The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-14
Loyalty an Apology for Bigamy.

Were it not that the name OF one q.
S. Grant is affixed to a remarkable doc
ument published in the papers OF yes
terday, one would be inclined to think
that Mistress Nickleby had furnished
the absurdities with which it abounds.
Certainly it was not more amusngly
irrelevant for the worthy target Of veg,
etable marrows to establish Hates age
by remembering that a sugar cured
ham and Early York cabbage were the
events Immediately precursive Of her
birth, than it is in Grant to prefix the
pardon of shameless bigamst by as
sorting that "he rendered good service
to the cause Of the Union during the re-
bellion."
The familiar monarchial style would
have been much more dignified and at
least as satisfactory to the public; and
we are inclined to regret as well as
wonder that the President should not
have introduced and dismissed the
whole case by a comprehensive at is
our royal will and pleasure" There is,
however, on careful reading, room for
doubt whether this seeming Stiffness
may not cover a grim autocratic humor.
1t is just possible that services to the
cause Of the Union, both during and
since the rebellion" may make remote
and refined allusion to the facile indus,
try with which the Hon. Bowen took
unto himself wives.
Should this turn out to be true, and
the Objectionable sentence be merely a
playful squint at the Brighamy procliv-
tiles of this Congressional Turk, then
we owe and tender an apology for fail,
ing to see and appreciate the Presiden'
tal wit.
But as the President rarely jokes, we
are compelled to believe that he is per-
fectly grave in this matter-and that
he does actually rest the pardon OF
Bowen on his Union record.
1t is all entirely new view of party
politics to make faithfal service a war
rant for bigamy. Heretofore our Pres
rewarding their active partisans with
offices; but President Grant Gf we are
not mistakenly, in the true spirit of pro,
gress, rewards them with wireS. 1t is a
revival OF the old Greek idea upon which
the great Achilles acted when he
claimed the beautiful Briscis; indeed
we see it also amongst the ancient Ca
mantle, as exhibited in the war song OF
Deborah: The mother Of Sisera look
ed out of window, and cried through
the lattice, Why is his chariot so long
coming? Why tarry the wheels Of his
chariots
"Her wise ladies answered her, yea,
she returned answer to herself,
Have they not sped2 have they
not divided the prey; to every man dam
sci or t,0o; to Sisera a prey Of divers col
ors, a prey of divers colOrs Of needle
work on both sides, most for the necks
Oft them that take the spoil? p
We do not know anything more cal
culated to stimulate the President S
friends in the coming struggle than the
noble sentiment that "the brave deserve
the fair" The principle settled in this
Bowen case is capable of great expan-
sion. Instead Disappointing Congress
man minister to some foreign country,
as reward for so many stump speech
es, he might be offered a damsel or
two" and "a cottage in the valley he
loved at home.
What effect the act Of the Executive
will have on the conjugal relations of
the Republican party (tor none others
"need apply, remains to be seen. But
we think it most likely that there are a
great many other patriots who will at
once rush into polygamy, without the
fear of the penitentiary before their
eyes, because a good Union record in
the department Of politics will $50 they
may reason) secure their complete am
nesty for the non-observance Of their
vows of fealty to the union betwxt man
and wife.
1t seems to be OF piece with this con-
duct OF President Grants, that he ap-
pointed son of Brigham Ioungs to
West Point. He seems, diverging from
the Whstonian theory of our friend DR..
Primrose, to have tender feeling for
all departures from the narrow pathway
ofmonogamy. And may. not be that he
is contemplating a grand coup in the
Presidential canvass-by coming out
boldly in favor OF the platform Of Miss
Tennie Claflin-who knows? 1t would
be a curious turn for matters to take;
the Republicans have incorporated
in their platform Fraternity with
the colored people; Liberty, Equality
Fraternity" they may now take up
the cry of Women's Rights, and de-
mand Fraternization OF the sexes.
Nav it not be that the next Republican
banner that is thrown to the breeze
shall contain not only Free Soil, and
Free Schools, and Free Speech, but also
Free Lover When a man with one
wife is excused by the President of the
Nation for marrying another on the
ground that he was truly loil during
the war, and when that twin abomlna-
ton" with slavery, Polygamy, $50 de,
nounced in the Republican platform OF
1860 is officially patronized by the
President of the United States, 1t does
look as if the President was looking to
the support of Mrs. Woodruff.
Another Little Girl Shot by Her
Brother.
W. o, IN laarn that q little daugh-