The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-02-27
Speech Of II. 4. Curtis, ESQ, IN 'he
Moundsville Convention, FebruHfy
22d, 1865.

that we are suffered to meet In peace,
with none to make us afraid. II mas
not always been thus. When the TOOL
ish and wicked rebellion was put down,
MANY were anxious for peace and the
Union as it was, and for amicable rela-
tions between the North and the Souta
as of yere. The rebels had tougnt
bravely for what they considered their
rights, staked all on the issue and iost.
With a good grace they submitted 10
the situation, made every concession
that was asked for, and evinced every
disposition to become good citizens.
The Conservatives in a christian spirit
were willing to forgive them, to let
them have their constitutional rights,
and manage their own affairs in their
own way. Had this been done,
we would now be deriving
a large revenue from them, instead OF
which we are holding them nnder mill
tary rule at vast expense. Views so
magnanimous, so righteous and patrl-
otic ought to have found acceptance IN
every bosom. Not SO, for "madness
ruled the hour"
The cry was treason must be pun
ishedw as if they had not been sum-
ciently punished. Grievously had they
sinned and grievously hSl they suffer-
ed. Conservatives were prosecuted,
called traitors, rebels, cOpperheads, &c,
and prevented from holding meetings
at the point of the bayOnet. In our
town, one of our citizens was fined
twenty dollars for making Conserva.
A: hn nnnrf and
jury let go scot free gang OF plug uglIes
who had comitted the most shameful
outrages, fresh in the recollection OF
you all, but they were loyal men, and
had given such striking evidence their
loyalty that they had to be screened.
The Radicals have thought they would
have q sure thing of it in the Preslden-
tial election by the measures they have
adopted to secure the Southern States
by negro votes, but
The best laid plans o mice and men gang AFT
aglee.'
God often permits bad men TO frus-
trate their own designs. The very
measures they have adopted to secure
the votes of the darkies, will lose them
the Northern States, because a
large majority of those States have
not the most exhalted opinion OF
the blacks, and do not wish them
to have the supremacy in any part
of our dominions, and fear the expense
which has to be met by Northern tax
payers. Touch mans pocket and you
bring him to his senses. To thing Of it,
thirty millions of dollars to keep mp a
force and seven or eight mil
lions to maintain drove of lazy ne
groes! ,
Here an idea occurs to me which
wish the editor of the REGISTER would
"make note of" and iHdorse in an ed
itorial paragraph. 1t is this-"the ne
groes that will not work send to Africa
or some warm climate where they can
have a subsistence on the spontaneous
of the earth" We have
many public vessels that could be
in this service, and it will
not cost near as much to transport
them, as to feed and clothe them at
home. This will not be accomplished,
however, under the present dynasty,
they are wanted for voters by their
white brothers. But thank God, the
time is not far distant when the reins
Of government will be in the hands of
men of sense and patriotism. That the
black race will not work, if they can
help it, is abundantly proved by the
statistics of Hayti and the West India
Islands. 1t is wrong that white men
should work for them. The course pur.
sued by the radicals with them will
produce war of races un-
less something is done to prevent it.
The philanthroplsts of England
and America thought they were
an estimable bles-
sing on the blacks when they
set them free. Many of the negroes
cannot see it, and may well
exclaim "save us from our friends"
For long time registration was very
popular--it was loudly proclaimed that
the country must be ruled by "loya"
men, but the so-called "loyal" men have
not governed with honor to themselves
or advantage to the State. Registration
under Boreman's management is found
to be very expensive. Here again the
almighty dollar" will aid us. We
must demonstrate to the tax payers,
which can easily be done, that it will
be greatly to their advantage, in pc
cuniary way to have change of rulers.
None can contend that we have an econ
omical administration.
For long time the Radicals had
their men under such good discipline
that scarcely one of them would look
at conservative paper and thus were
debarred from ii e truth. The papers
they did read were filled with intlamma-
tory appeals and denunciations against
the late rebels. In a time of civil war
there are always enOrmities committed
on both sides. Those of the COnfeder-
ates were exaggerated and embellished
with many lie, while those on our
side were passed over in silence. In
history we read of many rebellions sup
pressed, but in no age or country do we
read of rebels and their sympathizers
being treated rs harshly or prosecuted
so relentlessly and so long as in this
which was once called an en-
lightened country. Are We degenera-
ting into barbarismi 1t is said that
ministers of the gospel have done much
to eRgeHder and keep alive vindictive
feelings against their fellow-citizens in
the South.
Let dogs delight to bark and bite
It is their nature too"
But in my humble opinion it is wrong
for clergymen "to let their angry pas
sions rise' or stir up the "angry pas
sions" of their f0cks. All things must
have an end except truth. These bad
feelings are fast dying out. When men
are no longer under the Influence of
passion they will listen. to reason. As
General Jackson said, "truth is mighty
and shall prevail"
Registration, under Boreman's man.
agement, has been found very ex-
pensive, and there are many
other items of unjust and unnes-
essary expenditure. Here again the
almighty dollar" will aid us. We
must demonstrate to the tax payers,
which can easily be done; that it will
be greatly to their pecuniary advan-
tage to have q change of rulers.
may safely predict that ere long
West Virginia will be redeemed and
So mote II be.
The cream of the colored population
Of Hartford, Conn, were to have had a