The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-08-16
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Some opinions from Tennessee favor
the idea that despite the loud talk about
Johnson and Ethridge, ssntcr after oil
will be the Senator. In the natural
order Of things he ought to be. We
do not mean that he is fL man or
deserves the place, but he hos paid the
price that usually buys n seat in the
Senate, and as fair business transaction
Is entitled 10 It. If we take the platform
on which he fought the canvass, the
pledges he made that equal rights and
privileges should be guaranteed TO all
without regard to race or color or partici>
patton in the rebellion, there is everything
to commend; but the evidence is almost
conclusive that he violated tho existing
law controlling registrations and permit>
ted or procured the registration Of many
thousand men who, under that law, which
it was his sworn duty to enforce while it
existed, had no legal right to register.
lie may have done this out Of mere sci.
fish anxiety to secure his own election, or
it may have been part Of compact with
the Democrats. Irthe one, he was guilty
of unfaithfalness to duty; ifthe other, he
added to it treAchery to his party friends
In either case he can equitably claim at the
hands Of the Democrats that having Sc.
cured their ascendency in the Legislature,
they owe him the Senatorship as his re,
ward.
Itwas Gov. Sentcr's unlawful enfran.
chisement Of ex.rebels which encouraged
the Democrats to put up legislative tick.
cts. But for that, he would still have
been elected by large majority, and
would have had a Republican legislature
to sustain him. Now if he undertakes to
be faithful to his pledges, his hands are
tied By q legislature that will not second
him. Tennessee has not yet ratified the
18th Amendment. It remains to be seen
whether Gov. Senter will urge its ratifca.
ton as he pledged himself to do; and If
he does, it remains to be seen what the
Democratic legislature will do. The
Democrats there say the pledges of equal
rights for the negroes, made before the
election, will be made good. The Con-
servative State Committee have issued
copgratulptory address, wherein they say:
"In the hour of victory, while we have
no language adequate to express our joy,
we have no words Of vulgar exultation to
utter, Such an expression would but mar
the dignity Of the occasion. The issuein
the late election was enfranchisementI
there was no other. The resiltis in our
favor by an overwhelming msiprity-1 And
now, If we have been heretofore pro.
scribed, Jet US not prescribe again. If
We have been oppressed, our revenge is
complete in the success Of our cause. I'VE
can afford to be magnanimous, moderate
and tolerant, and in fact we are bound to
be so in conformity to our professions.
Those who oppressed US arc our fellow
citi2ens-a large part Of the population
and wealth Of the State. We and they are
still to dwell together for veal or woe, and
it will take the united exertions Of all
to redeem the State from the evils that
opprcss her. We respectfully urge upon
our friends everywhere the exercise Of
the great virtues Of liberation and charity,
and to forget, Us early as possible, oil the
quarrels and feuds Of the past. Revenge
is mortal, but forgiveness will outlive him
who permits himself to be controlled by
it in this hour Of joy. If we are true to
our professions, our State can now prosper
in all the departments Of her industry,
and all classes, black and white, will
soon rejoice with US in the great doctrine
that taxation and representation are and
must be inseparable. And while we have
before US the opportunity to share in the
administration OF the State government,
we will have chance also to disprove the
repeated charges Of disloyalty to the
National Government. To preserve both
in all their purity and glory is the duty,
and ought to be the ambition Of all.
II the party which have triumphed in
Tennessee arc "true to their professions"
and to tho pledges on which they tri>
umphed, nothing but good can result;
but we confess some apprehension that
the intoxication of power may overcome
the good intentions which during the
canvass they may have sincerely enters
tanned and still may. If those professions
are to be remembered and if the language
ofthe committee is anything but hollow
mocEery; they must ratiy the 10th
amendment They claim that JUS
tice and good order and fair government
in the State required the restoration of
political privileges to the ex.rebels. They
cannot consistently deny that justice,
good order and equitable, government
equally demand full civil privileges for
The colored population of the State, nor
that these are insecure until that amend
ment is ratified. Nothing would do so
much tO'giye the country confidence in
Tie good faith Of The Southern Conserva.
lives as a prompt ratification by the
Tennessee Legislature. e Ifthey fail to do
it, we may know it is their intention to
draw The old party lines and keep The
negro question open as a source Of strife
and political capital.
Numerous are the "lessons" drawn
from tho Tennessee election BY our ex>
changes, each according to its bias or
special view.0 oie lssGOp which ought to
be well conned is, that it ia bad governs
ment whose chief powers arc reposed in
one man. In war necessity has the su>
preme rule, and abe knowsno law Then
the head Of government must WELD des.
potlc powers, whether it be in q monarchy
nr Pannhkn nnI.L : " lLlL.