The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-01-17
King Caucus.

The effort Of the proscriptive wing of
the Republican. party to head OFF liberal
legislation at the coming session has
been quite labored, especially during
the past two days. The purpose is
to prevent any repeal or modi-
tication Of the existing regulations con-
cerning suffrage, and if possible to de-
feat repeal of tie Oaths for Lawyers,
Teachers and Suitors, in all this setting
at naught the will of the people as ex-
pressed at the election last Fall. To
secure organization for this purpose,
circulars were sent by a person in this
city having abOnt as much author
ity over the Legislature as ChOc.
taw chief, to various members, iuclud-
ing proscIiptive Republicans and lib
erals, summoning all to caucus TO be
hetd to-day with a view to coali-
tion, not only on organization but on
the leading political questions at issue
in the late election. 1t was readily per-
ceived that the proscriptives had ma
joIity over the liberals in both branches,
and hence if the latter could be deluded
into a caucus and induced to bind them
selves to abide its action, they could
easily be borne down by the force of
numbers and compelled to support a
policy which would virtually violate
the pledges upon which they were
elected.
We are not prepared to believe that
the liberals of the Legislature, elected
as they were over proscriptive candi-
dates and against proscriptive votes,
will fall into this trap. Each will be
apt to ask himself, how many votes he
received or could have received last
October, from the proscriptiye side Of
the alliance to which he is invited 7
The liberals will reflect that they had the
hearty, and in many cases the vindic.
tive, opposition of these "bitter enders'
during the late contest, and will find it
difficult to determine, after succeeding
over that opposition, to CO operate with
the men who made it.
The election of the liberals decided
that their people want the 0atbs fol
Lawyers, Teachers and Suitors repealed;
that they want the control of registra-
tion taken Immediately out of the hands
of the Governor, aud SO vested as to
secure to every constitutional voter the
right of suffrage; and that they want the
disfrancbising clause of the Constitu.
tion sbrogated as speedily as possible
The liberal members were elected to
secure these resHlts; they are asked tc
enter q combination that will render
the most important, if not all, Of these
results impossible.
We assume that the trick attempted
will not be successful because we assume
those at whom it is aimed to be sensible
and honest men, Sensible Legislation
will not allow themselves to be bound
hand and foot and entirely deprived o.
liberty of action as regards the legisla
tion of a session. Honest Legislators
will not abandon the platform upor
which they were elected, violate the
sacred trust repOsed in their hands, and
betray the confidence of their constitu
encies. All this the liberals are expect
ed to do at the bidding of men who
would politically damn them where
they now court and fatter, if damna
tion were as safe a policy as humbus
and deceit. Sensible legislators viii
not sign their own political death-war
rants by giving to the enemies of tht
policy they were chosen to enforce, thu
power to control their votes and rendel
the success of that policy impossible
Honest legislators place ne stain upol
their honor by the violation of solemn
pledges. sG Eg1
The offers of compromise rendered b,
the proscriptiyes ana unworthy mo
'ment's consideration. II win be tim