The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-11-28
I,etterfrom PaFkersburs-TneF FLICK
Amendments.
fPARKERsBURG, Nov %.

crat" and published In the State lcitrr'as
on November 18th. That article total
ly misrepresents the Democratic party
OF Wood county in regard to the Flick
I venture the assertion
that there are not ten men in Wood
county who agree with him. His whole
article is labored effort to misrepre-
sent and mislead the Democratic party
on the Flick Amendment" His reas-
oning is unwarra nted and unsupported
by any fair argument, and his concur
sions are the result OF a "distempered
imagination" evidently showing disaf-
fected spirit and a wanton and deter
mined effort to "rule or ruin
1t is generally understood that
whenever dog intends to kill
sheep, he commences running
about. So whenever you see Demo
crat resorting to the State Journal as
channel through which to communicate
his Democratic ideas and doctrines he
means mischief, and more especially
are his intentions and wicked designs
made manifest when he is endorsed by
"Scofe," the editor Of the State journal.
That alone is enough to create a sus-
picion. Birds of feather flock to-
gether." Distrust the democracyof any
man who at this time endorses the
Flick amendment; he is a wolf in
sheep's clothing" What does the Dem
ocratic party want at this time with the
Flick amendment 1t can't possibly
benefit them in any way. 1t cant en-
franchise single individual now dis
franchised because there has been no
notice given as required by the second
section of the twelfth article OF the
Constitution of West Virginia, that re-
nuires that it shall be published at
least three months before such election,
&c. The requirement TO "be published
at least three months is just as neces-
sary as it is that the proposed amend,
ment should be "read on three several
DAYS in each branch" or that
it should be agreed to on its second or
third reading, by a majority OF the
members elected thereto, or that 1t
shall be referred to tie Legislature at
the first session to be held after the
next general election, or that it shall
be ratified by the people. These are
all constitutional requirements EN-
braced in the section, and the clause
requiring publication at least three
months is an imperative one just as
much as the other. 1t is to me extreme
nonsense for any man, especially one
calling himself Democrat to be
metaphysically discussing proposition,
of doubtful propriety to say the least OF
it. Judge Story has remarked, that
upon subjects of government it has al
WAYS appeared to me, that metaphysical
refinements are out Of place" Mr..
Dallas has well said, that "the constitu-
ton in its words is plain and intelligi-
bic. and it is meant for the home-bred,
unsophisticated understanding of our
fellow citizens" Why not then when
the way is open for a speedy eniran-
chisement of every disfranchised
citizen, 10y calling Conven-
ton, don't You adopt that course.
Let the Legislature as soon as it meets
call a convention; the whole thing can
be done and every man enfranchlsed
against the last OF August, with new
constitution. With this simple process
before you ask in the name oi reason
what the Democratic party wants with
the Flick Amendment Why then
does democrat adopt the Radical
mode of reasoning and take up half
column on there "ifs' when one eff
prevented the dog from catching the
rabbit? Why follow in the paths Of
the Radical party whose only mode Of
false, wicked and perverse construc-
tons of the constitution, was in meta
physical reasoning2 All their damna-
bic frauds, perjuries, perversions OF the
constitution and wicked attempts to
subvert the liberties of the people were
justified by this mode of reasoning.
They learned by this process Of reason
ing that State rights were hersey and
delusion. | will here say for the bene-
fit of "Democrat" that the Democratic
party of West Virginia will never
entertain the Flick Amendment,
and more than that, they never
will ratity any constitution with the
word white stricken out. Old Grant
and his minions, backed by the Fiji
teenth Constitutional Amendment to
the contrary Notwithstanding. When
ever the Democratic party endorse the
Flick amendment, they surrender all.
And would it not be treating the great
body of the conservative party badly,
who voted with us solely because they
were opposed to negro suffrage, for the
Democratic party now to turn round,
eat their own words, and give the lie to
their oft repeated assertion that they
were opposed to negro SUFFRAGE 1t
would show them unworthy of the re-
spect OF any person. If a battle has to
be fought again, all we ask is, show
your hands, gentlemen. If Democrat
and his clique does not desist from mis-
representing the Democratic party on
this question, he, together with them,
will be dropped by the party. And |
tell him that the Democratic party will
not support him nor any other man that
attempts to palm off the Flick Amend
ment as doctrine of the party. | am
sorry to see such a wanton attempt to
mislead public sentiment. Let all such
disorganizers 90 to the Radical party
The sooner the Democratic party get rid
of them the better. There is not a
single Confederate soldier but what
would spurn with contempt any enfran-
chisement at the expense of his honor
/ have taken special pains to ascertain
their sentiments on this subject, and |
find them a unit Except the little Flick
cliquel. They declare that unless they
can be enfranchised without striking