The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-05-31

nsures disclose. Our adVersarles are
perfectly advised Of it. We ought to
have courage enough to face it, because it
helps US from just opinion of the pros
pect. We gain nothing by sticking our
head in tho sand like an ostrich and sup
posing nobody sees US. On this point
there can be no impropricty in Introducing
letter addressed 10 the writer of this
last fax by the Hon. Horace Greeley, chief
editor of the New York Tribune Shortly
before the last session Of the 10th Con-
gress, it will be remembered, the Tribune
came out in advocacy Of an amendment
proposing Mr. Grselcy's plan Of 'tUnivcr-
sal Suffrage aud Universal Amnesty"
Being sincerely DESTROYS Of seeing Con
gees propose an Amendment enfranchise-
ing the blacks, and believing if the inca
sure also including the rebels it would
not pass Congress or if it did would fail
Of ratification, VIC wrote private note to
Mr.. Greedy simply for his information,
stating that an Amendment enfranchlse-
ing the negroes only would doubtless be
ratified by our Legislature, while if it also
eniranchiscd the rebels it would be sure Of
rejection. We offer no argument either
for or against rebel cnfranchisement,
merely stating the grounds on which We
were sure the republicans in the Lcgisla-
turc would vote against such a measure.
Mr.. g., however, seems to have under
stood us to state these positions as our
own. He replies as follows:
NEw York TRIBUNE,
NEW YORK, Nov. is, 1865.
Ny DEAR SIR:
have yours Of tho 10th. It's leading
positions have long been understood and
appreciated in this quarter. Now hear
me.
Every year one thousand of your rebels
die. and one thousand Cor more) Of their
sons become Of age. You can't disfran-
chisc them. You have now five thousand
majority. Six years at farthest will con-
vert this into rebel majority of one
thousand. Then the rebels will DO en-
franclliscd in spite of you and the blacks
will be left under foot-and you under
estimate these at two thousand.
Go your way and see if the rebels don't
have you under foot in less than six
years.
1speak from wide experience when l
tell you that your house is built on the
sand. 1t cannot stand. Every year will
sec the passions Of the war cool, and the
demand for amnesty strengthened. Now
you can amnesty the rebels. Soon the
question will be, shall they amnesty you7
Look at Kentucky and Maryland, and
rad your certain fate in theirs.
Yours, HORACE GnEELy.
Mr.. Greedy is considered a pretty good
republican, and very good authority on
figures. We commend his letter 10 the
careful study Of Aurelius and others Of
like views.
In the space allotted to this article we
eau only refer to one more point in the
letter Of Aurclius. After expanding all
the forces Of his argument to show (if it
shows anything) that the present disfran.
chiscmcnt must be p rpctual-that is, that
it must continue while ever its discontin-
uance would endanger the asccndcncy Of
the republican party, Gas now organized
and controlled, we persumc) he sur
renders his whole position in the closing
paragraph by declaring that he does not
favor is continuance, "fw any great
length of time" Now there does not
seem to be so much difference between us
after all. ITe only wants it to remain till
he is sure it will be safe to remove it;
but he doc. not define what he means BIZ
" safc." or safe for what or for whom.
Let us call our friends attention 10 fact
which does not seem to have received as
much consideration at his hands as it de-
serves. Suppose VIC were to move with
all practicable dispatch for the removal Of
his disability. how long would it take ?
The Legislature in the winter Of 1870
would pass the resolution proposing the
ncccs airy amendment to the Constitution.
The next Legislature in the winter Of
1871, would concur in the resolution. 1t
would be submitted to the people for rati-
tication ut the first succeeding election, in
October 1911. If ratified, it would be
promulgated say by the beginning of
1872; but the persons thereby enfran-
chised would not vote till October 1877
yearly three years and half hence. If
public opinion ripens on this question as
rapidly for the next three years as it is
ripening new, that will then DO very
popular measure, and no party will be
found willing to retard it. That is our
opinion. Others who concur with us in
other views, thinking five years hence
would be soon enough for suoh an amend.
mcnt to become opcrativd. If those who
direct the Legislation Of our party, how
ever, should determine to keep us on the
present war platform in times Of pence
if they manifest no willingness to make
an advancs movcment-it ,rW not be Tile
~ fall 10 Tie lot Of The republicans to
consu,ndte tie measure at all. The Demo-
cnits rii Sare us The trouble.
FROM WESTON TO CLARKsBURG