The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-02-14

to disfranchise every mau in his Circuit
who would dare vote against him. Old
JOE CALDWELL would purge the lists in
Greenbrier of the names of all save
HARRIsoN's friends, and if the present
registrars in other counties would hesi'
tate to do likewise, the influence here
tofore welded by HARRISON over the
Executive is the assurance that he will
arrange the Boards to suit himself. Iu
brief, HARRIsoN's compromise PROPOSE
ton means ths abandonment of the
proceedings against him, for the sake OF
having him continued in Office by q
fraudulent election.
A more brazen piece of presumption
We have never seen. The impudsnt
rascal proposes that the Legislature
shall ignore his past offsnsss, outnum
bering the sands of the sea shore, aud
shamefully coAnivs at his continuance
in public position. The investigation
which every honest man would seek
HARRISON shuDs. This virtual confes-
sion of guilt and the infamous bargain
he offers, amount to an assumption that
the Legislature aud the public lack
either common sense or common deccn
cy, and like himself are reasy to ap
prove any means to get rid of this i'm,
peschmsnt trial.
1t is moro than possible that HARRI'
SON has encouragement in this. The
andisguised manosuveriDg of certain
Radical partisans in the Legislature to
stave off trial, the sympathy privately
expressed by others who dare not face
popular Indignation by open action in
his favor, and the attempted ignoring Of
the case blythe Republican organ in this
city, are NAT HARRIsoN's assurance that
very many Republican influences are in
his favor, and that if some plan can be
devised for closing the eyes of the pub,
lie, they will be actively exerted in his
behalf. When the Intelligencer Satur'
day, in its irrepressible sympathy fol
HARRISON repelled the insinuation that
it had done anything toward bringing
him to justice, that paper doubtless
faithfully represented the Republican
sentiment, which would shield the most
infamous criminal "for the sake of the
party" and which finds indirect rather
than open expression, out of fear oi
outraged public opinion. The men who
are now trying to prevent this trial, who
are apolOgizing to HARRISON for not
being able to do more in his behalf
than they have done, are in feeling, il
not in nams, the same men who aided,
abetted and defended the forcible ex.
pulsion Of HOUNsHELL from the State
House, when he preferred charges
against HARRISON, some years age,
There was as good reason why charges
should be considered then as now; bat
partisan interests could much more
safely risk defiance of decency and
Justice then than now. The open friends
that HARRISON then had, arc generally
his secret sympathizels now. 1t may
be that they are not hearty admirers OF
his character, but they esteem his dis
graceful patty services. Possibly they
do not love the villain, but they cannot
couccal their appreciation of his viii
lainy.
One point of This HARRISON letter is
worthy to be considered on its own
merits. We mean the proposition that
tic Legislature repeal the law allow.
ing the Gsvernor to fill, by appointment
for the unexpired term, vacancies oc'
curing in the judgeships of the State.
The judicial office is elective, made 80
by the Constitution. C Article vi, section
4 of that instrument provides. that "For
each circuit judge shall be elected by
the voters thereof, who shall hold bis
OlHCS ~! tuc Noiib Va Ola JS"i0'
Yet under the late act of the
Legislature relating to judicial vacan-
cies, when a vacancy occurs, through
the failure of an elected Judge to quail.
ify, or from any other cause, the Cover
nor appoints for the unexpired term,
be it six years or less. Now if to fill by
appointment an Office which the Con-
stitution declares shall be filled by elec-
ton, be not an unconstitutional pro-
ceeding, language has no meaning. The
law in question was passed for a par
tisan purpose, to provide for an expected
vacancy in Circuit which would prob
ably not choose Radical judge, if the
people therein were permitted to vote
But this, however sanctioned by Re-
publican usage, was nothing less than
depriving the people of powers right
fully belonging to them. That power
ought to be restored. For this reason,
and not for the sake of efecting q CON-
promise by which scamp may escape
prosecution, the law comforting the
appointing power upon the Governor
ought to be repealed.
ATTORNEY GENERAL HoAR is very
much chagrined over his rejection as
Judge by the Senate. According to a
correspondent, at Secretary FIsH's re
| o.nt;op 1ast veek he mat Senator SAW.