Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-08-30
The Issues of the Coming Election.

| State. We ask for the article calm PEI
rusal by honest thinking men of all parties:
The issues involved in the coming election
! in West Virginia are not only absorbing in
their character, but vital to the future vel
fare and prosperity of the State. Since the
close of the war the government has been IN
the hands of comparatively few persons, who
controlled the dominant party of the State
That party is the radical party, and those few
were the demagogues and wire workers who
manipulated them. The mass of the people,
and we may say, the mass of that party were
not governed or affected by the same vile pas
sious which controlled these leaders Just
emerged from bloody civil war, in which
always the worst passions are aroused, the
great body of the people, anxious for that
quiet and peace so long denied them, turned
all their thoughts and energies to their indi-
vidua pursuits. Tired out by the excite-
ment trouble aud misfortunes which always
attend war, they turned with alacrity to the
| eujoyments and comforts which peace gave
them. Then it was that the designing, un-
scrupulous, unknown and weak men stepped
forward, aud assumed to govern aud rule the
country. They not only entered the Legisla-
tive Halls. but took possession Of the county,
township and municipal offices. Fools stepped
in, where wise men scarcely dare tread. And
what have been the consequences? The sta
tute books of the war, since the war, exhibit
series of laws that have no parallel in all
history, in all legislation, The war had end
ed, the rebellion had been crushed, the rebels
had generally returned to their former homes
A general amnesty had been granted on the
field of battle, and by the Executive of the
United States, the power against whom the
war was waged. The conquerors said we
will try no man for treason, we will deprive
no man of his property, by reason of his com-
plicity with that war. We will be magnani-
nous, aye generous. But what did the Leg
isIators aud dominant clique of West Vir-
ginia do They adopted that system of test
oaths, which will remain for all time a record
of their infamy and a mark of their disgrace.
They made it impossible for au honest man to
collect his debts, and enabled the rascally
debtor to laugh in the face of the poor credi-
tor, who sought his rights They gave him
amnesty but stole his money. Such was the
suitor's test oath. But say these holy radi-
Gals, have We not repealed this law? Yes,
and to what effect? After sufficient time
had elapsed to bar nearly all the claims, by
the statute of limitations They prohibited
their collection until the statute barred them,
and then repealed the law. What mockery
what barefaced rascaity! They pretended
to give these unfortunate brethren of theirs,
bread, and gave them stone. They affected
to hand them apples luscious to the eye,
which, like those of the Dead Sea, burnt to
ashes upon their lips,
Again, they prohibited some thirty to fifty
lawyers of the State from pursuing their pro-
fession by another test oath, for some five
years. They supposed they would starve them
out in that time. But the people began to be
l.. IL L..
aud frightened the legislative clique of the
law. But how? Read the preamble to the
act of February 7, 1870. They do not re-
peal it because it was unjust, tyrannical, and
of their own free will and wish, but because
''from frequent evasions of the law, aud from
| a change Of circumstances, the same has be-
come in great measure imperative and of
little use." Laws are not evaded where they
are not in direct conflict with the natural
sense Of right aud justice of the people at
large. Nor do they become "inoperatiye and
of little use," except where they are repug-
nant to every sentiment of honor in the COM
munity. These party tricksters never had,
and row have not single impulse of manly
feeling which would have induced them to
repeal either of these laws, had they not been
compelled to have done so by the public sem
timent of their own party.
| Again, these representatives of the Radical
party were always declaring their opposition
to negro suffrage, from the highest to the
lowest of them. They treated the negro with
more contempt, and more injustice and cruel
ty in their intercourse with him, than any
! Democrat, rebel, or former STAKEHOLDER in the
community. But mark the change. Con-
gress gave them the right of suffrage, and it
| is nauseating now to see these Radicals court
ing these colored voters, taking them to their
bosoms, whispering words of affection and en-
dearment in their ears, pandering to their ig>
narance and passions, all to gain their votes
| for their own selfish, corrupt, and party pur>
| poses.
! Again, the taxes imposed have been euor-
nous. School houses in profusion have been
erected over the land for the benefit of party
contractors, with but few schools in them
The money has been wasted and squandered,
or used corruptly. Officers collecting and
controlling the same have failed to account
Cor it, and what every one hailed as the great
est boon to the State, popular education,
has proved failure. through the maladmin-
istration of the Radical party, and its Off
cials. So of taxation for roads. Every one
knows how heavy has been the burden, and
every one knows that the roads throughout
the county and country, are in worse condi-
ton than under the old system before the
| war.
These are some of the issues involved, and
the Democratic party are eudeavoring in
every fair and manly manner to change this
character of legislation, to reform these abuses,
and if heavy taxation is necessary, to apply
the same honestly to the purposes intended,
and thereby to promote the general welfare
of the community, and not the special in
terests of few.
We are glad General Lee has not ten.
dered his services to either of the European
beliigerents. He can safely rest his military