The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-08-19

ffufiv ~ working and voting sor the new
Cons6fS6Sls ffsSHuCSyk
N. Dasis, 10 his speech .. New
Nartipsyilb op lat, Tgesdsz night ~!
Was informed. 10 speak OF Glant and
Greeley, said they were two Poispns
and if he was bound to choose between
them he would choose the Lesser Of the
two aAd indicated hat that night paeesi-
bly, be Grant, but as either would hill
he preferred to run no, fisk. SoE II
Mr.. Davis; asking for your VOTES, can
afford 70 take this position, would it Be
treating him on The Corrupt ring Who
are bis principal strikers with any die
respect, to clsim tor, yourself The same
privilege, 90 far a. he snd Colonel MD
son are concerned As 8 choice between
evils when you are compelled to choose,
the less is always 70 be preferred. ln
determining this question as between
Colonel Wilson and Mr.. Davis, l would
ask what Republican idea OF sentiment
has Mr.. Davis ever advanced, or what
great or email thing has he ever con-
descended to do for the Republican
party-or that Injured to it's benefit -!
Nothing! nothingl But Whist has ne
not done to brush it out OF existence Z
Has any man in the nation said
or done less against it? And it only
lives to day because Mr.. Davis
had not the power to strangle It unto
death. As private citizen, the injuries
that Mr.. Davis could inflict against
Republican principles would be com
psratively harmless but when invested
with power, and welding the influence
of one hundred and fifty thousand OF
the people Of this State. his ability
ia largely increased and he becomes
quite dangerous. Will you give him
this power aud commit TO his care and
keeping the great interests that are 90
vital to the Republicans Of this Dis
trict, when he tells you he is opposed to
your doctrine and spits upon your plat
form
How is it with Colonel Wilson, He
is a progressive Democrat, and tells you
be accepts, az 8 matter Of choice, the
results of the war. He endorses the
amendments to our national Constitu-
ton. and is not absolutely hostile to
anv principle contained 10 the Phils~
delphia platform; and while q member
of the late Constitutional Convention.
Colonel Wilson was emphAticatly .
man OF progress, and more frequently
co-operated with the Republicans than
did other Democrats. When the pro-
vision Incorporating into the new Con-
stilution the principle Of minority rep
resentation was brought forward in the
Convention by Hon. William g. Brown
and myself who were the only Repub-
lican members Of the committee on the
Legislative Department., Colonel Will
SON, l believe, was the only Democrat
who stood up with the chosen twelve
in support OF this just and grand prin.
ciple. 1t proposed to divide the State
into eight Districts, giving to each DIS
trict three Senator's the Districts TO
elect alternately, and that, while each
District was to elect three Senators. no
voter could vote for more than two
thus giving to the Republicans OF the
State at least niue Senators in the Leg
when, under the present sys-
tenn, they eau have but two. In
opposition to this proposition it was
urged BY the Davis school OF Democrats
that while the Republicans were in
power in the State they refused to rec
ognize this principle, and now, when
the Democrats were in power, 1t was
but voluntary concession for the ex-
elusive benefit Of Republican, This,
and much more was urged why
the principle should be rejected.
The tide was strongly against US when
Colonel Wilson arose. The prejudices
aud party bias OF the Convention were
powerful hindrances to over come. 1t
took a man OF principle and Of superior
courage in that Convention TO muster
10 the ranks OF the twelve Republicans
and to assail the policy OF the great
Democratic majority, but in this Colonel
Wilson showed he was not Wasting.
have had the pleasure OF hearing him
on many occasions 10 the forum and at
the bar, but never did his clarion voice
ring out more clearly, or his eloquent
words sink more deeply into the hearts
of his hearers, nor were the energies
Of his soul more deeply aroused. than
when he was pleading on the floor 81
that Convention for Republican, mi
nority representation in the halls OF our
State Legislature. His noble, eloquent
aud manly effort Oh that occasion made
him the warm and steadfast friend OF
every Republican who heard il. As
q matter OF compromise it was finally
agreed that the question should be
submitted to the voters Of the State in
1876. Whatever benefit accrues 70 the
Republican party OF the State from this
provision, they are more indebted to
Colonel Wilson for it than TO any other
man.
Between these gentlemen. Republic
cans. YOU are to decide. Under all the
circumstances can you hesitate as to
what you should do? You are told to
vote for Mr.. Davis, because corrupt
ring had decreed that you should, apd
that your fealty to Mr.. Davis, is q test
Of your rspublicanism. Can you stand
such insuits3 Will you permit your
selves to be sold and delivered without
raising your voice against it2 II you
submit now, the ring which is controtl-
ing your political destinies, will expect
YOU to do it hereafter. The Itslisen-
Ger is Greeley organ and expects him to
be elected President. 1t wants the
Wheeling Postoffice, and hopes to find
Mr.. Davis q friend 10, further its am BIZ
tious lust. 1t tells you Of an arrange
ment by which Mr.. Davis was TO get
the Republican vote Of the District, and