The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-21


Exclude Negroes from Eligibility
t. ONCE in West Virginia.
Mr.. Faulkner, after alluding to an
affection Of his eyes under which he had
been suffering for the last twenty-four
hours, and VII oh disqualified him, in a
great measure, for attention to the pro-
ceedings OF the body, and referring to
the local condition OF the county oil
Jefferson in explanation Of the course
pursued by its more immediate repre-
sentatives, proceeded to remark that he
had come there to assist in the prepare
ton of q Constitution, not for part,
but for the entire State; not for a
particular class OF its citizens, but for
every person within its limits who was
recognized by its laws as entitled to
protection. 10 his public addresses n the
county OF Berkeley, and in the two
which he had made in Jefferson, at
which his eloquent and accomplished
colleague, Mr. Travers, was present, he
had with great emphasis declared, that
he would give his support to no organic
law that did not protect the rights Of
every citizen, without distinction Of
party aud without distinction of race,
color or condition OF life. If any ex-
ceptions were taken to these opinions,
those exceptions, 80 far as he was aware,
did not manifest themselves at the polls.
1t was true, the coiored voters Of the
district did not seem TO credit the
sincerity OF his declarations, for he be-
lieved he had not received one colored
vote in his election. He had no feeling
Of resentment to them on that account !;
he did not seek their suffrsges; he
stood as a Democratic nominee before
them, and a people less credulous
than they, in view OF the
late course OF the Democratic party,
might well have been disposed to
suspect that their rights and liberties
might be placed in safer and more
friendly hands than those OF Dem :
ocratic nominee.
1t required few words on his part to
express his views OF the question now
under consideration. The harvest o.
thus debate had already been gathered
by the sturdy aud eloquent reapers who
had preceded him in this field OF labor.
He returned his thanks to the gentleman
from Marion, Mr.. Haymond), to the gen,
tleman from Taylor Mr.. Martin), the
gentleman from Barbour (Mr. Woods,
and the two gentlemen from Wood
county (Messrs jackson and Johnson,
who had reflected so much credit on
themselves and on the Convention by
their able vindcation, on yesterday, of
the principles Of constitutional tolera-
ton involved in this debate. To-day
the same proposition had been Illus
trated by the logic OF the gentleman
from Kanawha (Mr. Fitzhugh), and by
the learning and philosophy OF the gen.
tlemau from Brooke (Mr. Pendleton).
Without making any discrimination as
10 the relative merits Of these respective
arguments, be must be permitted to cay
that there were portions OF the speech
of the gentleman from Wood Mr..
Johnson) that had touched his sensl-
bilities most deeply, AMI especially that
portion OF it, in which struggling with
the embarrassments Of his previous
error on this subject, he gave such eio-
queut expression TO the more recent
convictions Of HIS honest mind.
Some gentlemen had placed their
support of his (Mr. F.s) amendment,
and appealed to others TO give like
support TO It, upon the ground that it
might hasten or propit'ate the authori-
ties at Washington in removing the
disabilities under which so many OF our
fellow citizens labor. He (Mr. F. was
one of those prescribed individuals, but
be hoped that no gentleman upon that
floor would, so far at least as he was
concerned, swerve in the slightest degree
from his convictions OF right aud duty,
from any such consideration. He de-
sired no office under the State or Fede-
raj Government. With the close Of his
labors in this Convention, he expected
to take leave OF public employment for
ever. 1t was true, he would like to see
his disabilities removed, but not that he
might hold office. He was not con.
scious of being q culprit; he had served
the country, both in the State and Gen
eral Government, at home and abroad,
with fidelity, and he wanted no cloud OF
any kind to rest upon his name when
he ceased to remain upon this earth.
This question had been discussed as
il we were now seeking to confer upon
the colored citizen some new right
which he does not at this moment pos
seSs. This is an incorrect view OF the
proposition before this body. By the
existing Constitution of this State, q
colored citizen possesses every civil and
political right which belongs to the
white citizen. The question, then, be-
tore US is, shall We, 30 Tar as we have
the power, disfranchise and deprive Of
their legal and Constitutional right Of
eligibility to office, some three thousand
persons now residing in our State, whom
we recognize as citizens, possessed as
fully as ourselves of all civil rights,
and clothed by our own Constitution
L
with the elective franchise-the most
sacred and responsible trust that can be
devolved upon q citizen. 1t seemed to
him that in the light of the nineteenth
century, and in the full blaze OF the
exciting events of the last eight years,
the simple statement Of the proposition
should carry conviction to every mind.
For his part, be could never sanction
such wholesale disfrsnchisement In
giving any such vote, he would be false
to the record Of his past life, and un-
mindful OF those declarations which be
had made before the people during the
canvass.
His distinguished colleague. Mr..
Travers, thinks that eligibility to office
is not one Of those rights, to be deprived