The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-08-09
WHEELING DAILY ITEIIIGEN0ER FRIDAY MORNING. AUG g. 1872

the interests Of this State, disturbing the
peace Of the whole nation, and in rs nat.
ural tendency "subversiye Of good gov.
nernmenH and leading ITO. anarchy and
despolism." The old Constitution con-
Iofns To- the Constitution Of the United
States eee article /, section ~ Wheth'
q II vas necessary or expedient for either
Cons lltutlon 10 quote the Constitution OF
the United States when guaranteeing Ger.
tain rights and privileges to the people Of
the several States, we leave for others 70
decide for themselves. In the old Const.
tuition these may have been inserted TO
show that they adhered 10 the Constitdi
ton Of the United States In all It's parts.
The rights belonging TO the people OF the
States, guaranteed BY the Constitution Of
the United States certainly belong 10 "a
republican form; Of government" and that
Constitution meant 10 secure the people
In those rights when It says, "the United
States BhAl guarantee TO eperg STATE In
this Union q republican form Of govern.
ment, and shall, project each Of them
against invasion, and on application ofthe
Legislature, or Of the executive, &c, against
domestic violence" We therefore infer On
the lapguage,of the new Constitution that
Free gogernment and the blessings Of
liberty can be preserved 70 any people
only by q firm adherence 10 ,jltItics, mod.
erdtton, temperance, tftLealty and virtue,
and by q frequent recurrence to, JIlnda.
mental principle" These Fundamental
principles" are contained In the Constitu.
ton Ok the United States, and Q firm I'D.
herence to that Constitution and 0 cordial
Rcqplescence In all It's provisions are the
Bureat AlsllJ Of iaspfeStrtIgg free goper7l-
llleIit and Ne bIesdf9S Of ;liJerty." .,a- -
The ether section OF the new Constitu.
lion bears against the Judicial and legislR.
tive power OF the United, States. The
old Constitution very properly omits this,
The ,phraseelogy Is changed q little In the
proposed Constitution. 1tsays mo con,
rIettoH shall work corruption of blood or
forfeiture Of ;estats.p The Constitution OIL
the United States says "The Congress shall
have power 70 declare the punishment oil
treason, but NO RttRinder Of treason shall
work corruption Of blood or forfeiture
except during the lite ofiths person &c
attalnted," We wish the reader to mark
the expression 'sttainder Of treason
because under Article /, Section 10, 1t Il
said Ne Stqte shall pass any BIZ Of at
t1indsr." This whole subject OF "corrup
1tion OF blood" belongs solely to the gov.
ernment oil the United States, and IL
insertion In the proposed Constitution Il
entirely unwarrantable. In English and
common law, corruption oi,blood" mean
that the person so attained had no right
to the privilege Of voting or Of holding
Eof1ce. "Forteiturep means the loss Of
! property or estate, and these penalties were
TO remain in force during the whole OF BIZ
life. In old English law these penalties
were visited on the descendants Of those
who were guilty Of treason, and many
estates were forfeited and given by sale Of
grant to other proprietors. The Consti
ltion OF the United States makes only those
personally guilty, liable TO punishment
i The power. therefore OF disfrsnchisem
for treason is plainly declared in the Con,
Istitution, OF the Omitted States, and what
ever legislation Is necessary 10 preven
persons thus DISTINGUISHED from voting OF
holding office, would be constitution allJ
Lawful, DUST and proper. The government
Of the United States has been very lenienl
inaits treatment OF those who were il
rebellion q against Its lawful suthori
ty., Il has nremitted the punishment o
treason tosnearly all who were engaged
in 1t. aTrv - --.r,.t
| Euerv man x,bn has Diva, ,,ro,, .lo,
he Is willing, practically and honestly, t
conform to the provisions of the Constitu
tion, and to show hisallegiance by word!
and deeds Of submission to the laws Of
the United States, has been restored tC
political rights. According to the stricI
letter Of the Constitution, these men could
have been deprived OF voting or holding
office during the natural tenure of theil
lives. While the Government has shown
such leniency and q disposition TO forge
and forgive as far and as fast as the pres
eryation of the Constitution in its integri
" and the securing of republican form
OF government 10 every State will allow
1t u at least very ill.timed and injudicious
IT, not ungrateiul, for the Constitutions
Convention to, needlessly, insert a pro
vision in the new Constitution denying
the prerogatiVes Of the Constitution OF the
United States, The people OF the United
States are the Democracy. They speal
through their representatives, viz. thC
Congress. To deny their power undeI
the Constitution Is q denial of constitu
tional democracy. Northumberland tina
q number Of candidates under the pro
posed Constitution assert that they aecep
the Issue ot,the war as q tlnality. The,
acknowledge the supremacy of the UniteC
States I'VE call upon them to show thei
consistency by speaking and votinl
against the ratification oflhe Constitution
by the people. I'VE have! seen in, diff
ierent papers and pamphlets ideas which
find expression In this language :. II
men claiming to be Democratic leader
oppose the ratification of the new Constr
tutionf they deserve 10 be execrated ant
driven into the Republican ranks, TO
whose success they are lAboring.n Agsins
such political ,higotrY we refer to Wash
ington's. farewell address, where he incul
Gates that the pi1it Of party Is not TO b
encouraged in Tree government. Afire
not 70 be entirely exdngulshed, Is TO b
sedulorsly watched, 'lest instead of garnl
ING II consumes" The interests OF consti
tuIional democracy do not rest on so pre-
carious q tenure as the existence of
political party; for snch party may haYI
the form OF democracy and deny the
polSer thereof. If the so.called Demo
cratic party should cease to exist TO, day
It would no more permanently disturb The
order Of society and government than Q
stone cast into . lake would permanently