The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-05-03
4 LETTER FROM THE COUNTRY.
)uty of the People.

Editors OF the Register:
Preparations for a vigorous cam
paign have been already commenced,
and indications of determined activity
are daily maniicsting themselves.
While the Democratic party have given
timely notice for a Convention to be
held at Charleston, Kanawha, in which
the whole force will be efficiently and
ably represented, the Radicals, those de-
strovers of order and free government,
have also declared their purpose to act
with fierce energy. In the coming con-
test every honest man should feel
deep interest throw aside prejudice and
anger, and quietly adopt the cause he
thinks hest adapted to the freedom and
happiness Of the commonwealth. 1t is
time that folly and fanaticism should
he buried among the rubbish Of the
past. To forget old feuds and the pas
sions that fed them, to restore peace
and good will, to arch the gulf that
separates those who should he friends,
are motives in themselves, the nOb!est
and hottest that can enlist the Sympa
thics of the true man.
There are those among NJ who think
that the existing state Of things will he
corrected in time This state of Ian
guid passivity is ruinous alike to the
individual and TO the community If
life, liberty and the pursuit Of happl-
ness are inalienable rights of man, it
must be therefore his duty to protect
them where they exist and win them
where they have no just recognition.
Under our laws all are now supposed
to be free alike, but can this he said
with any propriety, when we see men
openly denied protection of law, who
have no vote nor voice in elections or
councils of State? Can it be said that
here in West Virginia impartial justice
is rendered, when we behold the negro,
ignorant and incapable, admitted to
registration as voting citizen, and
white men, for mere imaginary Ofienses,
are denied the same right?
The Washington usurpation is fast
sapping the foundations OF our old State
governments. One by one the land
marks of American glory are disappear
ing. Our grand traditions are spat upon
and laughed at, and justice dcfed and
insulted in her own temples All, how
ever, is not lost there is still hope;
there is one way left, and that is, and
always was, the trucst and best. We
must maintain our State government at
every risk. Those rights of States adj
United before the war are legItimately
the same today. We want to accom-
plish the great work of restoration.
We want good, honest and capable men
to represent us; men who will not
neglect their duty to the State for the
purpose of advancing the interests Of
party; men who will not consider them
selves bound only to do what is pleasing
to the party who elected them, but
rather statesmen who will hold them
selves bound by the most severe moral
obligations to do only what they hon
estly believe to be for the welfare of all
the people, for the security of life, the
preservation of true liberty, and the in
crease of happiness.
The Washington Rump forces on us
the political equality Of the negro,
while our State Government refuses TO
recognize as free citizens some twenty
five thousand white men, the truest,
noblest and best we have Do you call
this liberty? Until lately every vile
thing who rushed into political motor
ietv with a malignant heart and a foul
name was chosen legislative represen-
tative; and some calling themselves
ministers of the gospel of Christ that
breathes nothing but love, forgivness
and mercy, were the most VIGOROUSLY
Jealous in the advocacy of measures
proscriptive, cruel and degrading. o
these followers of the meek Jesus. o,
Religion. what excuses are committed
in thy name.
No wonder that Beast Butler, in Con-
gress, replying to Mr.. Brooks, of New
York, said ave have too many Ire
lands here now Yes, Mr.. Beast,
and each has its Nemesis.
Let US to work bravely and cheer
fully. If we are to sink, better struggle
for dear life amid the waves that are to
engulf us, than idly sit and look on in
gloomy expectation, There is much to
be done that we do not now see: Self
ishness, local jealousies and all other
foolish causes that beset contention and
bring on defeat, we must leave with the
past. We must find the way we have
lost and go back to the light of those
first principles that have so long uner-
ringly guided us. We must not demol-
ish the temple because Of the rank
weeds that merely hide it from our
view, the result of our own carelessness,
/