The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-04-30
Prospects Of Pence

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Prospects of Pence.
Our Gstemporary of the IntelHgencer
discusses at some length the present
peaceful condition of affairs, and espe-
cially the lull in political excitement,
and looks hopefully forward to univer-
sal harmony and material prosperity
throughout the country. While agree,
with him in the main as to the auspi-
cious results of cessation of bitter
partisan strife, we incline to the opinion
that the elements of dissatisfaction are
not so far wiped out as to warrant the
belief that political conflicts are entire.
ly ended. The IMtelligencer'S assump-
tion of the settlement of all questions
affecting the equal rights of all
our citizens does not rest upon SOB
stantial basis of fact. In the State of
West Virginia there are between twenty
and thirty thousand disfranchised white
citizens. Admitting that enfranchise-
ment puts au end to agitation, the
status of suffrage in West Virginia does
BOT warrant the hope that will have
here no more harassiug political ex-
citemeuts. For time, it is true, there
may be, as there now is, suspension of
active hostilities. Surfet and weari-
ness may produce that. But while there
remains in our midst large, wealthy,
intelligent and influential class of dis
franchised men, who have once been
voters, we cannot look for permanent
peace and good will.
President GRANT ought to be accepted
by Republicans generally, as tolerably
fair authority on this point. We submit
his opinion:
"The question of suffrage is one which
is likely to agitate the public so long as
a portion of the citizens of the nation
are excluded from its privileges in any
State"
West Virginia, through her Legisla-
ture, has taken steps to give the ballot
to one portion of her citizens, hitherto
excluded from its privileges" 1t is
no exaggeration to say that in ratifying
the Fifteenth Amendment, she has done
all in her power to confer the right of
suffrage upon those of her disfranchised
people who are least competent for its
exercise. Having done this, she con-
tinues to prescribe large body of
her citizens, equal in namber to one
half her present voters and fully up to
the highest grade of political gualifica-
tiOn in point of brain, experience and
permanent interest in the State. So
long as this state of affairs continues, is
it not Absolutely certain that "the uues.
tion of suffrage will agitate the publici'
In the view of the Intelligencer the sat.
isfactory solution of political problems
must ultimately depend upon "the ho-
mogeneity of the people" This being
the case, what ridiculous position
would our State occupy ifthat solution
depended upon her alOnei We have a
minority Government with fiercely
proscriptive policy. The representa-.
tives of the disfrauchised counties
control the State. A border county
with two or three hundred
registered votes has as much
power and as many delegates in
our Legislature as Marshall county with
nearly three thousand voters. The
various counties where disfranchise-
ment is heaviest, by combining, are
able to rule the Legislature, although
they contain but a minority of the &C
tual voters, while the counties at this
end, where disfranchisement is lightest
and where the bulk of the States voters
reside, are continually overborne when
important action is to be taker with
regard to measures or to men. To the
represents tatives of these disfranchised
counties is largely due the most mis-
chievous legislation OF the State. They
originated and now perpetuate the Test
Oaths for suitors, teachers and lawyers
All measures of that sort, which art
the source of endless trouble and dissat
isfsctiOn, are specially patronized b!
the class Of people indicated, not o.
proper and salutary measures of genera
policy, but as means for the accomplish
ment of individual purposes and the
qualification of personal spite. To sup
pese that we can have a homogeneous
aud harmonious people while these and
other unfortunate and proscriptive
statutes blot our books, is to suppose
that men of our own race, kind and kin
will show their unfitness for all the
franchises and trusts of citizenship by
calmly aequiescing in their own social
and political degradation.
We therefore believe that the present
abatement in oliticsl agitation gives