The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-12


popular sentiment which these things
Indicate. Some other of our Republi-
can papers, like the Point Pleasant
Register and Wellsburg Herald have
already plainly expressed wish to
see the present policy terminated.
Others doubtless would, If they felt
more assurance how it would be re-
ceived. We know that privately, Lead
ing Republicans talk very freely of the
necessity of preparing for a change;
and from all we can see, the feeling ID
growing apace among our Republican
people generally. The Same assurance
of safety, the same confidence in the
future, and the same wish to get 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 which we quote is but one OF
many outcroppings Of the fact. 1t is
the first expression from that region
where the DISTINGUISHED population is
chiefly situated that has found its way
into pint, but we have no doubt it ex-
presses a feeling which even there,
where the greatest hostility to "let
up" has always been manifested, is
not confined to a few.
just what it would be.best to do, it Is
not specially our purpose to discuss in
this article. II is true, as the RepMGEi.
can says, that our Constitution makes
no Discrimination between grades of
offence. Those VINO aided the rebellion
even for Il day, or under mitigating cir
cumstances, are DISTINGUISHED. Those
who led others into 1t and who adhered
to it till the final surrender, are no
more. If We were fixing grades of pun
ishment for grades of crime, the sug-
gestion of the Republican would be
very forcible one. But we have never
been willing to admit that these disa-
bilities were imposed as punishment.
1t was simply as precaution. The
relief il granted is therefore, we con-
ceive, upon different grounds from
those suggested by the Repubh
can, for all grades of rebels are
now alike powerless for harm.-
Congress has chosen the policy of TAX
ing the power OF amnesty into their own
| hands-that is of relieving what are
considered mGritorious cases by special
act; and hundreds have been SO re-
lievcd from the disabilities imposed by
the l4:h amendment. Our Legislature
might adopt this policy; but an amend
ment to the Constitution would first be
necessary, because its provisions can
not be set aside by mere legislative act.
There is one objection TO this course at
the outset. That is tie objection which
obtains against all special legislation.
1t degrades the law making power into
mere dispenser of favors. To make
our legislature peddler of amnesty,
regulating its action by no principle
that can be made apparent, is not cal
culated to elevate the tone of leEisla-
ton. Every one realized this last win
ter when tho passage of special acts for
the relief of rebel lawyers was carried
10 such lengths as to make the whole
business farcical.
Another plan suggested is to amend
the Constitution SO that the disability
should cease at fixed period in the
future, say three or five years hence.
No amendment at all can be Consum-
mated, let US remember, before the fall
OF 1871.
Few who read this will differ with us
az to facts and general principles
thus far. No one ever contemplated
that the Acknowledgement of our rebels
was to be perpetual. But the question
about which Republicans may and do
honestly differ, is, What is to be done?
How long shall we maintain this dis
reimbursement Shall we not ask our
selves, How long can we? When it
was enacted we lost the cooperation of
good many moderate Republicans.
The figures show that we have been
gradually losing since. The election
returns of tho past4our years show that
our msjorities have been steadily re-
duced little rising 1000 a year.
The objection to a let-up" is that
it would give the State to the Demo
Gratis. It would, assuming that all
those enfranchised would vote with
that party. But how long can we main
tain Republican ascendenCy if we go
on under the present policy? Every
one must understand that there is Moth
ing to make the Republican organiza
ton throughout the country stronger
than it has been. 1t never can be so
compact and strong again as on the
day Grant was inagurated. The ten
dency is towards disintegration.-
How fast that will go on, or how
far it will go, cannot be foreseen. But
1t is certain that new questions are
to taxe the place of old ones, whether
there is an entire recast of party lines
or not. We here cannot escape the OPP
Grafton of these general movements.
Up to the election of Grant there were
powerful motives for keeping the Re-
publican column firm and compact.
The chief mission of the party has now
been accomplished, and we are told so by
such papers as the Pittsburgh Gazette.
The motive for party discipline having
ceased in a great degree, it is inevitable
that the organization here as we'll as
will grow weaker rather than
stronger. Every ore must see the
that the disintegration will
so on much more rapidly than hereto
fore; and that while we have lost four
thousand of our majority in the last
four years. we may lose that much more
in the next two, if we fight it out on the
present line. A loosening of party ties
is going on everywhere. The philoso-
ply OF it need not be explained. We