politics would be impossible, or a
least, anomalous usder any other thar
Radical regime. Assurance and q
brazen energy have done more for hin
than a lifetime of solid service from
Trumbull and Fessenden has been able
to accomplish for themselves, or for any
Radicals against whose name will b.
written tho title of statesmen. 1t is th'
era of mere politicians in tho Republi
can party, and demagogues -futter for
ward for while, till, party and all
they go to their own place.