The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-06-17

CIV bAA 70 "a 1H0 foLdLeg uuS1 W.
have deeper meaning than mere
anxiety of two or three lawyers to De
allowed TO resume practice for business
reasons. Is It not believed by our enc,
mics that such action Just now woulo
sensibly demoralize the Repuollcans
and strengthen themselves? That must
be the effect of any exemption not
made on grounds of undoubted merit
The Legislature experimental little
Dtbis direction last winter-and llttle
,oo much, if current reports are true.
In one county at least, we hear the Peo-
nile are petitIoning to have a lawyers
privilege, granted last winter, taken
way again. Any further experiment
in the present temper OF public senti-
meut without the clearest evidence OF
deserving, and without universal con-
currence, would be hazardous.
The petitions sent up here ought TO
be taken for what they are worth.
Plenty of people can always be
got to sign n petition for any
petition for
personal friend or somebody else's
personal friend. Yet we think it will
be found upon actual examination
that very few ,pndoubted Union men
have signed any petitions of this char
ncter. and II any have it was from the
general weakness which few men are
free from, Q not being able to refuse
personal favor when solicited. 1.-THE
loyal people of Brooke countynre par
anxious Mr.. Pendleton should
practice law there land despite our cor
respondents assertion, we beg to have
our doubts about this) and his prive-
Iege could be limited to that county,
there would be less objection to it than
to the present propositions but the
people of Brooke county ought not just
now TO infIict Mr.. Pendleton and n bad
example on the whole State; for he
Is not n man entitled either by his an
tecedents or by his present status, as
acknowledged by his friend Brooke"
TO ask any further generosity Mt the
hands Cas well as at the expensel of the
loyal party that controls the State.
l, is easy 10 talk as the Herald does
about "class Iegislation;" but we arc
sure the Herald knows that such legis-
lation since the rebellion has been
necessary. The entire leg
isiation OF Congress, with reference 10
to the people OF the South is, and had
to be, of the same character. 1t is
anomalous legislation, to be sure; but
such il had TO be to meet the ne
cesstties of the anomalous situation
in which tho rebellion placed US.
Since then it has been the policy OF
Congress, as we'll as of our Legislature,
to hedge in The rebellious element with
such restrictions as should guard the
government against the certain evils
of their Immediate return TO power
We have believed this policy right. be-
cause necessary. We do not believe
the necessity has so far passed away as
to Justify relaxation Oft now.
In regard to Mr.. Pendletou, if nont
but personal considerations entered
into this matter, we should much
rather advocate his relief than oppose
il. Bur We conceive TINT cousidera,
lions of pnblic policy forbid the re-
m0yal OF his disability at this time.
His case has become one OF prominence.
Itis generally known that he holds on
To his "old political opinions" viz:
that the rebellion was right and the
Government wrong; and while his
friend brooke" may attribute to him
"honcsty in their maintenance" the
Judgment rendered by the result of the
war is that man cannot maintain
such "opinions" and be good citizen
| His relief would therefore be mistake
which the Legislature cannot afford.
In regard to these gentlemen gener-
ally, we trust the time OF the Legisla-
ture will not be FILTERED away upon
their petitions. The public will not
suffer by their exclusion from the
courts little longer. 1t might suffer
by their. immediate admission. We
commend TO them the old saying about
marrying in haste and repenting Mt
leisure. Eight gears ago they were in n
great hurry 10 get into the rebellion.
They ought not to be il such a hurry
to get out. They need little time for
wholesome reelection upon their offence
before it is quite forgotten-especially
those who have not yet realized that
they were guilty of anything meet for
shame or repentance.