The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-05-15
Rebel SnGrnYe.

| In Its second arGlcle upon Une question:
of rebel enfranchisement in West Vir-
einia, the IntelligeHcer defends its pro-
position to give the ballot to the pro-
scribed Confederates rs means of per-
potuating Republican ascendency. Since
our cotemporary regards the removal of
disabilities as an advantageous measure
for his party, we fail to see wherein he
has made such a concession of partisan
advantage" rs would demand recipro.
cal surrender on our part, or on the part
of the Democrats generally. In cOntin'
uing TO advocate the abolition OF pro-
scription, We are, by his own
showing, enabling him to realize
the benefit which he expects his party
TO derive from rebel votes, because his
strong argument foT Acknowledgement is
that the Republican party will receive
suffi cient number of those votes to
perpetuate its ascendency. 1t would be
difficult to conceive more practical
"yielding of partisan advantage for the
sake of principle" than, according to
the MtcUigenccr's premises, we have
here exemplified.
But the IntelligeHcer insists that the
Democracy of West Virginia have not
given up their pro.savery and secession
dogmas, and that the renunciation of
them must precede rebel enfranchise-
meut. Speaking for ourselves we have
no hesitation in saying that the divinity
of slavery and the right of secession
never did form part of our political
creed. Those who fought for these ideas
honestly surrendered them when they
laid down their arms. We do not
know man in the State, Democrat or
rebel, who contends for the right of
State to secede or for the right of prop
erty in man. Ii the Iutelligcpccr per.
sists in arguing otherwise we should
like it to oname the evidence necessary to
satisfy it, that there is no issue between
parties ar individuals on either of these
subjects. We know of none, and We know
of no person who in any contingency
would raise such an issue. Let the Re
publicans who are disposed to remove
the disabilities from the prescribed peo.
pie of West Virginia understand fully
that the results Of the war are recogniz.
ed and acquieSCed in by the men who
were beaten in the strife, and if fear of
the contrary be all that deters them
from action, they need no longer hest
tate.
The IutelligRccr desires to know our
status upon the GREELEY platform of
+ universal amnesty and universal suff-
rage Wheu our contemporary shall
have shown us what connection that
proposition has with the pending ques.
tton we Will be prepared to give our
' views IN an unmiStakablc manner. But
= on Monday the Mtclligeucer said sub,
L stantlally that the question of negro
suffrage was fixed. Here are its words
The entranchisemeut of the blacks is
5 We trust, already assured.
D That being the case we commend tc
its consideration its own remarks about
{ dead issues. If the negro suffrage ques
ton be definitely settled, as the IafelG
. .,nc. thinks n re-introd nction nF :,
? would serve merely to complicate mat
ters, distract public attention from tn,
vital point, and possibly tend to the de
; feat of the very proposition on whicl
the hieHgmcer and ourselves are agreed
viz: the speedy enfranchisement of th
= prescribed white citizens of the State.