The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-10-28
ADDRESS
To the Republican Voters
of Ohio County.

that decided change has been, and IL
now, going on 10 public opinion all
over the country, In respect to the per.
manent dIsfrRnehisetnen Of the great
mass Of those who stand implicated IN
the rebellion. You have seen that the
Government has granted them general
amnesty and, following its example,
that such States rs Missouri and Ten-
nessee, which we're not long ago more
extreme than our own, have greatly
relaxed the rigor OF their test oaths and
materially enlarged the scope OF their
elective franchise. .T
II Is we'll understood that the admin.
istratlon at Washington and the lead
Ing minds generally Of the Republican
party In Hll the departments of the Gov
eminent, favor and seek 10 promote this
llberalizad policy on the part OF the
States. II Is also rs near certain as
anything In the future can be, that the
day OF complete enfranchisemen for all
men, white and black, Is close at hand,
This Is the manifest tendency OF the
times and very soon we must all &C.
cept the fact, willingly or otherwise,
The next session Of Congress will
most likely see all the States once more
AG6AOAGA w kAGlA PlhGE0 al kub u.
with representatives in both branches;
and there Is scarcely doubt OF the rat.
itication OF the 18th amendment to the
Federal Constitution, which amend
ment forbids all political dIscrimIna-
tons In any Of The states on account OF
race or color.
This being the situation throughout
the country, does 1t not become US In
justice to our own ideas and sympa-
kthies, TO adopt party policy In har-
mony with this prevailing tendency OF
the times, II we desire and expect 10
maintain the ascendeucy OF the polItl-
cal organization to which we belong?
We believe that the test oaths that
were adopted In this State during, and
at the close Of the war, were, in the
main, necessary, If not absolutely In.
dlspensable. They protected the weak
and exposed counties against the pro-
scriptlon and aggression that must
have followed return OF the disloyal
element TO power and influence. And,
In addition, they have served we'll
throughout the whole State, az a part
of the great moral lesson tauk hit by the
war. But, while all this, and more, ia
true, yet 1t Is also true that under The
protection thus afforded TO LOYALTY.
abuses OF power, TO some extent, have
gown up. But this Is not the place.
nor the time, 10 partlCulRrize Instances,
even were It certainly known 10 what
extent power had really been abused
IN some Of the counties in the matter of
registration. The abuse OF power Is as
old as the human race, and Is generally
10 be expected under iaVorInH circum-
stances. And while we do not forget
the responsibility Of the rebellion itself
for these abuses, both in the way OF
pTecept and example, nor ignore the
plovocations that have tended 10 excite
passionate execution OF the law. vet
We cannot on that account lose sight of
the great truth that the Just province OF
all law Is tina protection OF society and
not tho punishment OF the offender,
And, therefore, no rlgor, or semhIance
OF persecution, Is eXcusAble after the
public safety Is reasonably assured,
And as regards the safety Of our loyal
people at this time, even In the most
exposed counties, our Information I'M
presses us with the belief that we can
afford to inaugurate the necessary steps
for disseminating everything known as
War legislation.
3 On this point we wish to be distinctly
understood, as follows: We do not ad-
vocAte an instant Rbrogatlon OF the
DISTINGUISHING clause in our Constitu-
ton, for that ID impossible, but we do
favor prompt steps by our next IIegIs>
lalure towards putting II in process of
repeal-a process, by the way, that viii
consume upwards Of two years from
upinRnP nd In he
we shall hope 10 see the next LegIsla>
ture take early opportunity 10 do
away with the test oaths now resting
upon Lawyers, Suitors and School
teachers. These oaths have had their
day, and, whatever their service n the
past, their future advantage 10 the
State may we'll be doubted. And as
for the voters oath, we presume BY
the time 1t can be legally dispensed
with under the repeal process alluded
to, there Will be few dlsinterested citi-
zens In our midst, however bitter their
remembrances OF the war, who will
really regret ils dlsoontinuancs. And
finally, as regards the present registry
law, while expressing our earnest at
tachment 10 the plan Of guarding the
purity Of the ballot.box by reEistra-
ton OF all the qualified voters OF the
State, still We shall receive with salts.
faction at the hands OF the Legislature
such a modification OF existing features
AZ will, among other things, provide
Tor the election OF the officers OF regis.
ttalion by the people, instead OF their
appointment by the State Executive.
and In such n manner, also, az will SO.
cure the minority one representative IN
every County Board, believing that
these changes Will secure the best
guaranty for an Impartial execution of
the law.
We believe that a gradually lIberal-
lied policy like this Is not onlv iusl
and right OF itself, but in keeping with
the grand record OF patriotism and
craftsmanship made By the Repu blIcan
party throughout u contest unparalleled
ed for It's extent and bitterness. His,o.
ry relates no more enviable AchieYe-
ments than those Of this great party,
which, coming into life to prevent the
republic from being converted Into
slave empire, has come out OF n long
and successful war true 10 It's fret in.
SEPARATIONS In favor OF justice and hu.
manity towards all classes OF men. We
believe that In consistency with this re.
cord OF our party at large throughout
the country, and ~ a matter OF expe- |
diency among ourselves, that we cans
not afford 10 Keepa large body OF our
Gellow'cttiEsns perpetually disirAn.
ohised, and thereby perpetually dIsaf- |
fecLed. OStractsm within the State
a = A..