The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-04

aSSemUle feel assured tney Will respecl
the public demand, SO unequivocally
expressed at the late election. Having
confidence in my party am entirely will
ling to leave the subject in the hands OF
its representatives. l am for no particu.
lar plan, to the exclusion OF all others,
] and shall be satisfied when they have
disposed of the subject.
Most truly, yours, &c,
JOHN BRANNON.
| WHEELING, WEST Va, !
| December IL, 1870:
Hon. John Brannon:
DEAR SIR On my return home
from a visit to my children, l found
your letter awaiting me- reply at
my earliest leisure. The subject Of
your letter is of the gravest importance
at this juncture of our affairs, as it in
, vokes the consideration Of constitution
al law, the suggestion Of a safe, just
and proper policy to be pursued, and
which involves the more delicate ele.
ment of sentiment among a large por,
ton Of our own friends, as also Of many
who have heretofore opposed us, but
who have aided us in the victory which
has been vouchsa'ed to us in this State.
At all times magnanimiry in victory is
the noblest policy, and the surest guar,
antee for the future The want of it
; in our opponents. is, perhaps, the chief
cause Of our success at this time The
former questions We can examine in
the dry light Of legal reason, but the
latter must be subjected to the peculiar
feeling Of every man who considers his
honor or his faith implicated in the
courseot action which may be adopted
admit that my own devotion to consti-
tutional principles is Of such character
that | am disposed only to ask, what
does the Constitution say as plainly de-
fined and fairly understood, and when
| am sure what it says TO inquire no
further, but to stand by it. come veal
or come woe
On the subject OF your letter | feel
no apprehension or room for doubt, as
to the status OF the constitutional ques-
ton on the subject of Acknowledgement,
nor OF the mode Of treating it, and that
there is very direct and plain way, ami
but one way to pursue, and that this is
consistent with the present sentiment OF
honor and secures the plighted faith Of
The so called diSfranchisrd. 1t is con.
sistent with the publicly avowcd and
generous wishes OF liberal minded Re,
publicans, and worthy Of the spirit on
both sides which is willing to let the
past be forgotten, in order that the
future may be solidly founded, and more
happy, prosperous and successful;
and it is in harmony with the Constitu-
lion Of the general government as it now
stands as a fact of history, although
other and new qustons may he expect
ed to rise as to the extent and limita-
lion OF the newly granted powers Our
province and duty is 10 deal with the
questions which surrounding circum-
stances present to us, and no farther
than they are thus presented and call
for attention.
When Iwrote the article signed r,
intended to show that the Flick Amend.
ment was unavailable at this time, be-
cause prescribed requirement for con-
stitutional amendment had not been
complied with, and that there was no
necessity for it's further consideration or
its adoption, because the disfranchising
amendment was wholly void and inop
erative, / simply gave it my initial, not
seeking any publicity, yet not avoiding
any responsibility which mi .ht arise
from the announcement of its views.
was surprised at the editorial reference
to it which made it quite the equivalent
Of my full signature. Then | became
personally DESTROYS, that those views
which had been suggested for the re-
Election of Others should receive their
due consideration. The article was ex
tremely short, and from its brevity could
not be looked upon otherwise than as
suggestive OF the course which law and
reason, and the kindly feelings Of con-
siderable portion of the Republican
party pointed out as practicable, wise
and just 1t was decisive in it's tone as
to the constitutional questions on both
amendments, for on these questions en-.
tertained no doubt then, and less, if
possible, now. 1t was intended to be
kind and conciiiatory, for / felt that we
did owe something to the minded
ness and llberality OF feeling ola portion
OF our fellow-citizens who had been our
opponents, and who were willing that
the charities of life should prevail over
the strife and sel6shness OF party and
the malignities Of personal feuds.
| While there were other elements in the
contest which contributed to the success
Of the Democratic party in the late con-
test, these elements were surely, also. in
it. l make these remarks here in jus.
tice to all such well disposed persons,
and because the necessity | am under
to reply to your letter imposes on me
the duty of brief review Of the past
All candid and fair.minded men rec
ognize the fact that in the late civil war
OF our country there was a great deal oil
devoted and selfsacrificing patriotism
on both sides. 1t was mainly owing to
this fact that the war closed suddenly
and the return to peace and order on the
part ofthe South was so prompt and uni,
versal on the surrender OF Lee, and was
not followed by those i'll consequences
| which have charactprize1 ali other rpy