The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-07-24

application Of those principles 70 our
existing condition. Having done what l
could for the complete emancipation Of
the blacks, l now insist on the full en-.
franchisement OF all of my
white countrymen. Let none say
that the ban has just been removed
from sll but a few hundred elderly
gentlemen TO whom the eligibility Of
Off e can be of little consequences. Ny
view coutemplates not the hundreds
prescribed, but the millions who are
denied the right to be ruled and rspre>
seu,ed by the men OF their unfettefed
choice. Prescription were absurd Il
these did not wish TO elect the very man
whom they are forbidden 10 choose. l
have a profound regard for the people
of that New England wherein was
born, and in whose common schools
I was taught rank no other
people above them in intelligence,
capacity and moral worth, bu!
while they do many things vel!
and some admirably. there is one
thing OF which | am sure they cannot
wisely or safely undertake, and that 10
the selection for States remote from
and unlike their own OF the par.
sons by whom those States shall
be represented in Congress. Ii they
could do this to good purpose, then
the Republican institutions were unfit
and an aristocracy the only political
system. Yet Whist We recently wit
messed. ZebulsnVsuce, the unquestioned
choice OF large majority OF the present
Legislature Of North Carolina, . major.
ity, backed by 8 majority OF the peo-
pie who voted its election, was refused
a seat in the Federal Senate, to which
he was fairly chosen, and the Legisla-
ture was thus constrained 10 choose
another in his stead, or have the State
uurepreseuted for years. The voice Of
New England thus deprived North
Carolina OF the Senator Of her
choice, and compelled her 70 send
another in his stead; another who, in
our late contest, was, like Vance, .
rebel, and a fighting rebel, bat who
had not served in Congress before the
war, As Vance bad, though the latter
remained faithful to the Uuion until the
close OF his term. protest against
the disfranchisement OF . State on
grounds 40 narrow and technical -
this fact. The came Senate which refused
Vance his seat proceeded 10 remove his
that aAai had hAAn
filled by another, only serves to place in
stronger light the indigniiy to North
Carolina, and the arbitrary, capricious
tyranny which dictated il. ! thank
YOU, gentlemen, that my name 10 70 Be
consplcuously associated with yours
in determined effort to render
amnesty complete and earnest in spirit
and letter. Even defeat 10 such .
cause would leave no sting, while the
triumph will rank with that in which
no bIooi reddens and evokes no tears
but those of gratitute andjoy
Gentlemen, your platform, which n
also mine, assures me that Democracy
is not henceforth to stand for one thing
and Republicanism for another, but
that these terms are to mean in politics.
as they always have meant In the dc
tionary, substantially one and the same
thing, viz: Equal rights, regardless OF
creed or cline or color. hail this
as q genuine new departure from
outworn ieuds and meaningless
contentious in the direction OF pro-
gress aud reform. Whether shall Be
found worthy 10 bear the standard Of
the great Liberal movement which the
American people have inssurated. Ia 70
be determined not BY word but by
deeds with me.
Iremaip, gentlemen, yours II
HORACE GEFEEr.
To the Hon. Jas. Doolittle. Chairman.
and Messrs. w. Sykes. John Nc
Cabe and others, committee.