The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-08-17
'AlMonster Meeting
THE FIFTHtWARD ABLAzB'
Speeches by COL Ben. Wilson
..'. and J. b. Good, Esq.
THE PEOPLE AROUSED.

largest and most Enthusiastic eSei n'O
| in this city There were not less than
one thousand voters 10 the crowd, while
the wives and, daughters Of our me-
chanics turned out in great numbers
| to hear the questions discussed.
The crowd commenced assembling as
early as seven o'clock, drawn by the
splendid music of the South Wheeling
band and very handsome display OF
fireworks. "'
A most commodious stand had been
erected at the lower end of the market
house, which was trimmed with flags
and brilliantly lighted with gas and
locomotive head lights. the whole
making a very handsome and attractive
appearance, most creditable to the COM
mittee who arranged it. =.
J. NJ. Todd, Esq, was made Presl'
dent. He introduced Colonel. Ben.
Wilson, who said -.
lam before you tonight as Q csndl'
date for your suffrages for election as
representative in the Congress Of the
United States, and | am here tonight
to define my position on the questions oil
the day.
The war changed the relation of par
ties and the positions OF individuals
Before the war slavery existed in this
country, and the slave owners could
hold, under the laws of the country, as
many slaves as they chose. When the
war came on, the question, What shall
we do with slavery was the most
momentous one. The slaves were
performing their accustomed labor in
the so-ca!led Confederacy, producing
the food necessary for the sustenance OF
the Confederate army, while the white
male population were at the front
fighting for a separate political exist.
ence. To deprive the Coniederstes OF
this element of power became, as have
said, q momentous question. 1t was
solved by the emancipation proclaima-
ton The war over, the question what
shall we do with these freed
slaves? agitated the dominant party
III mean the Republicans
and as a means of saving the liber-
ties Of the country, held out the olive
branch to the Democratic party to
bury the issues that heretofore divided
them and to unite in their labors TO
save the nation. Ont OF this state of
affairs grew the Cincinnati and Bslti-
more Conventions. The venerable
grandson OF Thomas Jefferson, the
author o. the Declaration Of 1ndepend-
euce, advised the adoption Of the plat
form and the nomination OF the ticket
selected at Cincinnati. His advice was
taken.
The question ] spoke Of awhile ago
came up what should be done with the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments They had not before
received the sanction Of the Democratic
party. They were adopted, and come
before you tonight standing on the
Cincinnati platform. My opponent,
Hon. John J. Davis, claims, as under
stand him, that the Thirteenth Amend.
ment is a nullity-of no binding force
or effect. II 80, the owners title 10 his
slave has not passed and the same is
vet his property, and all the owner has
to do is to apply to the court and claim
and identify his property. But Mr..
Davis is mistaken. These amendments
have been adopted and sanctioned BY
the people. Will the opponents OF
these measures seek to avoid them by
war; No, my fellow-citizens, / know
you will join me in the hope that no
war shall ever again darkeu the Amer
lean sky.
The unanimity Of the acceptance oil
the nomination Of Horace Greeley was
q matter of congratulation and was an
indication of success at the coming
election. He was not the man we would
have selected under other circumstances,
but the country is in danger from the
centralizing influences at work and he
is a man on whom all who desire a
perpetuation Of American liberty can
unite, and man whom we know will
administer the Government as our
fathers designed it should be adminis-
tered. ..
Colonel Wilson next turned his atten.
ton to the new Constitution. am not,
he said, candidate for any office under
it, nor do l expect to be, aud l can
therefore speak without prejudice. 1t
has been urged against it that by the
operations of the tenth section Of the
third article a criminal cannot be
arrested until he has been indicted, tried
and found guilty by due process Of
law" This is reason given for oppo.
sition to the new Constitution. What
folly! Due process Of law is the regu-
lar proceedings in q civil or criminal
cause. The Constitution provides for
his arrest, trial and conviction. But
this Constitution does not mean that a
man shall in the future, as heretofore,
be deprived Of the right to life, liberty
and property without a trial by bis
peers.
Col, Wilson spoke Of the provisions
Of the Homestead law, especially the
$1,000 exemption and the resident alien
law.
The $1,000 exemption clause is very
much like that now in force. 1t only
increases the amount from $500 to
$1,000 Can you not now secure to
your families the essential provisions Of
the proposed law by making deed oil
trust to secure your property TO your
wife and children 10 order
to aid the rich who wished TO
break up with bis pocket full, Congress
passed an act called the bankrupt law,
by which some rogue worth q million
can pay his debts by stroke Of the
pen, by merely serving . notice on his
creditors. This was all right. But no
sooner is it proposed to do something
for the poor man than q howl goes nm