The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-02-20
Presentation 10 senator Thurman.
nun,har Of thn Waat Virginia Dem-


A number of the West Virginia Dem
ocratic friends and admirers of Sen
ator THURMAN determined, shortly
after the close of that distinguished
statesman's political labers in our
State last Fall, to present him an
appropriate testimonial of their high
appreciation of his character. After
deliberation it was concluded to
procure splendid gold-headed
cane, have it suitably inscribed and
through this present to convey to Sena'
tor THURMAN some assurance Of the ex-
alted esteem entertained for him by his
Democratic friends in this State. The
commission was entrusted to Messrs
SCOTT & HENNEGEN of this city, with
orders to spare neither pains nor ex-
pense in preparing a rich. elegant and
substantial testimonial.
A few days since these gentlemen
completed the trust assigned them. The
cane furnished by them is of ebony,
headed with massive gold, richly en-
graved and suitably inscribed. The
engraving aud ornamentation are exc
cuted in finished style aud are admitted
to be the nearest approaches to perfec-
tion of which skill and taste are capa-
BILE. The plate upon the top of the cane
bears the following inscription From
Of inia IN
Senator A. G. THURMAN, of Ohio" Upon
the sides are engraved the coats of arms
of Ohio, West Virginia and the United
States, aud also the words Campaign
of 1868"
A committee was appointed to convey
the present to Senator THURMAN at
Columbus, Ohio, duty they discharged
on Thursday.
The present tation took place on the
evening of that day at the residence of
Senator THURMAN, whore number of
gentlemen from the city Of Columbus
had gathered to witness the affair. At
ter the party had assembled in the par
lors of the mansion, the Senator made
his appearance and with his character
istic cordality received his guests. Mr..
J.W. .GAILAHER, of fMoundsville, w. Va,
tken delivered the following
PRESENTATION SPEECH:
JUDGE THURMAN: The duty has been
assigned me, in the name and in behalf
of your Democratic friends in West
Virginia to present you with the cane
| now held in my hand, as slight tes-
timOnial of our appreciation OF your
valuable aud cheerfully rendered ser
vices i'm behalf of the cause of conSti-
tutional liberty and good government,
in the campaign in our State, through
which we have lately passed.
In this connection allow me to say,
sir, that our people, nearly allied to the
people of your State geographically and
in measures of political policy, have
watched with intense interest
the sturdy efforts made by yourself
in Ohio within the last few years IN
favor of the great principles which were
so dear to the founders of our govern
ment, and have deeply sympathized
with you in that good work.
Permit me now, sir, to conclude my
pleasant duty. Allow me in the name
of the Democracy of West Virginia to
present you with this cane, and to add
the wish that your days may be long
i'm the land that has recently so highly
honOred you-and that n serene and
happy old age may crown your useful
and honorable life.
Senator THURMAN responded rs fol-
lows:
GESTLEMEN-You have kept your se-
cret so we'll that you know, without my
telling you, that am taken wholly by
surprise. l accept with pleasure your
handsome present, and shall ever CRATE
fully remember the friendship that
prompted the gift. am not conscious,
it is true, Of meriting such testimo-
nial, unless, indeed, a strong feeling of
friendship tor your State, and thor
ough hatred of injustice and
tyranny entitle me to il. You have
been pleased, sir, te refer in terms quite
too fiattering, to my humble services
in the cause that is 50 dear to us all.
So far as those services were rendered
in your State, j can truly say that they
we're given with heartfelt willingness,
aud that no one regrets more than / do
that they were not more effective; for it
ia no atfectatiOn to say that l have
never been able to think of your dis
franchising Constitution and laws with
out o feeling of Indignation. To say
nothing of the dsfranchisement of
large numbers of men for political of
fences-a policy condemned by
the most enlightened thinkers
of the world-your Constitution
and laws violate tho most sacred and
essential principle of justice and juris
prudence, the principle that forbids the
punishment of any man until he be
fairly tried and legally convicted. The
pettiest and meanest thief in your State
cannot be punished without such a
trial and conviction, and yet thousands
of your citizens are arbitrarily punished
by disfranchisement, without even the
semblanoe of trial. For Isuppose that
no man is bold enough to say that
the proceedings of your Registrars bear
any similitude to an impartial, much
less a judicial trial. To punish even
the guilty without trial is considered
an enormity in all civilized countries;
how muck greater is the eDormity of a
system that Furnishes the innocent and
the guilty slikei am proud to say
that in Ohio no such wrong is allowed.
Our Constitution permits no man to be
disfranchised on the ground of crimi-
nality, until he be duly and legally con-
victed in a court of justice. 1t Furnishes
no man until his guilt has been thus
established, after giving him fair op-
pOrtunity TO prove his innocence. And
so it ought to be and so trust that it
soon will be, everywhere in this land.
1t is a fundamental principle of politi-
cal as we'll as civil justice that it should
be so. But, gentlemen, / find myself
falling into speech, and think this is
not tho occasion for that. Allow me to
conclude by sincerely thanking the
committee for the testimonial of their
esteem you have presented to me, and
by thanking you, sir, for the kind words
in which the presentation was made.
After the presentation was concluded