The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-19
The New Revolution.


ins man, that Convention Is regarded,
by the controlling spirits in the move
mem, as the first step in a revolution that
+, % restore the State as nearly as posi-
BILE To the condition Of things that existed
before the war. We do not suppose that
it is at present contemplated 10 destroy
tue State Government, and restore oar
territory TO the State Of Virginia. The
Democratic leaders are probably not pre-
pared to surrender the SenatOrshlfr ana
the State offices which they expect to
enjoy in the future Nor DO We suppose
they expect TO restore the institution oil
slavery as It existed before the war. But
they 10 intend, as far as they can TO re-
store the domination Of capital over lADof,
and deprive the people Of their ascenden'
cy and control in the government OF the
State.
They propose to abolish the ballot and
restore the sieI az, mode oil voting they
propose to abolish the townships, and
give To Court House cliques the control Of
local offices in all parts Of the county.
This carries with ii the township boards
OF education, which lie At the foundation
Of the common school system. And no
system Of common schools ever was or
ever can be sustained except through the
instrumentality Ok local organizations.
In default Of any solid objections to our
present Constitution which cannot be
speedily and cheaply remedied by amend
mcnt in the mode provided for by the
Constitution, these gentlemen insist that
it ought not 10 he continued in force be-
cause they had no opportunity of voting
for or against It's adoption This means
something more than Is apparent on the
face Of the proposition itself The idea
that the people Of the State should incur
an expense Of from 100000 to 100000
for the privilege Of voting for Constilu'
ton that they now have, and with which
they are satisfied, il 50 preposterous that
itcann0t bc seriously maintained.
The letter OF Mr. FISHER Of Mason
discloses the true character Of this objec'
ton. Thcscmcn deny the authority Of the
Government or the Convention under and
by which the present Constitution was
framed. They were in arms to resist the
organization OF the State, and the govern
ment which it adopted, Il Is matter Of
history 70 recent TO be forgotten or denied
that the leading spirits who are now I'D
yucaling the call Of Convention nevel
recognized the Restored Government or
ganiled here in lsGl. They refused obc
dience To it, and treated it with the utmos
contempt. Nor have they ever yielde,
to II anything but u snllen and relnctan
obedience. They have always sought Il
impair the confidence OF tlG people in thu
Government, by dcnounCins It's Courts
its Legislature, and executive officers.
The intense hatred and bitterness en-
gendered by the war, with its TO them
ingloroug and disgraceiu termination
i. not dcad, but Is now awakened by the
hone Of successful resistance TO what
they have always regarded rs n usurpa
ton. Give them power, and they will
abrogatc and Annul all that has beer
done by the Legislature, the Governor
and the Courts for the past ten years
The Courts are tho subject Of thei
Gerccst denunciations, especially til,
Court of Appeals, And yet one Of til
faults they find with the Constitution i
that the Legislature has power TO rcmov
theiudges. If the judges are imcompc
tent or corrupt, why don't the Lcgisla
ture remove themg The Democrats con
troll the Legislature. Why don't the.
exercise the power Of removal, II III
Judges are unfit for their places? But
the Judges are neither incompetent no
corrupt, but are honest, capable and faith
full to the Constitution, why should there b
change? The answer Is that they nav
purpose to accomplish, for which homes
and competent Judges are wholly TN
suited.
The principal cause Of complaint |
that the Court Of Appeals has SUSTAINED
laws which excluded rebels from holding
office, practicing law, suing in the Court
&c. These gentlemen seem TO have III
idea that they may set on foot a rebellio
against the National and State Cover
ments that to enable them to prescott
it the Courts must adjourn that the Law
yers, judges, clerks and sherili5 may
into the rebel armies that merchants an
clerks may shut up their stores thd
farmers may leave their plows standin
in the burrows that they may all go int
the rebellion and after they have carrie
on desOlating war OF four years DUR
ton, slain half u million Of men, impose
upon the nation debt of three thousan
millions of dollars, they have right I
come back and commence again whcr
they len of, just rs though nothing la
happened, and that it is great outrage I
impose upon them the slightest inconyc
nicnce for the devastation and ruin whic
they have brought upon the country.
The Court Of Appeals Of West Virgin
do not, it appears, so understand the Coz
sttutlon. They believe that every matte
in time Of war has power topunish rebe
and enemics hY nnrs. impfisOnment I