The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-10-13

LARGE AND ENrHUSIASTIC.-OnM Mon
day night the indomitable Democracy
of Wheeling convened at the Court
House.
The meeting was organized by calling
A. J. Pannell to the Chair and appoint
ing A. S. Trowbridge Secretary.
The Chair then introduced Okey
johnson, Esq, Elector at Large for the
State of West Virginia. After referring
to his mission, he spoke of the reverence
and love that all, at one time, had for
our Government. But, said he, Uncle
Sam is now sick. He was once blest
with good Constitution, but quacks
had tempered with it and it was fast
wasting away. He said he desired to
have a change of physicians. He then
referred to the old Constitution, which
every one so revered and explained how
it eemented the founders Of our Govern
ment; that in oursinfancy we whipped
the British Lion.
He then spoke of the rebellion-of
the military arm being raised to sup.
port the Union. Illustrated how it was
Democratic valor that achieved our
victories in the field. Referred to the
Crittenden resolutions-how the faith
of the Government was pledged to carry
out those resolutions, and that
during the first year of the war
they were deemed sacred. That the
soldiers fought for those principles.
Showed how that plighted faith had
been violated. That Lincoln acted up.
on the principle that the Southern
States were in the Union. That it was
Thad. Stevens who first mooted the idea
that the States should be considered as
conquered territories. That his party
at that time called him crazy.
He then referred to the Thirteenth
Constitutional Amendment. He showed
that nine out of eleven Of the Southern
States ratified the amendment, and yet
when they sent represe initiatives to Cen
gress they were denied admission.
He referred to the position OF poor
old Frank Pierpoint, after acting as
Governor of the restored Government
of Virginia here, and then in Alexandria,
and then in Richmond, the State also
being represented in Congress; he was
quietly kicked out and told that his
services were no longer desired. Then
commenced new era in our Govern
mental affairs. They then resolved to
carry out the Thad. Stevens doctrine
that they were only conquered terrific
ries-that no representatives should be
admitted till Congress considered them
entitled to the same.
Were such proceedings unfolding the
Constitution He then teok hold o.
reconstruction and laid it bare. 1t wa
. new word. Whoever dreamed of sucf
a thingi He referred to the condition
of the South. Showed how they hat
suspended the writ of kabeds corpus, tina
great charter of English liberty tina
was wruDg from an unwilling kihl
more than two hundred years ago. ID
then took up the subject Of negro sui
frage and showed its enormities-hov
the Lieutenant Governor of Louisian
was a negro.
Mr.. ]. then went into lengthy dis
sertation upon the bond question ant
the finances of the country-of the Ger
ruptions and frauds, and illustrated hi
ideas with several telling anecdote
which brought down roars of applause
He showed that the present expendl
lures of the Government have 10 pal
allel-that the whole amount of gol
coined in the United States, in Englan
and in France since l76l, was not suffi
cient to pay the debt.
We have not room to give full re
port of Mr.. Johnson's speech, which wa
replete with sound logic and good com
mon sense. He closed with touchin
allusion to the perils of the hour an
the duty of Democrats in the approach
: ing crisis. 1t was an eloquent an
. forensic speech, and was listened
Z With marked attention. The peopl
seem to be alive and active, and o
next Thursday week We shall expeC
+ IN hear of some news that will be chez
ing to Democrats.
rTbose in need of pure article