Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-03-30
3F,SS-TNTIE OF ID FAMILY JOURNAL.

amnesty to the brave men who were suffering
under the disabilities, imposed upon them by
the Fourteenth Amendment might be injuri-
ously affected by the incorporation of the word
ichite 10 the Constitution to designate the class
Of citizens who shall be eligible to office in the
State of West Virginia. Did be believe that
our action on the proposition now before the
Convention, would retard, for one hour, con-
summation, SO devoutly desired as this, he
might hesitate in the course which he nsw
thought it his duty to pursue. But he was
satisfied no such effect would be produced
What are the facts which the history Of this
subject shows?
1t has been seven years since, on the fatal
field of Appomattox, the armies Of the late
Confederacy surrendered their arms and re-
tdfned TO the peaceful occupations Of private
life. On promise of a restoration OF their
States and themselves to their former position
in the Federal Union, they had surrendered,
one by one, their cherished political principles.
They acqussced in the abolition Of slavery
They passed through the terrible ordeal which
wruug from them the concession that branded
with political degradation their own comrades
in the heroic struggle from which they had
emerged. They made superiors in political
privileges of men who had been their own
slaves, and submitted to be governed by their
new masters. All these sacrifices haze been
made, and yet the promised restoration and
amnesty have been deferred.
Mr.. Travers then depicted the prostration
and humiliation Of the Southern States their
helplessness and desolaton and yet, said he,
with all the appeals which these are ralcula-
ted to make to the heart of the conquering
power, it is withou. pity and shows no mercy.
No determination Of ours here to-day will reach
it or influence its action. AMNESTY will come
only when it accotds with the pleasure and
will promote the interest of the party now in
power. He feared that much had been lost by
the concessions which, from time TO time had
been made on the subject now under consider
alton. To yield to one eAacton had always
been followed By demands for another. At
first it was only the equality Of the negro be-
fore the law and protection under it that were
demanded. Then the right Of suffrage was
conferred, and now eligibility to Office mist
follow Next, in the order of sequences must
10 enforced social equality, and then all dis
tinctions between the races except that Of
COLOR will have ceased Step by step have
we approached this fearful and revolving con-
clusion. At first, yelled from sight, it now
boldly appears, through the thin drapery that
covers it, well defined, in all its hideous and
revolving reality
He believed it was time 10 pause aud protest
in some tangible and unmistakable form against
this attempted debasement Of their race Did
gentlemen believe that it was wise to throw
open to the temptation and competition of this
class the official honors and positions Of the
State? What more appropriate place for such
an annunciation? In doing so they would
strike down no mans rights. Office is priv
isge and of right belongs to no one. 1t is,
therefore, within the scope of the power of ev-
cry State to say on whom it shall be bestowed.
and from whom it shall be withheld. He was
now and here in favor Of an assertion Of that
power in the mode presented by the PROPOSE
ton already adopted by the Convention. a
failure to exercise it, especially since the ques
ton had been brought to the direct Issue be-
fore them, would be to manifest an Indifference
which he was unwilling to believe existed, to
any great extent, in this body, to consequences
which he could not contemplate without shul-
der, and from which he earnestly prayed his
State and country might be saved in all the
generations TO come