The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-06-25
GheQntelliqetrre
The Suffrage Question Here.

NO $SUo1GAOA 41eEeS
The Monroe Republican of last week,
after showing (wbat seems too plain
to need argument) that no enlargement
of the suffrage in this State can take
place without an amendment to the
State Constitution, says:
Whether the necessary alterations
shall be made by a Convention called
for the purpose, or by the action Of two
successive Legislatures and reference
to the people, is Il matter of secondary
| consideration,
We prefer a Convention because we
believe the additional expense would
be more than compensated for, by Sc
curing in Il Convention what it Is i'm
| possible to secure in Legislature, the
attendance of the ablest talent in the
State.
To that class OF Republicans, OF
whom tho author OF the Aurelius letter
is perhaps fair exponent, we beg to
say, that while we propose to put iC in
the power of a Republican Legislature
TO discriminate between the compare.
lively innocent, and the culpably gull
ty. between men who were dragged into
The war, and the men who dragged
them in, and especially between those
who since the close of the war have
honestly acquiesced in its results. and
those who only recently were preparing
under Blair leadership to "disperse the
carpet, bag State Governments" and
to inaugurate new rebellion; we
have no disposition in Il mistaken spir-
it OF generosity to hand West Virginia
over 10 the lender consideration OF the
Democratic party. Kentucky ana
Maryland have furnished examples too
recent to induce repetition of that
folly.
Our purpose is to build up and
strengthen the party, not to destroy it;
and to swell our ranks by the addition
OF thousands whom the want of oppOr-
tunity alone prevents from heartily
cooperating with us.
But there Is something more involv-
ed than mere question of expediency.
The national Republican party OF the
United States assembled in National
Convention in the city of Chicago on
the 2lst day of May 1S6S-made this
declaration of principle. Res. 13.]
That we highly commend the spirit of
maRuAnlmlty and fOrbearance with which
msn wEO have served in the rebellion, but
who now frankly ana honestly corporate
with us in restoring the peace OF the country
ernments upon the basis OF i'm partial justice
and equal rights, ara received back into the
SaYoT ths remoyal 20 T OF he Observation-Disclosures
and restrictions imposed upon the late
rebels III the same measure as the spirit OF
dIsOyalIy Will die out. and as may cOnsls-
tent with the safety OF the loyal people.
Uuon that assurance we went into
the last campaign, and the thousands
OF brave men who, under Longstreet's
leadership, recruited our ranks and did
incalculabie service expect that assnr-
ance to be kept. 1t is not only the de-
clared policy OF the Republican party,
it is u solemn pledge which the men
who comply with the prescribed condl-
tions have a right 10 insist shall be
Kept. In this State, the first step TO he
taken TO conform our State policy to
the National policy, must be an alter
alton in the Constitution. Good falth
and public policy alike demand early
action. Let the people see to 1t that
the question is not lost sight of in select
ing delegates and Senators next fall.
The necessity for the other alterations
suggested is not so imminent; this mat
ter cannot and will not wait.
In regard to the convention, about
which our cotemporary Is sol1citous'
we have already expressed our oPposi-
ton 10 il. II it is Only to make the two
or three amendments that are abso-
lutcly necessary, "the ablesC talent in
the State" can hardly be needed. 1.-THE
object OF convention is to remodel
the Constitution throughout, then any
such movement for some years to come
is. we think, to deprecated. What
are really necessary and
advisable can be made in the ordinary
way. 1t is not necessary or advisable.
we conceive, to incur the expense and
encounter the confusion which for sew
eraI wears would follow another rev1'
sion of the Constitution by conven'
ton.
Concerning the Repw0ticn1s'S propo-
sition that The Amendment to the Con-
stitution enlarging the suffrage shall Do
SO shaped as TO vest in the Legislature
power to discriminate between the
comparatively innocent and culpably
guilty" there is much to be said both
for and against it, though we cannot
undertake to say It here. That is the
plan most acceptable to our friends III
the border counties. Yet 1t Is one sur
rounded by a good deal of dtthculty'
The granting of amnesty is not proper
function for legislative body. 1t can
no, be so exercised without great abuses
and evils. No rule of discrimination
that occurs to US would catch all the
black sheep and let the white ones go.
Amnesty would have to be granted or
refused upon personal representations
alone; and into these it would be inn
possible that undue favor or excessive
vengeance would not largely enter. Yet
as political expedient the plan might
work we'll and as such it merits careful
consideration. The whole subject In its
length and breadth has been scarcely
touched in the newspaper discussion OF
It thus far. We are conscious ourselves
Of having dealt only in the general out
lines; but we agree with the Republican
in hoping that our friends throughout
the state will discuss it in all its details
amongst themselves In this Summers
canvass for members of the Legislature
The more thoroughly the matter is can
vassed the more speedily and certainly
will satisfactory and advantageous
solution be reached.
The MonOnEaheIa valley Il. h
II ia announced on authority that j.
Edgar Thompson. President OF the
Pe6na. Central Z. R., recently salo
that il the people along the route Oh tn9
MOnonpahela Valley Railroad wiz
raise $500 900, the Central Company
would furnish the means to buiId Lne
III Se