The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-11-04
,x. II-rinia Abroad.

month" ,.-.. - 81.
west virginia Abroad.
West Virginia just now is attracting
more attention from the outside world
than almost ever before in her political
career. Our Democratic exchanges are
full of congratulations over the good
work done, and even the Republicans
cannot find it in their hearts to blame
the people of this State very much for
abolishing prescription and overthrow
ing a dynasty based upon arbitrary and
illegal Acknowledgement. To men Of
both parties, outside of this State, the
result of the election is unexpected
They have so long been accustomed to
think Of West Virginia, when they
thought of the State at all, as hopeless
" bound to the Radical car, that 1t was
considered not worth while to pay any
attention to our local politics or, in fact,
TO any of our State affairs, The whole
State has been generally given the go-by'
and its existence almost ignored. We
observe that some of the Eastern papers,
in commenting upon the recent election,
have resurrected the FLICK Amend
ment," almost forgotten here, and stated
that it was submitted to a vote Of the
people at this election and has been
Overwhelmingly ratified. This is news
to the people of West Virginia, but the
fact of its mention in Eastern cities IN
connection with the recent vote shows
how little attention has been paid abroad
to West Virginia politics, even by
those who make a specially OF observ-
ing the political movements of all the
States.
For the information of our brethren
of the press, it may be stated that the
FLICK amendment" whose meaning
and intended operation was the subject
of discussion during the early part OF
the canvass, was not submitted for ratl-
fication or rejection by tue people at the
late election, except indirectly through
the choice of members of the Legislature.
1t was not mado party test nor an
issue in the canvass. Owing to the fail
ure of the Governor TO make the publ
cation of the amendment at the time
prescribed in the constitution OF the
State, the whole matter was dropped out
of sight nearly three months ago, and
has scarcely been alluded to by any
body in West Virginia since. In their
party platforms, the Democrats are
pledged to the enfranchisement OF the
disfranchsed in the speediest possible
manner, but not to the support of the
FLICK amendment" while the Radical
party makes no pledge upon the sub
jeet, leaving its members to approve or
disapproye Of the FLICK amendment
as they might individually prefer, but
marking out no line Of legislative policy
upon the subject whatever.
The question Of Acknowledgement or
continued prescription did enter largely
into the recent canvass, but rot in
the shape Of constitutional amend
ment. By the election of a Democratic
Legislature, the people of the State
have declared, in the most emphatic
manner, against further prescription,
and in favor OF the enfranchisement OF
all classes Of our citizens who possess
the usual qualifications of voters. "a
free ballot for white men and the
immediate enactment of such measure
as will secure ii" has been demanded by
the people, and we feel confident that
the demand may be met by a shorter
and more satisfactory legal process than
was contemplated by the authors of the
FLICK amendment
1t is to be hoped that the general at
tention attracted to West Virginia in
consequence Of her people having burst
their shackles, and asserted the truth OF
the motto upon her State seal, Non
tani Ssmpe, Li6erii," may have the ef-
feet toihduce capitalists to examine and
develop our vast mineral resources, and
immigrants to people our wild but fer
tile lands. We have room-for many,
and We welcome all who will come to
aid us in building upa State whose nat
ural advantages are unsurpassed, and
whose prospects of wealth are unri- |