The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-11-18
CARPEr.BAG sCOUNDRELIsM.
Another Blast from Horace Greeley
ON Carpel.BaS Stealing. :. II

Another Blast from Horace Greeley
ON Carpet-Bag Stealing. = IT'D
From the New York Tribune of Monday,
November 49, s..r
For months the Developments of ras-
cality in the management Of the recon-
structed governments OF several South
ern States have been growing more and
more conclusive. No intelligent man
longer doubts that those governments hare
been .fagrantly expensive and corrupt
that they have increased taxation, in
Cured debt, and issued bonds to an
enormous extent. The facts are in part
concealed or obScured, but can no longer
remain SO; enough is already known to
justify the very gravest apprehensions.
In the two Carolinas, especially, The
robberies appear to have been quite as gi-
gantic, when the relative wealth Of the
respective communities is considered, as
in this city. Yet men whom we have
esteemed honest talk as though all ex-
posure and apprehension Of these
villanies should be left to Demo
cratic journals-that we ought to
ignore, or beiog, or belittle them. They
represent such exposure as calculated
to damage the Republican party gener-
ally. We hold that, even is this be so,
that party will be far worse damaged by
seeking to cover up those iniquites, and
thus making them to some extent its
own. Let it promptly and fearlessly
expose and denounce the criminals, if it
would vindicate itself from all compli
city in their crimes. We have received
communications from leading Republi-
cans in Texas, insisting that we have
regarded their legislation and rule with
greater disfavor than the facts will war
rant. To this we answer that the peo-
pie Of Texas seem to take the same view
of the matter that we do. Two years
ago they elected a Republican Gov
ernor, Legislature, and three out Of
four Congressman; now they have
chosen Democrats to Congress from all
four districts by an aggregate majority
Of at least ten thousand. Yet there are
far more Republican journals printed in
the State today than there were two
years ago, with all the Federal
and State patronage in the hands
Of the party which has just been so sig
nally defeated. While in Texas last
May, we could not fail to see that the
old Texans who stood fire for the Union
and organized the Republican party
Governor Hamilton, Governor Pease,
Judge Hancock, Judge Sabine, ETC.
were out in the cold, while the Repub-
lican machine was in the hands of
younger and less eminent politicians,
mainly new to the State, and enjoying
no consideration outside of the ranks of
their followers. Had the legislation OF
the last two wears commanded public
confidence, and had Republicans who
were more favorably known to the
whole people, irrespective of politics,
been nominated, we believe the State
would have gone as strongly Republi-
can in 1871 as it did in 1869. The
State Constitution, framed in 1869 10y
Republicans, plainly provides for the
election of a Legislature every second
year. The present Legislature, chosen
two years ago, has held at least two
long sessions, and is now holding
a third. 1t ought to have provided for
the choice of its successor at the
recent election it did just the
opposite TO this-it put off that
election to future day. "The fact
is, we are not prepared for an election,
said a leading manager OF the ruling
clique last May. So there will have to
be special election, or this moribund
Legislature must hold over for another
year. But why not prepared? The
wicked flee when no man pursueth, but
the righteous are as bold as lions,' says
the sacred proverb. Don't you believe
that the inspired penman had Bullock,
Of Georgia, in his eye when he made
that observation And he didn't class
him under the head of "the righteous,
either. Here is Clayton, Of Arkansas,
charged by his neighbors with crimes
that, if proved, should send him to the
State Prison instead Of the Senate.
Now, we don't know that the charges
against him are true; though the peo-
pie OF Little Rock seem TO believe
them, if we may judge from the result
Of their recent election. But, If they
are true-if Clayton counted out and
counted in legislators, and even Con-
gressmen, to secure his own election to
the Senate-then he ought to be hurled
from his seat before the close OF next
January