The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-05-14
"a Word TO the DISC fed"

The New York W0rLd, unuer the
above caption, contains some sensible
advice to the disabled citizens Of West
Virginia. After quoting Mr.. Willey's
resolution, it says:
This is all very well, and all the
better since the Republicans in the
Convention joined the Democrats in
the vote; and yet we cannot but recall
the old saying of one putting ones own
shoulder to the wheel. Congress is
appealed to as if it alone had any
power in this matter Of disabilities,
when the Supreme Court has gone
az far as any court can In
limiting that there is another Ju-
risdiction to which the disquali-
fed may appeal. Thrice in this
year-once on the 29th of January
last, in the case of the Unites Statesvs
Klein, and again on the 10th and 18th
of this present month Of April, in the
cases of Pargond vs.. the United States
and Coferton vs.. Bowyer-that tribunal
has in the broadest terms affirmed the
validity of the Presidential pardon. 1t
has declared that the Presidents power
of pardon lis not subject to legislation"
that"Congress can neither limit the effect
of his pardon nor exclude from its exer-
else any class of offenders" that ito
the Executive alone is intrusted the
power of pardon, and it is granted
without limit. Pardon includes am
nesty. 1t blots ont the offense
hardened and removes all its penal
consequences" Why, with these plain
invitations before them, do the so-called
disqualified of West Virginia, or the
disqualified co nominc anywhere, hesl'
tate to seek the courts? Why not
make up a test case, seek an indictment
under the 18th section Of the act OF
Nav 81, 1870, for holding an office
while under disability, and make the
argument that disabilities imposed for
participation in rebellion do not apply
to him who was purged of his partici,
patton before the disabilities become
law? Congress has nothing to do
with such a question as that. 1t is not
in its power to so limit the powers
of the Supreme Court as to forbid
its consideration at that bar. True, by
members either House may keep out
unrelieved persons no matter what the
courts say; but the great injury OF the
disabilities is not in keeping few men
out of Congress but many men out OF
State offices. The people OF a dozen
States and more are deprived OF the aid
and comfort that the experience, ability,
and influence OF hundreds OF their best
citizens would give them. Set all ques.
ton of admission to Congress aside. and
there is yet in the removal OF disabilities
a noble stake to play. Exclusion from
Congress is in fact the lesser thong the
more snowy part Of the injury. The
great wrong is the notification, 80 to
speak, of able men at home. THIS can
be dragged into the courts, and if that
appeal fail the current humble SUPPLE
cation to Congress will yet remain.
Upon which the Fairmont Libcrahst
comments as follows: ave second the
the motion but we have very little hope
that any thing will come of the sugges-
ton. The men Of Virginia and West
Virginia who in 1861 stigmatized every
man as 'submissionist, who hesitated
to fall in with the secession movement,
have, since the close of the war shown
themselves, with few exceptions, to be
most exemplary 'submissionists. Not
a disqualified citizen of West Virginia
could be found who would subject the
infamous amendment Of our State Con-
stitution of 1866, to judicial test; not
not a citizen of Marion county had the
courage to sue the Board OF Registration
for its outrageous doings. Suffer and
be strong has been their motto. Lib
erty derives no support from such ex-
amples.