The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-09-01
ADDRESS
To the Republican Voters
of Ohio County.


drawing near, and this fact IS the only
apology we deem it necessary to offer for
venturing, at this time, to cali your atten.
tion 10 some considerations connected
with the canvass that we regard Of more
than ordinary Importance.
You have all so far observed the signs
Of the timesas to be well aware that a de.
cided change has been, and is now, going
on in public opinion all over the country,
in respect to the permanent disfrunchise.
ment of the great mass Of those who
stand implicated in the rebellion. You
have seen that the Government has grant.
ed them general amnesty and, following
its example, that such States as Missouri
and Tennessee, which we're not long ago
more extreme than our own, have greatly
relaxed the rigor Of their test oaths and
materially enlarged the scope Of their
elective franchise.
Il is well understood that the admins.
tration ut Washington and the leading
minds generally Of the Republican party
in all the departments Of the Government,
favor and seek 10 promote this liberalized
policy on the part Of the States. 1t is also
US near certain Ns anything in the future
can be, that the day Of complete enFrau.
Chisement for all men, white and black,
is close at hand. This is the manifest
tendency of the times and very soon we
must aIl accept the fact, willingly or
otherwise.
The next session of Congress will most
likely see oil the states once more restor.
ed TO their places in the Union, with rep.
rcsentatives in both branches, and there
is scarcely q doubt Of the ratification of
the 10Th amendment to the Federal Con.
stitution, which amendment forbids oil
political determinations in any Of the
states on account of race or color.
This being the situation throughout the
country, does it not become US in justice
to our own ideas and sympathies, to adopt
n party policy in harmony with this pre-.
vailing tendency Of the times, If we de.
sire and expect TO maintain the ascen.
dancy of the political organization to
which We belong?
We believe that the test oaths that were
adopted in this State during, and OF the
close Of the war, were, in the main, neces.
sary, if not absolutely indispensable.
They protected the weak and exposed
counties against the prescription and
aggression that must have followed
return Of the disloyal element to power
and influence. Aud, in addition, they
have served we'll throughout the whole
State, as part Of the great moral lesson
taught by the war. But, while all this,
and more, is true, yet it is also true that
under the protection thus afforded TO
loyalty, abuses of power, to some extent,
have grown up. But this is not the
place, nor the time, to particularize in.
stances, even were it certainly known
to what extent power has really been
abused in some Of the counties in the
matter Of registration. Tho abuse of
power is as old as the human race and is
generally to be expected under iayoring
circumstances. And while we do not forget
tho responsibility of the rebellion itself
for these abuses, both in the way Of pre-.
cept and example, nor ignore the provo.
cations that have tended to excite
passionate executions Of the law, yet
We cannot on that account, lose
sight OF the great truth that the just
province Of oil law is the protection Of
society and not tho punishment Of tho
offender. And, therefore, no rigor, or
semblance Of persecution, is cxcusable
after the public safety is reasonably as.
sured. And as regards the safety Of our
loyal people at this time, even in the most
exposed counties, our information i'm.
presses US with the belief that we can af.
ford to inaugurste the necessary steps for
disseminating everything known as war
legislation.
On this point We wish 10 be distinctly
understood, as follows: We do not advo.
cate IN instant abrogation Of the disfran.
cbising clause in our Constitution, for that
is impossible, but we do favor prompt
steps by our next Legislature towards put.
ting it in process Of repeal-a process, by
the way, that will consume upwards OF
two years from next winter. And, in the
meantime, we shall hope TO see the next
Legislature take early opportunity to do
away with the test oaths now resting upon
Lawyers, Suitors, and School Teachers.
These oaths have had their day, and,
whatever their service in the past, their
future advantage to the State may well be
doubted, And as for the voters oath, we
presume by the time it can be legally dis.
pensed with under the repeal process al.
luded TO, there will be few disinterested
citizens in our midst, however bitter their
remembrances of the war, who will really
regret its discontinuance. And finally, as
regards the present registry law, while ex.
pressing our earnest attachment to the
plan of guarding the purity Of the ballot,
box by registration Of all the qualified
voters Of the State, still we shall receive
with satisfaction at the hands Of the
Legislature such modification Of exist.
ing features as will, among other things,
provide for the election OF tho officers ol
registration by the people, instead Of their
appointment by the State Executive, and
in such q manner, also, as will secure the
minority one representative in every
County Board, believing that these
changes will secure the best guaranty for
IN impartial execution Of the law.
We believe that u gradually liberalized
policy like this is not only just and right
Of itself, but in keeping with the grand
record Of patriotism aud statesmanship
made by the Republican party through.
out q contest unparalleled for its extent
and bitterness. History relates no more
enviable achievements than those of this
great party, which, coming into life to
prevent the republic from being convert.
ed into slave empire, has come out OF
q long and successful war true to it's
first inspirations in favor Of justice and
humanity towards all classes Of men.
We believe that in consistency with this
record Of our party at large throughout
the country, and as q matter Of expedi.
sncy among ourselves, that we cannot
afford to keep 4 large body Of our fellow.
citizens perpetuAlly disfranchised, and
thereby perpetually disaGected. ostra.
cism within the State tends to bring
about emigration from the State. Per:
manant diTFrannhiaanant Ia nnt In knnn.