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

The discussion which is now going on
10 our State, in reference to the enfran
chiscment Of those who arc now under
disability, has created a good deal Of ex-
element. We published shor, time
ago an article from the Wheeling M'elli-
genecr, on this subject, which los called
forth the comments Of almost every paper,
Of both parties, in the State. Some few
Of the Radical journals. including the
Wellsburg Herald, the Point Pleasant
Register, the Greeubrier l"dtreadim ard
the Monroe Republican, favoring the
grounds taken by the InteH1,aer, and
the remainder advocating retention Of
all the present disabilities. The Parkcrs-
burg Times has taken a leading part in
opposing the action Of the Lnteligeneer
and maintains that republican asccndcncy
is best for the State, aud rebels should be
DISTINGUISHED to perpctuato it; that the
prescription policy has not weakened the
republican party, and it will not do so;
that II the diyranchised element don't
like taeir condition they can en'iynte :
and that Virginia herself set proper
precedent by DISTINGUISHING tories and
non-property holders. To the FIRST Of
these propositions tire Isteu;geaeer replies
by showing that liberation, not party ne
cessity. is the only sure basis upon which
arepublican Government can be main
saiped and that in the absence Of either
probable or remote danger to the Gov
erumcnt there is no justification for "the
purely arbitrary act Of denying to por.
ton Of our citizens their due voice in its
affairs" The following paragraphs from
this portion Of the lntelliseaceIs onie'e
illustrate its argument
II the party in power, simply for the
purpose Of keeping in power, DISTINGUISHED
the minority, how long does any one sup
pose republican institutions could exist ?
We cannot and dare not attempt to justify
the present policy in this State on any
such ground.
= y 4
Hcnccforth political contests in this
country will not involve the existence Of
Fundamental! principles Of the Government
but only the success or failure Of rival
ideas and policies; and the prosperity Of
the country or Of any subdivision Of it
will depend hereafter, as before the war,
on the experience and good sense Of the
majority Of the people interested If
they cannot be entrusted with their own
welfare, who can?
In order to gi1o our readers the fullest
possible understanding Of the discussion,
We copy entire the Mseligencers remarks
upon the remaining points at issue.
The italics are our own:
The proposition that il the DISTINGUISHED
rebels don'tlike disfranchi,emcnt they can
leave the State. does not impress, us as the
argument Of craftsmanship. Such a prop
oation might Jeft lie lord Lieutenant Of
Ireland. But in this land zoe claim hat
people hare an inherent right to lire ,cLere
Mey choose, cren If that be ,phere Mey arc;
and they hare a right to demand that their
la,rs shall Le toleraJte and not such as TO
drive them into Grille. A policy which
leaves any class choice between exile
and injustice has no claim to be called re-
publican. In the normal condition Of So
ciety to which we have now returned the
law ought to be the servant and protector
OF the citizen, not his opprcssor. In our
State where population is SO much needed,
it docs not seem to US true craftsmanship
which advocates driving any part Of 1t
away.
Tho example Of Virginia, inaicting per-
pe.ual disabilities on her Tories after the
Revolution, does not commend itself as
especially worthy Of imitation here. Vir-
GINA has not been such a signal success
in any respect as to make her policy a
shining example. Indeed, our people
here have felt constrained to depart from
her ways and teachings very widely. If
presidents for the imposition Of political
disablement are needed to fortify the mr.
], gument Of tie "good Aurclius," he
!, need only to 60 back little further in the
history Of England, to find abundance Of
them; when il the alternate defeat and
success Of warning factions, the victori-
GUS party sought to perpetuate its power
by tests and disabilities. But It would not
be easy to show that such policy there
ever accomplished any great public good
or even effected the immediate purpose
sought. On the other hand the greatness
and prosperity Of England and the free
dom Of her people did not begin ill she
had outgrown the intolerance Of those
earlier times. Virginia, il is true, also
disfranchised that part Of her people who
were SO unfortunate as To be portionlcss.
And most odious disfranchiscnent il
was. The citation was very unfortunate
one Aurelius 1t was just such class dis
elimination as this BY which Virginia