The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1869-09-09
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

cussion Of the great question now ngiia'
ting the public mind 81 The nation, and
especially that Of our own beloved West
Virginia. 10 my last ! assumed that 10
looking over the whole ground and di'
vcstDg myself ola prejudice and self,
that 10 my judgment the time had no"
come when it would be proper and emf
nently chriStisn, for the Republican par
" TO initiate the work Of removing from
! our statutes those restrictions that shut
out from The ballot-6ox that portion OF
our citizens who participated in tho re-
belIiou. And will, in this, give some Of
my reasons for it. Ny record as gen
eral thing is well known throughout the
county. | have been hated, despsed
and sIanderod, by many because of my
opposition 10 slavery; | have been de,
nounced from the pulpit, the rost'um
and the stand 10 public and private, in
the presence Of its friends and foes, -
When the war broke out, l said this
then, is the death knell Of slavery; and
believing as did md still do, that il
was great sin against God and human.
ity, and at war with every idea Of gov
eminent based upo4alhe declaration OF
our fathers, and must ultimate in the
destruction Of that government, II not
abolished bent all my energies so
far as they would 60, both in the army
aud out of it, for its utter and complete
exirpation from the escuchcon Of the
nation. This is done, slavery is dead,
and is buried with the bnrburous relics
Of the past ages, with not the shadow oil
a probabiliy. of ever being reSurrecIed
again, Alter the war closed the great
question for the nation 10 settle was,
what should be done with these 1000,
900 Of human beings thus sell free, and
those misleOd and unfortunate citizens
Of the country, who involved that ma
ton 10 war, and fought for the dsstruct
ion of the government, which was built
upon tho broad platform Of universal
liberty, that they might erect one based
upon human slavery as its chief corner
stone. This was a question of no less
magnitude than that involved in slavery
itself Aud il was the honest deliberate
conviction of my mind that the liberty
secured TO the slave as the result Of the
war. could not be maintained by him IN
less he was put in possession of all the
rights of on American citizen; and aM :
ong these is the ballot Our legislators
saw this, and hence in The 18th Amend.
menl 10 the Federal Constitution, has
secured to them this right, This cannot
be taken from them. And 10 enable the
loyal people of the country to so remod.
die oil the State governments that were
in rebellion, 80 rs 10 secure to all their
loyal citizens without regard TO race or
color, these great rights, i! was necessary
to close all access 10 the ballot box TO
those who engaged in the rebollion,--
| We believe the building is now com
pIee. The foundation stands based
down deep upon tie granite rock Of 9 err.
nal justice and truth. The saperstruct-
uro is magnificent aud grand 10 its pro-
portions. All the ties, braces, locks,
bolts and bars, are Of proper proportions
and are SO dove tailed together that
there is no human probability. whilst
equal and exact justice is done to all for
whom il was erected, Of its being over.
thrown Now We say. take down the
dorricks, the scatfold poles, the ropes
and Pulleys, and clear away the rubbish
and throw open the doors of this now
beautiful temple Of liberty, and in the
magnanimity Of our hearts lei us invite
oil to come in and help us to still beau
tify and take care of this graudost of al
supersructuros ever dedicated by man
TO human liberty. God will smile will
competency upon that magnanimity
that says 10 the erriug, Ego brother snt
sin no more believe that the gov
erned should have voice in the gov
eminent. believe that taxation with
out representation is oppression, is wick