The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-07-12
A NEW PL.AN-AND A BAD ONE,
From the Wheeling ln,elligencer-radcai. J.

question Of charging the suffrage, Nislbly
Yields to the pressure Of common sense.
BY now indicating its willingness to see
on amendment made 10 the constitution,
the Times virtually admits its former pc.
sition of hostility to all progress untena-
). bic. The significance Of this move is not
so much in tho length Of the step as in
the fact that it is step forward. The
amendment proposed does not commend
itself to us as the best or even tolcrable
one; but as recognition of the fact that
the irou.clad policy has had its day, we
are glad to see it put forward in that
quarter. The plan now proposed BY the
Times is that heretofore advocated by the
Monroe Republican, viz, that the matter
of restoring the ballot to the cx-rebels
shall be vested wholly in the Legislature.
The specific proposition is that the eonsti-
tuition shall be SO amended that the first
section of the third article will read
"No person who, since the first day
Of April, 1861, has given, or shall give,
voluntary aid or assistance to the Re-
bcllion against the United States, shall be
citizen Of this State, or allowed to vote
at any election held therein. BIT the
Legislature mag, Jya role of tro thirds
/ of each House rcmore such disability"
Judging from the stake that or moth
ing" air wherewith the foregoing is put
forth, VIC might conclude it was the ulti-
matum; but we hope not, tor aside from
its general dement's the proposition is not
a model in its details. WHY'S it deemed
necessary to provide against those who
"shall give assistance to ''tho rebellion
against the United States" in future?
That rebellion is popularity supposed to
have ended some time since: Docs the
Times insist, however, that it is still rag
ing, and desire permanent recognition
of the fact by solemn constitutional en-
actment some two years hence? Then
again, let us suggest: the constitution Of
the United States declares that "all per-
sons born or naturalizcd in the United
States and subject to the jurisdiction there
Of are citizens of the United States and
Of the State wherein they reside" This
includes the cx-rcbcls as much as any
other part Of the people. The constitu-
ton Of the United States declares they are
citizens Of the State. Would it be very
smart performance for US to set up. with
all the forms Of constitutional enactment,
counter declaration that they arc not
citizens Of the State? This bluudcr was
committed in the amendment Of 1866.
Why repca. it?
And why is tho period ut which men
began to be rebels fixed ut April LIST,
1861? Other snactments have recogni.
zed the 18th Of April (,he day the ordi-
nance Of secession passed) and others the
LIST Of June. What is the rule to de-
termine just when the rebellion began?
Why shall we now four years after tho
rebellion is ended, disfranchtsc person
who aided ton tue I'd day Of April, 1861.
and not disfranclise his ncighbor who dill
so on the LIST. How is it known that
midnight between the 1st and Cd was the
exact moment when the guilt began :?
Or to put it ia another shape, why would
West Virginia be in such ''great danger
two years hence from the vote Of one and
not from that Of the other? Is it in
tended by fixing this date to cut out oil
who voted for the ordinance Of secession
in May? Was not that vote "aid or as
sistauce' to the rebellion? And was not
every such vote cas-. voluntarily? II
that is the rule. VIC should have the sing
ular spectacle Of q disfrancbisement Of
many. both republicans and Democrats,
who have always been voters.
The matter Of defining who were rob
els and who we're not, is one Of extreme
difficulty. Our contemporary relies mainly
in all this business upon the moral argu.
ment. lie justiies the disablemcnt Of
the ex-rebels on the ground that they dc.
served it, aud still deserve nothing better
that they were guilty Of crime and
are to be punished. Can he not see some
Of the difficulties that surround even this
view Of the case? The weak place in the
attempt 10 maintain these disabilities OH
the punitive tlcoryis that it begins toe
late and ends too soon. II reaches only
part Of the meritorous cases. How
many hundreds Of men are there in the
State who were just as guilty Of rebellion
and deserve punishment rs much as any
| y. >. 4 - II. 4