The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-05-13

our leading counties, who as an under
constable III ante 6eii,tm days, hunted
fugitive slaves over almost every inch OF
/ territory from the head of Cheat to the
Ohio river. Scattered through the
Convention you will find plenty Of
former slave owners, hard task masters
many of them, slave traders and slave
auctionccrs. Aud when the nolnina-
tons are made, money VIII be spent TO
secure their success that was earned
long ago in the now unpopular traffic Of
negro flesh and blood Of such men is
the party composed that appeals for
help TO the worst traits OF negro charac-
ter and urges the freedman torsmember
his expressions and wreak his ven
geance upon his oppressor.
Qnite as matter of course comes the
paragraph OF the call that denounces
the Democratic party with such hearty
emphasis \ Republican document
that did not stink with rotten ISLANDERS
upon the Democratic party would he
certain to have it, paternity called in
question Then follows the fresh and
modest assertion that the Republican
party saved the Union and made all
the citizens equal before the law And
still, five wears after the close of the
war they continue the reconstruction of
States, which is in itself proclamation
Of disunion; they hold the bayOnct over
millions Of people, while protesting to
be the party of peace and while claim
ing to champion the rights of the citi-
zen they disfranchise without trial,
evidence, charge notice or offense, 70
prevent free expression Of the popular
will at the ballot box.
And then comes the glorious conclu-
c!u>ion, the magnificent afterthought,
almost omitted the invitation TO eX-
rebels, to avail themselves Of the benefits
.? free grace hy casting in their intlu-
eucc with the party OF Test Oaih> and
conti-cation. In tn" spirit Of charity,
SAYS the call l. there not an analogous
case somewhere? We read Of that
prctcntiou- hnt rascally bcnevolencc
which, with one hand puts penny
in the urn of charity, and with the other
takes Il shilling out
The principle of loyal liberality i
the same, though To preserve the pro,
prieties OF rhetoric, it would he well to
remember that these alms-givers first
reduced to political, if not pccuniary
hcggary, the men to whom they now
offer pence as an excuse for demanding
shillings ere the election is over What
j. the measure OF this enlarged "chari
ty' 30 generously accorded? To come
lasr hidden to the feast and take his
share III crumhs; to act as an adjunct
to the negro in doing dirty partisan
work: to confess that his own "antece
cents have properly subjected him to
suspicion and justified the denial Of
his rights as citizen; to labor and
suffer for Radical success, in harder |
harness than grid the negro; upon the
bare hope OF getting ultimately the
privileges Of which the Radical party |
iawlessly robbed him years ago, these
are the terms and conditions upon
which this charitable invitation is ex- |
tended the rebel. Possibly the trap
may find its victims. The diligence of
men Of the stamp Of our loyal friends /.
is historic We read their character in I
the words OF One who said "Woc unto /.
YOU. scrbcs and Pharisees, hypocrites
Tor We compass sea and land to make
one proselyte." We also learn the style /
of the prosciyte: And when he i
made, We make him two'fold more the .
child of he'll than yourselves. Who .
ever seeks an illustration let him OBJ .
serve any rebel Radical within the .
range Of his experience.
presume that in this, the Southern /
part of the State, there are more eX-
Coniedcratcs than in all the balance Of /
West Virginia. They are now, and .
have been since the war, peaccahle, .
industrious and law abiding citizens In (
their efforts To establish the Confedcra-
cy, no one questions that they fought
for their opinions, no one charges them
with deliberate intention to commit !
crime. And now that the war is ended /.
no one doubts their fidelity to the Gov T.
ernmcnt or their honest purpose to
deport themselves as honorable men, |
bcr~ of society. This high character |
they arc asked TO resign; they are asked .
to confess that during the war they were .
criminals in act, and for the subsequent |
five wears, criminals in interest; that
the Test Oaths, prOscri ptions, dstran- .
easements. robberics and prosecutions .
devised 10y the Republican party for
their injury and disgrace were measures .
of protection to loyalty which their
own personal worthlessncss rendered
necessary and just; that these measures .
should be pcrpetuated until their
authors are stated with the private ben
efits accruing from them, and finally
that the negro, fresh from servi-
tudc and dependence, without intclli-
gence, culture or moral character,
is properly invested with the ballot
which is themselves and that the elcva-
ton of that negro TO the highest place
in the political seal and the degradation
of themselves to the lowest, constituting
the Republican process for making "aII
men equal is a proper part of the
"natured and healthy deyclopement Of
free Governments and an essential step
in the great work Of restoring harmony /
and prosperity throughout our borders.
Can your loyal leaders have pro
crossed so far toward idiocy as to
imagine that the men whose magnifi-
cent valor has made worldwide the !
fame of the "Stonewall Brigade" could /
thus murder their own manhood and !
proclaim their own degradation?
On the other hand, how are the ele- /
ments of West Virginia Radicalism to