The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-10-04

4
KITCHEN, LAMoN and LUCE, the inde-
pendent Republican candidates for SEN
ate and House of Delegates from
Berkeley county, is, by all odds, the
most fearless in its style and the shrewd-
est in its positions Of any document yet
put forth in It's line. 1t places them in
the van of liberal Republicanism, and
shows them to be far more successful
Interpreters of public opinion than any
other Republicans who have yet ad-
dressed the public. -za ~ =
1t were unwise to disguise the fact
that their plan is far better calculated
to give formidable strength to Republi-
canism in West Virginia than any other
yet presented. They say:
We have consented to be candidates
at the approaching election, and we an
nosnce to you, fellow-citizens, the fol-
lowing as the platform npon which we
ask your support. II our principles do
not suit y on, reject us. If they embrace,
in your opinion, the true interests ana
policy of the Republican party, we claim
your support.
l. We hold that, the war being ended,
the rebellion crushed, the Constitution
and Union triumphant, and the United
States now again one great and happy
Republic, that all within its limits shall
enjoy the rights of AMERICAN CITIZENS.
2. We hold that the Suffers Oath,
which prevents the honest creditor from
receiving his just debt-the Lawyers
Oath, which forbids class of our citi-
zens from earning an honest livelihood
by the practive of their profession-the
Schoolmaster's Oath, which has frus-
trated the fair operation of our Free
School system by diminishing the num-
Der of teachers; and the Registry Oath,
which prevents large number OF wor-
thy citizens and heavy tax payers from
participating in the privileges of the
elective franchise = SHOULD BE RE-
PEALED.
However excusable and even justifa.
ble those measures were, Immediately
succeeding the war, aud before the
country had resumed its peaceful pur-
suits and feelings. no one out of the
State of West Virginia now stands up
to Justify them. They belong to past
era. They are as Inappropriate to the
present day, as the thumb screw and
pincers, and other instruments of tor
ture of the by-gone middle ages. Shall
West Virginia continue to be pointed
out as the only State in the Union, in
which large body of her native citi-
zens are deprived of the ordinary rights
and privileges of Freemeni Will she
continue to attract ridicule to that noble
motto on her coat of arms: Aontani
Semper Liberi' Can she glory in a coat
of arms in tho face of the disabilities,
disqualification and restrictions, which
crush to the earth so many of her citi-
zeAs, performing as they now are faith
fully all their duties to the Union and
to the State 7
1t is upon this policy that we take
Issue. We could not with our ideas of
what is due to the great Republican
party of this country-to the admins
tration of President Grant-see policy
engrafted into the creed and practice of
this country which is now disavowed
by the Republicans throughout the
land, and which is calculated to bring
odium and discredit upon that party to
which we are so much attached.
Fellow Citizens, the issue is now
plainly and distinctly before you. We
are Republicans, and we differ in no re-
spect from our honorable competitors,
except we are opposed to the further
continuance of this prospective and op.
,pressive policy, upon our fellow citizens.
We go for Impartial Suffrage and Unirer
sal amnesty We stand upon the great
principles Of Popular Liberty and Popu-
lar Government. We thihk that all
who contribute by their labor, their
taxes, their talents, their property, TO
support the Government, ought to have
a voice in the selection of the agents of
thatGovernment. That the principle
of taxation without representation is as
odous to US as it was to our revolution
ary ancestors, Above all, we are OPP
posed to having any castles in our com
.munity-a class of men upon whom the
burdens of Government rest, without
any of its benefits. The issue is before
you. and your choice must be between
Political Liberty and Equality on the one
side, or Political Prescription and Tyranny
on the other. Choose ye between them.
b. Nj. KITCHEN, for the Senate.
JOHN w. LAAIQN, l.. A. LUCE, for the
House of Delegates.