The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-07-24

selves, because malOTitleS can take care o
themselves They want il for the pur
pose Of enuenching themselves in power
II Is not for protection ut the present tint
but is to entrench themselves, it is tina
they may perpetuAte their power, that they
may have a system suited ~ the view
and interests and purposes OF the leader
Of the party, Now the great rank ant
file OF the taxpayers have but little inter
est in having inexpensive government
know orr party feelings and party pride
| would hope that politics would be KEEP
out OF this thing, 1t is known in my
country that have been Democrat al
my life. | very carly had the favor o
that party and had the favor Of this city
as Democrat, In the prime Of life ant
laters years, | have always adhered L
the old Democracy, (they call that old 70
gyismI but tho old Democracy, what
think is the honest Democracy | desire
to keep out party politics, il possible
When the Convention was first spoken o.
its advocates in the Legislature loudly
proclaimed that there should be no such
thing as party Rrrayed or called 0utcitheI
in its advocacy or opposition. supposed
they were in earnest ! supposed il was
true As Democrat, |, upon reflection
honestly believed ii was unnecessary Ia
call n Convention at this time, Aud yet,
sir, the party lash Is applied most severe.
~. Somebody was kind enough to hand
me some very bitter and vindictivG arti.
Giles against me because | am inclined u
oppose u Convention. They sent me a
long article, published in Mr. Walkers
paper in Charleston | didn't know that
they knew me down there Mt all. never
have been In the "Pcrmanent Seat" and
don't think ever will be But the latter
part 81 the article struck me as a little
strange. The editor says; "The upshot
of the whole of II Is there Is no love be.
tween him myself and the COnlGderates.
What they want he opposes. We can
very easily understand his opposition to a
Convention" Now, sir, there Is a little
truth in that. don't love tho COniGd.
crates very we'll There Is no love lost,
presume. But | have been willing to take
them as my fellow. citizens, but don't
want them To take the lead exactly at
this time. ! think little modesty on
their part would he worthy Of observance.
! don't intend to say much against the
Confederates, because ! have no quarrel
with them. They have laid down their
arms. | wanted to be friends, but because
| happened to differ with them, they, and
those in their service, are bitter against me,
| see piece here headed "Wm. q. Brown
and II Constitutional Conventional little
flstian from tho old fOgy." And then u
very abusive article. Now l don't under.
stand why 1t Is so. l try not to be often.
sivG. l think | have q right 70 my judg.
ment on that important question, which
they proclaimed ought not to be party
question, and which ought not 10 be, !
do not like some other things ! see among
their leaders, but am now speaking OF
principles not individuals. In another
paper very different from those from which
! have read find this. 1t is In the Con.
aitatiOn, in Monongalia, q Democratic
paper of II great deal Of influence, and q
very gentlOnanly man at the head Of 1t,
and don't know why no should be teach.
ing the doctrines | am now about to read
He first lays down what no calls the Dem
ocratic platform and then he says: at Is
to fight first with ballots, aud then II need
be with bayOnets, for tho principles spoken
Of above. It is 10 organize the DemoCra.
Cy and keep them In readiness for voting
or for marching" Now, sir, l dislike
anything Of that kind-to organize the
Democracy for voting or for marching
They may organize them for voting, but
| protest against this thing of marching
or using the bayonct instead Of the ballot
| think we have had enough oil that, |
think the recent history Of ourselves and
that in Europe ought TO caution us against
anything of that kind. advert to these
facts merely to show the bitter feeling that
seems to exist among certain men, and l
cannot sec why II Is 80.
II q Convention Is held oil the officers
now In Office are to be turned out and the
offices are to be made vacant, Your
Judges will go out, every one Of them, and
their right 10 seats will be tested by new
election. And that Is advocated on the
ground that the Constitution under which
they are now elected was made when the
"COnIcderales" had not the right-when
the recently entranchised were not here,
to vote. That Is assuming u good deal
Why were they not hereY Candor and
truth answer, they were In the Conleder.
ate service; large majority were under
arms. have forgiven them, hut don't
want them to take the lead and upturn
and destroy oil that the loyal men did
while they were In arms, | don't think
that Is right We have without distinC
ton 0f party, enrranChiscd them. As
many Of the Republican party voted
for the Flick Amendment as oil the
Democratic party. BY common and
mixed vote wo enfranChised them
and think they ought TO accept the stu.
alton, ought TO take 1t as VIC bring them
In, and ought not TO want to upturn oil
that was done while they were In arms
against the government. ain willing to
take them in, but want them to accept
the situation for the present and let us
tes. the Constitution as It exists.
The item OF expense Is no small matter
I know there Ia q great conflict on this
subject Of the cost OF Convention; but
with my experience Of conventions II will
not be an uncomfortable sum. We have
been taxed heavily, coming out Of the
war with heavy county debts Tor bounties
and the organization Of the new govern.
ment. Wehave been heavily taxed, md
I do not choose To add largely to our pres.
ent burthens. Unless Il Is absolutely
necessary to have q Convention, l want
to avoid tho expense, The party to
which I belong, and which has recently
come into power, what did we promise 7
l promised in the sincerity of my heart
II the Democratic party came into power
they would reduce taxes, they would
economic, lessen the officers, and lessen
the expenses Of the government. But
what Is the movement now? Is II re.
deeming the promise we made, to elect q
hundred new officers to sit as long as
they please? Is that reducing the ex.
m A -. -. -.