The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-14
From Yesterdays Pittsburgh Gazette.
EEPUBL,CAN PROGRESS.


We had occasion, yesterday, to speak
of the growing inclin alton of the friends
OF the Union, in all of the late rebel
States, to relax at the earliest practica-
BILE moment, the restrictive power which
the success of the Federal policy ena-
bled them to apply, not without the
temporary jurisdiction of necessity, to
the conquered enemies of the Union, at
the termination of the war. In Vir
ginia, Missouri and TENNESSEE, as
throughout all the South, the wisest OF
our friends have come to agree that
these restrictions have fully accom-
plished all that was to be reasonably
expected from the policy-the efectual
exclusion or the traitorous element
from any participation in the work OF
repairing the mischief which they were
wholly responsible for intlicting upon
the Republic. 1t was very naturally
and properly held, in 1865. and FOR the
three subsequent years, to be rlgnt that
the business of reconstruction should
be wholly incumbent upon the loyal
portion of the people OF those states, ana
that such citizens as had been promi'
nent in resistance to the Federal author
ity should be content Tor Inc present
with back seats. And this policy was
effectually enforced by depr1ving the
latter OF al political rights whatsoever.
The policy of exclusion has accom-
pllshed all that we expected from 1T,
and 1t should end with the causes which
existed for it's Justification. Recon-
struction is complete, in every political
sense, in eight of tho eleven States
which attempted secession, and 1t only
remains to remove the no longer need
full restrictions to which we alluded, to
perfpct the entire popular restoration TO
| the legal and original status OF 1ull
civic rights. In 81 ninth State, Virginia,
the delay OF reconstruction has result
kNcn l,NRn nr0 iF1HTy Of Ia
early completion, by the cOnsenting aid
of all classes of its people, who are 10
decide for Themselves, at the same time,
| for or against the continuance OF the
present political disabilities OF part OF
| them-and they are likely to discard
the restrictive policy altogether. In
| two Suites, Texas and Mississippi, the
same issues are likely to be decided,
during this year, in the same way. The
| States of Missouri and West Virginia
were not participants In the rebellion
| as States, but their populations were
divided by the most hostile animosities,
| and their territories were the theatre
OF many of the sharpest conflicts OF
the war. These States, with Tennessee,
maintained their practical relations 10
| the Union, as States, unbrokenI ana
| that necessarily means that their gov
ernnents were controlled by the Ks
publican adherents to the Federal gov
nrnment. With these States, the sharp
est and most stringent policy, in exclu-
ding the rebels from all political rights
whatever, WAS justitlabie es war
measure, IL upon no other grounds.
We need not say that it was adopted
northumberland to the uttermOst e8-
treme of which the situation admitted.
Yet THESE three States are at this moment
ready to recognize the progress OF
events, and to meet the growing loyalty
of feeling and the he2riinesJ OF submis-
| sion to the greater results OF the cOnhlcfs
among their lately rebel citizens, by
abrogntiEE, ut the earliest possible mo-
ment, every invidiOus distinction of
political status among their pOpula-
lions, and by restoring an equality OF
citizenship to all, irrespective of race.
color or past ill-deserts. We know
that Tennessee would do this to NOR
row. If some of the embers OF the
rebelliOn's b2leful fires were not
still famed alive by Il few mischief
makers of the Johnson type. In
Missouri, the movement toward an uni
Versal amnesty has already enlisted the
good will OF the wisest lOyalistS OF that
State. And now comes Weat Virginia,
with Its best friends OF tie Union urg
ing the immediate need for Il policy OF
liberal cOnciliatiOn, upon the people
and the State authorities. The ques-
ton, says the Wheeling 1RtctLigCnce1'.
can not be ignored; il presses and must
be met-aud without delay, From
10 600 to $4,000 of their citizens are at
present under political disabilities, for
their share in the rebellion. The rebel
power is broken, not only politically
but morally; it can never be revived
because it is already dead Gtthe heart.
rne need for their disabilities exists
no longer. and every consideration of
Il wise public policy requires thatthey
ShHnId be swept Glenn from the statute
book. Statesmanship ID but an eteva-