The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-05
of capital.E taxaf:cn and lahour. reform

in, head and members OF State an
National governments, and of th
proper and necessary powers and lin
tations OF both these latter. In tn
freer scope given to the intelligence an
virtue Of the people, thus al solved frol
the errors and passions Of the past, "
might and may hope will be MOI
| surely attained the economical prosp
rity Of the people, the moral grandeur {
the nation, its self respect at hom
and its dignity and influence abroac
| sought to be true to the genius {
American Republicanisin.
/ Again, [ was for this Amendment
because so long as the Republica
party remained in power that was th
only way left for accomplishing
desirable end, and that end involvin
all the considerations / have mentor
ed. l advocated that measure in a
article (the same alluded to in lat
numbers of the Parkersburg Gasett
and JournaL) but reserved therein al
exception to the Constitutionality Q
the DISTINGUISHING Amendment N
question was then raised as to the wan
of notice for the proper passage Of tn
Flick Amendment, and which later in
vestigation has satisfied me is fata
objection to it's legal passage.
The case in oath Alabama, turns o,
the very and erraneous fact OF want o
notice. Your suggestion of the distinc
ton between facts which are essentia
are to be made apparent in the jour
mails of the Legislature, and those which
r. not go apparent are not essential, il
n .enious, but untenable, as the decided
law expressly announces. The jour
mails themselves are facts extraneous u
the adopted provision. So is the fac
OF notice, and the only difference is If
the mode of proof Of the facts whether
the requirements for amendment have
been complied with or not. Suppose
that no notice whatever had been given
the Court might possibly, nay would
presume that it had been given, until III,
contrary waS Shown, but it would
be competent to show it, as also tc
show that it was for a less time than
was required. So as to any OF these
apparent facts OF which you speak
The one must be proved by the record
the other by competent and credible
evidence.
/ am aware that many liberal minded
Republicans have aided in the counter
revolution, and because they, too, were
in favor Of this proposition. Their
numbers are said to be considerable in
the Third Congressional district and in
the southern end of the Second, and
there are some everywhere in the State
[ do not propose to violate their prin
ciples or their sentiments; nor do ]
propose to place the DISTINGUISHED in
any position in which plighted faith OIL
the most sensitive honor shall not have
their justification and vindicatlon, but
in matters relating to the Constitution
| do rite ct Solcmnitur prefer substance
- sh adow, aud open action based Oh
The consciousness of rectitude to ary
indircc ion, especially o a y admiss on
that the DISTINGUISHING Amendment lie
or in any way b nding
and, then, bringing in these gentlemen
by an evasive law which shall say that
they shall not be punished for voting.
This indeed is practicable. So can any
offense be legalized. So far the sub
stance ofthe Flick Amendment is what
has been called tue Acknowledgement OF
the white citizen. This is what it Is
and all that it is in substance. | do
not propose to enlranchise the white
man. simply propose to stand by
the Constitution and say he never YVES
1isfranchiscd; t. save his selfrcsrect =;
not to bring him in, for he was never
out; not to bring him in after the ne
gro, but to remit him to his position on
The law and under the constitutional
rights of their honored forcfaihers,
whose blood was the price of our
Liberties. they do not come in by the
grace or favor Of the Republicans,
- a party Of extremists, but by the
of law and principle and
order. Theintelligent pub
ic Judgment ofthe country admits, that
n their struggle they were upright and
,onsc. entious, that Their convictions
we're the result Of a long education
founded on differences of opinion which
existed in the convention which framed
lie Constitution of the United States,
md which were warmly, and in ins.an-
,es bitterly, maintained in the legIsla-
ures OF the States, discussing its adop-
ion; and that they were battling for
tights which the practice of ages and the
.eligious opinions humankind had sane
Toned as valid, and cousecrated as be-
ne in the historical order of faith and
IF Christianity. The trial by battle
has been decided against them, but they
we're always free, conscientious men
ighting for their most solemn convic-
ions, and | prefer to stand by the Con-
in their behalf that thus We
nav renew the last bope Of the country
and justify the convictions Of forty years
Of my own life in the doctrine Of strict
construction, and vindicate and preserve
The motto on the seal of the State, Mon
ami Ssmper hberi-The people of our
are free and always will be
free. ....
Therefore, in the knowledge that the
Flick Amendment is legally, unavaila-
b for the want Of the publication OF
the notice required by the constitution,
and that by simply falling back upon
the Constitution as it really Is, | do
not propose to step in between any
plighted faith of the socalled disfran-
chised and the fair purposes of the LTD,
eral men who acted with the Demo
cratic party in the regeneration OF the
State. could very readily get
over the objection, that the proposed
was not published in one
oorntv in which O nansr