The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-21
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'Republican Policy in west virginia.
Editor Of the Times:

'Republican Policy In West Virginia
From the ParkeTIbtrg Times.
Editor Of the Times:
The Wheeling 1NTELLIGENcER of the
18th inst. has an editorial OF over two
columns under the above caption, in
which it is attempted to be shown that
the time has come to enfranchiSe rebels
land remove their satellites generally;
/ Thislo a little atraage to come from
Ithe metropolitan Repu blican organs
paper which has so bitterly opposed
Mr.. Garlic because he has not been
strictly an orthodox Republican (neveI
a rebel.) ,Butit now wants to remove
all the disabilities from rebels and lei
| them vote and, as natural &C.
quence, hold office. The INTELLI-
| GESCER has been afflicted with several
political spasms, because President
Grant appointed Mr.. Carlile Minister
great com plRCencYt the time when rebels
will vote, hold office and control the
State OF West Virginia. It does appear
to me that the 1NTELLIGENCER is play
| ing with the Republican party and is
| merely trying how far 1t can direct the
movements of that party. Whatever
may be the object of that paper, 1 would
respectfully inform the editors that they
have no bill of sale for the party in
West Virginia, and that they cannot
make the people swallow this new hete-
rodoXy.
The INTELLIoENCER contends that all
the old issues are accomplished and that
as a measure of-safety and protection
rebel disfranchisement is no longer a
necessity. Let US see how these things
are. So far as West Virginia is con-
cerned there is just the same necessity
for DISTINGUISHING rebels now as there
was in 1866 when the Amendment to
the Constitution was adopted. We
Republicans contend that Republican
principles are essential to the welfare
OF our State. We believe that the State
Republicans and conducted upon Il
Repu blican model. Our free schools
are the result of Republican legislation.
Remove the disabilities from rebels and
the Government would Immediately be
controlled by democracy, for nineteen
twentieth of the enfranchised rebels
would vote the Democratic ticket, tor a
rebel takes to democracy as naturally
as aduck takes to water. 1EE
The State OF West Virginia was made
by the Republican party; its institu-
tiOns are Republican,; It's prosperity,
whatever it may be, is the result of the
practical workings of republlcanism.
Our constitution and our laws partake
largely of the progressive spirit of gen.
uine republicanism. A majority and a
large majority of the loyal people of the
stare, are satisfied with our Institutions
thus based upon the doctrines OF the
great Republican party. A majority
OF the loyal voters OF this State are sol
diers, and risked their lives for their
principles. The policy advocated by
the INrELE1GESCER. If adopted, within
a very few years would wrest our State
Government from the hands of its de-
tenders, and place it at the disposal or
its would-be destroyers.
If The rebels be enfranchised at any
time during the next three or four
years, the State will go Immediately
into the hands of the Democracy, and
then such a change as would be made
in our State Government Is beyond the
reach of the human mind to contem
plate. Our free school system would
dered imperative. Every posi-
bility would be imposed on the
freedmen; Union men and Union
soldiers would have to, take back seats.
Their claims to consideration would be
utterly ignored. Men who killed our
brave soldiers, stole our horses and
cattle, devastated our country, way
laid and shot their neighbOrs and burnt
our houses would then be our rulers.
But the INTELLIGEECER says we must
meet the question of rebel enfranchise-
ment, that, like Banquo's Ghost, it
stares US in the face. The INTELLIGEN-
GER, like Macbeth must feel guilty of
something. suppose he feels some
compunctions OF conscience at having
helped to distranchise these rebels.
Well, however guilty the INTELLIGEN-
Ger may feel, the great masses of the
Repu blican party in the State are not
afraid of this ghost. Disfranchised re-
bellion Is harmless ghost, but enfran-
chised rebels would prove destructive
ghouls.
There can be no good sense in doing
and undoing Immediately. Only three
years ago we changed our Constitution
to disfranchise rebels and were we now
to change 1t to enfranchtse them 1t
would look like mere child's play, es-
pecIally when the same causes for their
Acknowledgement exist now as they did
in 1866.
But the INTELLIGENCER contends that
under the present system of disfran.
chising them, the Republican party Is
gradually losing. I think this is mis-
take. Our majority last fall was much
larger than the fall previous, and the
hopelessness OF the Democratic party
will increase our majority hereafter.
In regard to this DISTINGUISHED ele.
ment 1 cannot conceive that it will
prove very troublesome. 1t Is quiet
and becomes more quiet each year,
and those rebelsSWho do not choose to
stay in West Virginia where they are
DISTINGUISHED, have the perfect right TO
emigrate to some place where they will
fare better.
A DISTINGUISHED element remained in
the State of Virginia from the close of
the revolution until said element was
removed by death. The Slate of Vir-
ginia disfranchised the tories of the re-
volution and confiscated their property
and enacted laws preventing them
from recovering debts. These statutes
were not repealed. Virginia until 1850
always had DISTINGUISHED element,
not disfrRnchised for crime, but simply
owner of a certain amount OF property
before he could vote.
am not in favor of continuing these
upon rebels for any great
length OF time, but l want them to re-
main until we are sure that it will be
safe TO remove them. fit will be safe
in five years, remove them. 1t not safe
in that time, let them remain longer.
In regard to party ascendency, 1 con-
tend that the only safety for West Vir
ginia is in the Republican party, and
that democracy is never safe. 1t ran
this country into rebellion and if we
permit our State to fall into its hands
it will be much-more disastrous than
to keep few thousand rebels Tdisfran-
chised. --t1-- = ~ '-AURELIUs.
Will it Pay 10 FertilIze for WheRt9
From the Washington, Pa, Reporter.
MEssRs. EDITORS .-44f you please I
will answer the above inquiry through
your paper. In the fall Of 1867 I was
hauling barnyard manure about three
fourths of a mile up hill to field 1 was
then preparing for a crop of wheat.
Soma of NV naiphb0ra thOuRht i was