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

PEOPEIrToEs.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE IL.
WE print this morning communi-
cation from n citizen of Brooke county,
accompanied by an article from the
wellsburg Rerald, advocating the ex-
emption Of Joseph Il. Pendleton from
tle uperatiOn of the lawyers test oath
law. The write. OF the communication
formerly acted with the Union party.
He is now IL Johnson office holder and
swings, we learn,-on the fence.
We mention this in order |
that his statements on behalf of the
Republicans OF Brooke county may be
estimated at their proper value.
We print these articles because it
seems but fair Mr.. Pendieton and his
friends should have hearing. AT the
same time we are persuaded the Legis-
lnlure would do an unwisc thing to
yield to their solicitations.
At the outbreak of the rebellion the
most influential class OF men in Viz
glnin. especially on this side OF the
mountains, were the lawyers, who I'M
happily for the country, nearly all en-
Gagged IN the rebellion. They were the
men, in truth, not only in Virginia,
hut elsewhere, who brought it about.
Nj PendIeion was one OF the men who
devoted his abilities aud influence to
this work. We have always said IA
rebel here had far less apology for his
crime than one in the cotton States.
Tnere their commercial position and
the prevailing belief that slavery WINS
essential to their commercial prosperity
unoTded tlc rebels some excuse. But
n rebel anywhere in West Nirginin, es-
pcciuIly in the Panhandle, had no ex-
cusc whatever His community might
be ruined but could not possibly be
benefited. if the rebellion succeeded.
Nothing, therefore, but the unmitigated
love orthe treason itself mude rebels of
men in this region. These gentlemen
now tell us all this is to be forgotten.
All men, OF course, would gladly forget
il; but we trust it is not 10 he forgotten
so long as Il remembrance Oft is essen
tiul TO future safety. There might be
such thing as forgetting the rebellion
TOO soon. When We can I've sure these
men have forgotten their treason, then
We too may safely forget it. Until
then. Jestmd ie',te.
The policy Of the Government to.
wards The rebels has been very lenient,
even magnanimous--ioo magnani-
nous, we fear, to yield the best results.
No man has been punished for his trea-
son-none hanged or banished--none
deprived OF liberty or property Here
in West Virginin. they are temporarily
denied political power and official sta
ton, and are debarred from influential
position in the courts. This is all.
Their rights of person and property are
rs freely accorded and protected as
those of any good citizen whose hands
are unstained with the blood of his
countrymen. Yet these men and their
allies clamor against the deprivation
OF these privileges rs il it were
"A great injustice and hardship
1t is true our correspondent and the
editor of the Herald do not press this
view of the case. but the rebels them
selves and their newspapers do. The
restrictive laws arc denounced as tout
RACES" and their repeal demanded.
How often must it bc necessary to re-
mind these gentlemen that, like the
Irishman before the judge, it is not
Justice they want. Suppose we should
deal with Mr.. PenCileton as he proposed
to deal with his neighbors during the
rebellion. Two young men from Han
cock county became prisoners in the
hands Of the rebels and were carried TO
Richmond. In that condition they
We're visited by Mr.. PcndIeton and a
fellow rebel from Brooke, the former of
whom gave the prisoners the comfort
ing assurance that when the war was
over they should be turned over to the
State authorities and tried for treason
against the State. 1t happened that
when the war was over tho positions OF
these parties were reversed. Suppose
we were to give Mr.. Pendleton the
benefit OF his own doctrine, would he
and his friends bo any better satisfied!
udwho doubts thati the Confederacy
hsd prevailed, West Virginia would
nave been made too hot to hold anv
prominent Unionist now within her
eoFdeFsF weshouId have been very for.
'un'te indeed to be let OF with nothing
worse than political and official depri,
walton. pa
We mention these things simply tc
show the footing on which ,basa =, - -
stand. We have no wish to sos, ,,n,,,
dealt with AS they would hnye 49, 49,
with us in like circumstance Ne, !,
is wholesome to recall these ,bfnrs :, :
view of the audRcity with which ,ha .,
now demand their ancient privilegs::
We do not favor any spirit OF retniis
ton nor insist on naked justice. w
believe the SdluS popuIi should be III
governing consideration in dealin
with,thep; and that existing Limitation
should be taken away when that pc
mits, not before. The question for Il
Legislature is whether that period hi
arrived.
The concerted effort to force some