The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-11-28
The Flick Amendment.
Rr,,r TAI CaNl RGu


Fyor TIE CdGt PrS",
Before the election we published u few
articles on the Flick Amendment, as ii
was q pubic matter OF vast interest 70
thousands like ourselves laboring under
disabilities, and happily,Eas not parry
matter so as TO render nS liable 70 the rep
utati0n oEusing our paper for partisan
purposes, and We now resume the pen on
This subject and address ourselves TO the
Democratic members elect Of the LegiSla.
ture, who will shortly be called upon 70
act on this question.
As We understand 1t, the amendment
comes before you for adoption or relec-
ton; it Is matter that must be carried or
dropped, aS any disposition Of 1t by which
Il IS postponed beyond the duration Of
your session, would be rejection.
The entire responsibility for its rejec.
ton will rest on your party If such be It's
fate, Tor you have clear majority in both
houses, and on Joint ballot from % TO GO.
Its mere bubble TO state that the &C.
ton Of the Governor in falling TO publish
as directed by law, vitiateS the action oil
the last Legislature and renders the
amendment void, and the action Of the
Legislature and the people in the future
would fail TO give vitality.
Gov. Stevenson failed in his duty. he
alterward directed il to be published-it
was published. He considered the Law as
merely directory; every man must consid-
er It 50, or convict the convention Of i'm
becllity in putting it in the power OF any
editor Of any county paper in the State
TO defeat an amendment to the COnstitu'
ton desired BY all the people Of the State:
The republicans are committed to this
view, and only democrats who are ready
TO resort 10 extraordinary and doubtful
expedienis TO serve personal ends or TO
build regulations, are giving weight TO
the objection aforesaid. For one, if the
Legislature and the people will approve
Of The amendment Of last winter we will
gratefully acknowledge ourselves under
obligations, and assume the duties Of q
Citizen. redeemed and disenthralled,
without heSitancy, that we do 50 in &C.
cordance with the fundamental law. But
we unhesitating assert that no doubt.
full expedicnt, or extra constitutional
action OF the Legislature, such as
repeal Of the registry law, with view
OF entranchisemcnt, resolution that
the amendment Of 1868, was pro-
cured by fraud and imperative; or, a re-
solution declaring the right to vote as in
the original Constitution uDamended; or
any other shift-or device, win induce US 70
assume the prerogatives Of free citizen.
The constitution, as amended degrades us,
disfranchises us, and before we do this the
amendment must he Obliterated from tho
constitution by the people of the State,
and not by a few politicians, who propose
that we shall be under personal obligations
to them. The amendment is conclusive
and is as binding as any article Of the
constitution. II not, why have not these
gentlemen had it so declared by the Su-
preme Court why they have let US suffer
so many years. We demand vote Of
the people on the subject A convention
will not suffice, for we propose 10 vote on
the question OF n convention and for the
members thereof il the people declare for
it. That other objection 10 the word
white" stricken from the constitution
is puerile, for the word Is not
there now. Witness the three thou
sand negro votes in this State on
the last Thursday in October. The
Flick amendment is the shortest, easiest,
safest, and sureSt way through our dtsa-
abilities, and we want u see the Demo
crat who will vote TO refuse the people a
chance to vote upon the amendment, and
that in the shortest time that fair and
full canvass Of its merits will allow. The
Democratic party in the State did not
make the amendment q party question.
j. Davis, anti Flick, was elected by
800. Hereford, pro Flick, WAS elected
by 1000. The party voted for them,
knowing they differed on that question.
1t is not necessary that MT. ]. J. Davis
and his three Democratic colleagues that
voted anti Flick should be sustained and
the twenty Democrats that voted for it
rcbuked. This is neither an approval nor
a rebuke. Mr.. Davis made q mistake, as
all Democrats do when they distrust the
capabllity of the people to vote ON a con.
stitutiOnal amendment, and he and all
Others ought to know that IN argument
against the amendment itself should be
reserved for the people, and not on its
submission, when that is demanded by 50
largr and respectable portion Of the vo-
tiers Of the State, as is the measure in
question. Our Senators and all the rep
resentatives in this Senatorial district are
pledged on this question, and ifthere ID
my lodging, the voters will hereafter
know the reason why" l.'I@4s