The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-05-17

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didatc for Governor, has declared against
il, 1t will DO defeated Of course, aud Viz,
gina rcorgunizcd, as Mississippi aud
Texas will be, on the sane bas'o rs the
other States. The only States wherein
disabilities are imposed by State laws are
Tennessee, Missouri m West Virginia,
In the two first a struggle Tor their ~
moval has beer going on for some ,isac,
the Republicans being divided. IN Mis-
souri, some Of the ablest Republican pa
purs are advocating ato'al abrega'lon Of
these laws. We are not exempt here frof'
the wide spread movement Unpopular sch
liment which these things indicate. Some
ether Of our Republican papers, like thr
Point Pleasant Register aud Weilsburg
Herald have already plainly expressed 81
wish to see the presen. policy terminated
Others doubtless would, il they felt more
assurance how i. would be received. We
know that privately. leading Republicans
talk very freely Of the necessity ofprcpal
ing for change; and from all we can s'p,
the feeling is growing apacc among "nr
Republican people generally. The sanr
assuranc. Of safety, the same confidence
in the future, and the same wish to ct
into the old grooves, that seem to have
possessed the public mind all over the
country, have made their impression here.
The article in the Republican from wlir'.
VIC quote is bnt one Of many outcroPpngs
Of the fact. It is the first expression from
that region where the DISTINGUISHED poru-
laticn is chiefly situated tina, has toun,l its
way into print, but We have no donh, it
expresses feeling which cveh here.
where the greatest hostility to 'lrt mp
has always been manifested, is not confined
to few.
inst what it would be best to do. it is
not specially our purpose to discuss in this
article. il is true, ~ the Nspuliicon says,
that our Constitution makes no discrin,i-
la,ion between grades Of offence. Those
80 n.
we a'aea '"e rebellion eve" 'of q Gay, Or
franchised. Those who led others into it
and who adhered to il ill tie fnnl sur
render, are no more. If We were fixing
grades Of punishment for grades Of crime,
the suggestion Of tile Repubirnn would
be very forcible one. But we have never
oeeh wing 10 aunt .hat lnese d'yaoll'-
ties were imposed as punishment me !. way =.
SIMPLY us precaution. lhe relief II
granted Is therefore, we conceive, upon
different grounds IRON these sn ges'ed by
the Fepuu.can' Tor all grades OF rebels
are now a'lse power'css Tor harm; Con-
gress mas chosen ne policy Of taxing 'Ie
OF amnesty into their own hands-lliat is
OF relieving VIVA, are considered merltorl-
Gus cases by special act; and hundreds
have been so,relicrcd from the disabilities
imposed from the l4 amendment. Our
Legislature m'sht adept TINS policy; but
an amendment to the Constitution would
first be necessary. because its provisions
cannot DC set aside ny mere legislative
act. There is one objection to tins course
at TIE outset. That is the objection Which
obtains against all special legislation. u
desradcs Tao law making power INTO u
mere dispenser OF. layoss' 10 make our
legislature apsddler Of amnesty. rcgu-
la''ns its action oy no princlplc that eau
be matte apparent, is not ealenlsied to ell
cvatc tue tone OF Legislation. Every one
realized tl'ls last winter when TIC passage
OF special acts Tor the relief OF rebel law
yers was carried to such length as to make
tth9 Whole business iarcIcal.
Another plan suggested is 70 amend the
Constitution so that the disability should
cease at fixed period in the future. say
three or iive-,years hence. No amendment
NJ all can he cons.,'nated, let US rc'ncln.
Der. before the fall Of 1911.
Few who read this will differ with us
as to facts and general principles thus far.
No one ever contemplated that the dis
ffanchiselncnt OF our rebels was to be per-
pctual. But the question about wllicl,
Republicans may md do honestly diser,
is, What is te be done? How long shall
We maintain this disfranchisemcu. ! Shall
We not ask ourselves, How long can We ?
When it was enacted wclost the cooper
ntpn Of q good many moderate Rcpubli-
n 4 %