The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-11-02
avheelia1 gtaMitFe
Terms, by Mail, in Advance
A Great oversight:
From the Harrisburg Patriot

The administration at Washington
has committed fatal oversight in re-
gard to West Virginia. This State was
torn from Old Virginia and constructed
solely for party purposes. But here are
two Democratic members Of Congress,
probably three, a Democratic Governor,
and a Democratic State Legislature
which will choose Democratic Senator
Of the United States in place of Mr.
Wiley. This recussancy on the part Of
the people of West Virginia is as unex-
pected as it is objectionable. But a
military government should be prepared
for every emergency. 1t should not
suffer the people to surprise it. This
calamity to Radicalism might have
been avertei by firm and judicious use
of the military arm Of the government.
A regiment or two of the federal troops
conveniently distributed might have
easily secured Radical victory in West
Virginia, and by rapid movement could
still have been made available in New
York city on election day. Belk-
nap, Alderman, or somebody else, has
been at fault. Nothing could be easier
than to have prevented this business in
Virginia. Forney should have been
set to inventing some dark tales of Ku-
Klux outrage down on the 'Kanawha.
A distinguished Southern gentleman,
or "an intelligent colored citizen" could
have brought the narrowing news, and
it could have been published in "my
two papers, both daily" This would
have been just as easy as lying 1t
would have afforded the necessary pre-
text for the employment Of the regular
troops. Besides, Kirk and his lambs
are now resting from their labors in
North Carolina, and are thirsting for
new achievements. By the time the
true condition of things could have
been made public, the election would
have been over and Radical triumph
secured.
The force of the argument that Dem
ocratic victory was not to be anticipated
under the circumstances in West Vir-
ginia must, o. course, be freely admit
ted There is a rigid system Of dis
reimbursement of white men in opera
ton IN that State. Under this system
Grant had nine thousand majority in
1868, and the three Radical members Of
Congress were elected by decisive votes.
At this last election the negroes were
admitted to the suffrage under the Fiji
teenth Amendment. Yet in spite OF the
Acknowledgement of white citizens and
the reimbursement of the negroes that
majority of nine thousand for Grant
has been reversed, and two thousand
five hundred rolled up on the other
side. Such a revolution was certainly
not to have been anticipated in Wash
ington. Only few days ago the court
journal, the Chronicle, gave assu-
rance that all was serene in
Yves, Virginia. But instead Of relying
on the idle tales Of servlle flatterers,
Grant should have been prepared for
that i'll opinion which all men entertain
concerning his administration. When
left to themselves the people are capa-
Die of freaks which astonish despots
This election in West Virginia comes
most inopportunely, too. Pennsylva-
MIA and Indiana, following North Caro-
liza, have emphatically condemned the
administration. New York, New Jer-
sey, Illinois, Tennessee, Maryland, Ken
lucky, and other States, are to follow,
and here comes West Virginia, unex-
pected and unheralded, the forerunner
of new Democratic victories. That
West Virginia, eldest born Of the Radi.
cal spawn Of reconstruction, should
have repudiated its masters, is too
much. A few regiments of Federal
troops troops; provided With artillery might
have prevented this misfortune which
has befallen Grants administration.
There are no Ku-Klux and no Tam
many frauds to account for 1t. The
mischief must be blamed on a perverse
people who will not perceive the excel
ienca of Radical rule,