The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-23

cip'es AID announces judgments. as
authoritative and binding ss any that
can emanate from Bills Of Rights. or
decisions OF courts, or the siipulstions
of treaties. A great philosopher has
called decisive battles the signal
promulgsiions Of the judgments Of
God" When nations disagree-when
the stipulstions of treaties are disre-
garded-or their Interpretation is
uncertsiu-the appeal is TO arms. and
the sword at last settles the Controversy.
So, When the States differed in their
INTERPRETATION OF the common Constitu.
ton, over their reserved sovereignty, it
was claimed, there was no final tribunal
to which the controversy could be
authorita,iveIy referred, and what was
left but the appeal TO arms. IL was
feartully made, and conducted
with gallautry and courage
that knows no parallel. The de.
cision came. 1t vas hardly won and
grandly lost. What was the decision :?
1t was that the negro must be free, an
edict not OF the Lincoln proclamation,
but OF the surrender of Lee When
this was done all else followed as
legitimate consequence by the logical
operation OF the fundamental principles
upon which our whole fabric OF gov
eminent is built. Amendments TO the
Constitution were simply the entering
up the verdict, the adjustment Of the
instrument TO the decree. The moment
the negro was free BY irresistible infer
ence he was q citizen, and as citizen a
voter, and as q voter eligible to any
thing HE vote could conier-eligibIe TO
Office. Not TO see this is TO overlook
the source in which all the powers Of
government reside; not to admit this is
10 place ourselves in antagonism 10 the
irresistible genius OF our free lnstltullons.
This is the argument. | submit the
application to the intelligence and the
patriotism Of the Convention.
). Mr.. President, one thought more,
sir. and | will trespass upon the patience
so cautiously extended TO me. no longer.
Other gentlemen have alluded forcrbly
aud earnestly 10 the consequences,
which nav result from the adoption OF
this prob b;tion, not only upon our
recognzition as State in the next
great contest Tor the Presidency, but
especially on the question OF amnesty,
which we 30 solicitously seek for our
friends. here and everywhere. | cannot
shut nv ewes 10 the tact, that the
adoption Of this prescription, will be
regarded rs itiul resistance 10 the con.
c~ded results Of the war and evidence
OF spirit, that will justify still further
DELAYS n reinstating many Of our val
uei and ne ded patriots and statesmen
in the full rights OF freemen. We can
not afford this hazard for the sake OF
an idle abstraction against the negro.
| know that some gentlemen think
there is nothing in this apprehension
The gentleman, nv esteemed and cour-
teous friend from Jefferson. (Mr. Trav-
ers), has pointed US TO Virginia. He
has drawn, in colors that touched our
hearts, the picture OF her deso'ation.
| confess the weakness OF my feelings,
whenever this subject is even alluded
to,-much more when presented in the
vivid colorings OF his exalted fancy
Tor she ia my native State. and love
her with devotion, none the les that
she is in misfortune bowed down with
crushing cllamities. Nv family and
nv name are a part OF her history-of
her greatness and her ruin. and |
almost forget tine practical question,
which is before III, in listening 10 the
eloquent ind gna;jon OF nv friend
But, sir cannot concede, that the
policy OF Virginia has been either dis.
honorable towards the great men, who
led her in councjl and in war, or un-
fruitful OF good to her as a State. /
know her well-knOw the spirits OF her
people and they are incapable OF
deserton such a. the gentleman as
CT bes to them. Their course has been
taken adv sedly-taken with approba-
ton and under the advice o. the heroic
men. who could not share with them,
the political restoration which they
nevertheless, counseled them TO accept
for themselves, their children and their
State. IL waa their biuerest trIa, aud
had the illustrlous leaders in whom
they confded. the noble hearted Lee 10
whom they looked up with devotion
only less than iiolstry, cou' seed IT.
'erently-had he said, "Desplse the
overture, spurn it, spit upon II, put
your heel upon it and stamp it into
the duet" Who that knows them.
doubt4-they would have done i'll
But sir. they were wiser and greater
than this. They prayed Tor victory
not revenge-and has it not been best
Like her noble son, the Father OF
our Countryside was first in war,
and first in peace In the beginning,
she was foremost 10 erect her impreg
nable crescent against the advancing
wave OF co ercion-ahd in the end, she
was also foremost, to take her place 10
the quiet ways OF peace-she accepted
at once. all that was conceded upon the
fatal field OF the Appomattox, and to-
day, she il foremost in the a1ministra.
ton OF the world, and the return to
prosperity.
go She has lett behind
Powers that will work for her-air, earth
and skies;
There IL not breath Of the common wind
That will forget ber--she has great allies.
Her friends are Civilizations, agOnies,
And love, and mans unconquerable
mind "
We are part OF her, in her Industrious
psst-part OF her 10 her present dis
abilities. let US follow her, 10 her ready
and complete adjustment to the results
OF the war. and put away from us this
last remaining element OF discord, that
can afford, even preteIt, for longer
prescribing from the public offices. the
Statesmen and patriots. whose services